At the request of an affected employer, employee, or representative of employees, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative may hold an informal conference to discuss issues raised by the inspection, citation, proposed penalty, or notice of contest. If the employer requests a conference, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative may, at the discretion of the Commissioner, afford affected employees or a representative of employees an opportunity to participate. If an employee or representative of employees requests a conference, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative may, at the discretion of the Commissioner, afford the employer an opportunity to participate. A party may be represented by counsel at a conference. Neither the request for a conference nor the conference shall operate as a stay of the 15-work-day period for filing a notice of contest under Regulation .09 of this chapter.