The federal enforcement landscape has shifted. In June 2026, the EEOC adopted a new National Enforcement Plan emphasizing merit-based, evenhanded enforcement of federal employment discrimination laws.

For California employers, the challenge is not simply understanding what the EEOC is emphasizing. It is determining whether recruiting practices, DEI initiatives, religious accommodation procedures, and internal messaging still make sense in the current enforcement environment—while continuing to comply with California law.

In this episode, Jen breaks down what has changed, what has not, and what employers should review now without overcorrecting.

California has drawn a new line in workplace AI. On September 30, 2026, Governor Newsom signed SB 947, which prohibits employers from relying solely on artificial intelligence when making disciplinary or termination decisions and requires additional transparency when AI causes a mass layoff, relocation, or termination.

That makes AI much more than a technology issue—it is now a direct HR compliance issue. In this episode, Jen explains California’s new “no robo-bosses” approach, what meaningful human involvement should look like, and why employers need to know exactly where AI is already influencing employment decisions.

A former employee sends an email demanding “my entire personnel file and every document you have about me.” Does the employer really have to turn over everything? Usually not. IN this episode, Jen explains what California employees are entitled to receive, why different categories of records have different rules and deadlines, and what employers should think about before simply hitting “send.”