This episode highlights key developments California employers should have on their radar. At the national level, Congress introduces the Menopausal Workers' Fairness Act, the IRS increases the standard mileage reimbursement rate, and three high-profile off-duty conduct cases make headlines. In California, a retaliation lawsuit against Blackberry moves forward, Ralphs settles a Fair Chance Act enforcement case, and new lawsuits target Meta's alleged use of AI in layoffs, OpenAI, and Chipotle. Plus, don't miss this week's Bizarre Case, involving rapper 50 Cent's former executive assistant and allegations of retaliation, hidden assets, and false police reports.

This episode highlights several developments California employers should have on their radar. At the national level, Walmart agreed to pay $13 million in a pay case, the New York Times fires back in a high-profile promotion case, and the EEOC files two new religion cases for failing to accommodate workers’ sabbath. In California, Pfizer scores a big win in a retaliation suit, Amazon Fresh pays $5 million to settle OT suit, and Governor Newsom signs a new law limiting the use of arbitration agreements. Plus, don’t miss this week’s Bizarre Case, which involves a flight attendant’s TikTok dance video that has resulted in a discrimination lawsuit.

Although it was a holiday week, there was no shortage of employment law news. Joe covers a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could reshape the leadership and priorities of the NLRB and EEOC, President Trump's nomination of Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor, the EEOC's latest actions on DEI, the NLRB's reversal on non-compete agreements, California's July 1 minimum wage increases, several noteworthy settlements and lawsuits, and a bizarre case involving a $642 Super Bowl deli platter that somehow turned into a $4.25 million arbitration award.