San Diego employment attorney Ward Heinrichs has been sharing California employment law updates on Big Blend Radio since 2014. For this special "Getting to Know You" episode, he sets the fine print aside for a fun, unscripted Q&A with host Lisa D. Smith. It's part of a series reconnecting with the Big Blend Radio family as Big Blend moves into its new home, the Big Blend Media House.

Ward reveals that his lifelong spirit animal is the Wolverine: fierce, a little badass, and fitting for an attorney. Since he dreams of exploring North America by RV, he jokes that he'll need to tame his Wolverine before it can ride along. He also shares what makes him happiest, which is parking his RV somewhere beautiful and soaking up nature. His life lesson for the next generation is to keep your eye on your goal, don't sweat the small stuff, and be kind along the way.

His bucket list includes editing the novel he's written and an epic RV and fishing trip through Western Canada and into Alaska, in search of salmon, giant halibut, and his favorite, lingcod. Ward also names the Toby Keith song he'd pick as his TV theme, admits there's no food he won't try, and explains why sashimi at Nobu tops his dinner wish list.

When Lisa asks what he'd add to the Big Blend Media House, Ward picks a multimedia room and library, complete with a very big TV for sports. He also discovers what's hiding behind the library's secret bookcase door.

Ward is back with new episodes of Big Blend Radio's "California Employment Law" Podcast every fourth Wednesday.

LEARN MORE: Ward Heinrichs: https://bestemploymentattorneysandiego.com Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-employment-law-with-ward-heinrichs Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-employment-law-magazine "As Good As I Once Was" by Toby Keith: https://youtu.be/ldQrapQ4d0Y Big Blend Media House: https://bigblendmediahouse.com

When does a workplace issue need a manager's coaching — and when does it need a lawyer?

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Employment Law" Podcast, San Diego employment attorney Ward Heinrichs sits down with Bernadette Jones, CEO and co-founder of Visionova HR, to map out where coaching ends and legal exposure begins — outdated handbooks, shadow AI in the workplace, the "keys to the kingdom" risk of one employee holding all the access, and what at-will employment actually protects (and doesn't) in California.

LINKS & RESOURCES: - Visionova HR: https://www.visionovahr.com/

- Ward Heinrichs' Employment Law Office: https://bestemploymentattorneysandiego.com/

- Connect with Ward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ward-heinrichs/

- California Employment Law Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-employment-law-magazine

- More California Employment Law Podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-employment-law-with-ward-heinrichs

Recent federal changes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) guidance are reshaping how employers approach hiring, promotions, and workplace policies—and artificial intelligence (AI) is adding another layer of legal complexity.

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Employment Law" Podcast, San Diego employment attorney Ward Heinrichs explains the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) recent changes to Title VII guidance, what they mean for employers, and why merit-based employment decisions have become more important than ever.

Ward also discusses the growing role of AI in hiring, the importance of reviewing automated hiring systems for bias, and how employers can stay compliant as federal and California employment laws continue to evolve.

Whether you're a business owner, HR professional, manager, or employee, this episode provides practical legal insights into navigating today's changing workplace.

📖 Read Ward's companion article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/dei-under-title-vii

🌐 Ward Heinrichs' Employment Law Office: https://bestemploymentattorneysandiego.com/

🔗 Connect with Ward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ward-heinrichs/

📘 Explore Ward's California Employment Law Digital Podcast Magazine: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/california-employment-law-digital-podcast-magazine/

🎧 Listen to more California Employment Law Podcast episodes: https://ward-heinrichs-employment-law.podbean.com/