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Small Business Forum: 2025 CA HR Legal Update for Small Business
North San Diego Business Chamber's Small Business Forum is an environment for small business owners and leaders to discuss topics directly affecting them and share current challenges and best practices in a collaborative environment while gaining essential knowledge on small business-focused topics each quarter.
Small Business Forum is by Small Business, for Small Business
Topic: 2025 CA HR Legal Update for Small Business
Key Takeaways:
Stay ahead of the curve with this essential workshop designed specifically for small business owners and HR professionals. The session will cover critical updates to California employment laws for 2025, focusing on the unique challenges and compliance needs of small businesses. Gain actionable insights and practical strategies to protect your business and foster a compliant workplace environment.
Key topics include:
- New Employment Laws for 2025: Overview of updates affecting hiring, wages, and workplace policies.
- Wage and Hour Compliance: Key changes to minimum wage laws, overtime regulations, and meal/rest break rules.
- Employee Handbook and Policy Updates: Best practices for aligning policies with new legal requirements.
- Workplace Safety: Understanding evolving Cal/OSHA standards and their impact on small businesses.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives: Strategies to meet new state mandates while enhancing company culture.
- Employee Classification: Clarifications on independent contractors and exempt vs. non-exempt roles.
This workshop will empower small business leaders to navigate legal changes confidently and maintain compliance in a dynamic regulatory landscape.
Speakers:
Stephanie Kierig
Stephanie A. Kierig has over a decade of experience and has exclusively practiced labor and employment law in California. Stephanie’s experience lends an understanding of the law that she 
Prior to joining Littler Stephanie worked at a national firm which focused on employment law, where she expanded her scope of practice to include defense in single-plaintiff and class action employment matters. Stephanie spent her first several years of practice as a traditional labor lawyer, representing unions, public employee associations, and their members before state and federal courts, arbitrators, civil service commissions, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Public Employment Relations Board.
Throughout law school, Stephanie worked as a paralegal and law clerk at a local boutique labor firm, where she second-chaired hearings before administrative agencies, assisted with labor arbitrations, and provided guidance to clients on a variety of employment-related issues.
Prior to law school, she earned a Paralegal Certificate (Business Litigation Specialty) at the University of San Diego in 2011, with High Honors, and a Minor Certificate (Business Administration) at the University of Oregon in 2010.
Melissa Lewis
Melissa A. Lewis is known for her strategic thinking and client-centered approach. She focuses on employment litigation and providing advice and counsel to employers across a wide range of
Throughout her career, Melissa has effectively defended clients in cases involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, disability accommodations, whistleblower, retaliation, and related claims, achieving favorable outcomes through settlements, dispositive motions, and trial verdicts. Melissa’s experience extends to class and collective actions in wage and hour disputes, where she has navigated complex litigation involving claims of unpaid overtime, misclassification of employees, record keeping, and meal and rest break violations.
Melissa has also successfully represented clients in arbitration and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Civil Rights (formerly DFEH), Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and Employment Development Department.
In addition to her litigation prowess, Melissa conducts confidential workplace investigations and audits, and serves as a trusted advisor to employers, providing proactive guidance on a wide range of employment-related matters that focus on compliance with evolving employment laws, employee relations, policy development, and risk management. Her goal is to help clients minimize legal risks while fostering positive workplace environments.
Melissa is a sought-after speaker and writer on labor and employment topics, contributing insights to industry publications and seminars.
During law school, Melissa was editor of the Thomas Jefferson Law Review, on the Distinguished Honor Roll, and recipient of the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence, CALI Excellence for the Future Award, and Jefferson Medal in recognition of academic excellence. She was Valedictorian of her class.
Disclaimer: Portions of this program may be filmed and/or photographed. By attending, you consent to its unrestricted use, as deemed appropriate by North San Diego Business Chamber. Click here to see our complete Notice of Filming and Photography.
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Date and Time
Wednesday Jan 22, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PST
11:30 am Light Lunch and Networking
11:45 am Welcome
12:00 pm Guest Speaker
12:30 pm Forum Discussion
Location
Lucia Capital Group
16789 Bernardo Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92128
Fees/Admission
Small Business
Limit 45 Attendees
Members - $15 includes light lunch
Non-Members- $55 includes light lunch
Contact Information
Sophia Hernandez
Send Email
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