Employers' Legal Lounge

Episode 16: April 2026

Special Guests: Joshua Stewart (Attorney - MS&A), Andy Covell (State Director - CalSHRM | Founder - Lion Tech Solutions), Cherrity Ricks (President - Kern County SHRM | Certification Director - CalSHRM | Compensation Manager - Western Management Group), and Nina Woodard (Board Secretary - SHRM Colorado | State Council Professional Development Director - CalSHRM | Board Member - Rise Up | Chair of the Board of Directors - Safe Place for Pets | President & Chief "N" Sights Officer - Nina E. Woodard & Associates) Topics covered in this month’s podcast: ✅ CalSHRM 2026 California Legislative & HR Leadership Summit ✅ Proposed Legislation: SB 947, SB 1898, SB 951 ✅ Caregiver Benefits ✅ Current Litigation Trends ✅ AI Use by Latest Generation of HR Professionals ✅ Balancing Empathy and Business Objectives ✅ The Role of Artificial Intelligence in HR Links: 🔗 PIHRA's 2026 CAHR Conference: https://cahrconference.org/ 🔗 SHRM California (CalSHRM): https://www.calshrm.org/ 🔗 Professionals In Human Resources Assoc. (PIHRA): https://pihra.org/

Episode 15: March 2026

Special Guests: Paul Falcone (Bestselling Author & Global Keynote Speaker | Principal - Paul Falcone Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC) and Patti Cuthill (VP of People & Culture - Verve Cloud | Southern California District Director - CalSHRM) Topics covered in this month’s podcast: ✅ Legislative Updates (SB 806 / AB 5, Bereavement Leaves, AI, Remote Work) ✅ Giving Professional Feedback ✅ Performance Reviews ✅ Disciplinary Actions Links: 🔗 CalSHRM Legislative & HR Leadership Summit: https://msa.news/calshrm-4-15-26 🔗 CAHR Conference 2026: https://cahrconference.org/ 🔗 Professionals in Human Resources Assoc. (PIHRA): https://pihra.org 🔗 Workplace Leadership Consulting, LLC: https://www.paulfalconehr.com 🔗 Books by Paul Falcone: https://www.paulfalconehr.com/books

Episode 14: December 2025

Special Guests: Tara Fournier (Founder & Chief Executive Consultant, T4 HR | Deputy Director, SHRM CA | Past President, PIHRA) and Andy Covell (Founder, Lion Tech Solutions | State Director Elect, SHRM CA) Topics covered in this month’s podcast: ✅ Upcoming PIHRA & SHRM Events ✅ Legislative Updates (SB 294, SB 513 & AB 692) ✅ Workplace Surveillance ✅ Employee Training ✅ I-9 Audits ✅ Employees vs. Independent Contractors ✅ Accommodations Links: 🔗 California Employment Law Update - San Diego & Riverside: https://pihra.org/employment-law-update/ 🔗 2026 California Legislative & HR Leadership Summit: https://msa.news/shrm-ca26 🔗 PIHRA HR Cruise: https://hrcruise.org/ 🔗 T4 HR: https://www.t4-hr.com/ 🔗 Lion Tech Solutions: https://lionstechsolutions.com/

Episode 13: October 2025

Special Guests: Christine Rodman (CEO - Lynx Employer Resources LLC) and Monique Akanbi (Membership Initiatives Director - SHRM) Topics covered in this month’s podcast: ✅ Legislative Updates ✅ Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ✅ Artificial Intelligence (AI) ✅ Workplace Surveillance ✅ Return to Work ✅ HR Industry Trends Links: 🔗 California Employment Law Update (CELU) Conferences - https://pihra.org/employment-law-update 🔗 PAGA 2025 Legal Updates Webinar Recording - https://msa.news/9-23-25-paga (Passcode: DFgVK@F8) 🔗 2026 SHRM CA Legislative & HR Leadership Summit - https://msa.news/shrm-ca26 🔗 2026 HR Cruise by PIHRA - https://hrcruise.org 🔗 Lynx Employer Resources - https://lynx-er.com

Episode 12: February 2025

Special Guest: Nathan Craig - President of Employee Benefits, Culture Insurance Group Topics covered in this month’s podcast: ✅ 2025 legislative updates ✅ Trends in the benefit plan ecosystem ✅ Recent executive orders ✅ Artificial Intelligence (AI) ✅ Consumer privacy news ✅ Arbitration updates ✅ Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Links: 🔗 CalSHRM 2025 California Legislative & HR Leadership Summit: https://www.calshrm.org/about-1-2 🔗 CalSHRM 2025 Case Competition: Anything is Possible: https://msa.news/4hNsoky 🔗 CalSHRM Wildfire Resources: https://www.calshrm.org/about-1-3 🔗 SHRM Background Check Survey on LinkedIn: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RJY9GRZ 🔗 2025 California HR (CAHR) Conference: https://cahrconference.org/