August 2024 | 50th EDITION NEWSLETTER

Retention Continues Upward Surge as Employees Stay at Their Jobs In 2024

HR Dive | Carolyn Crist | July 24, 2024

The increase is “welcome news,” especially as the struggle to retain workers has become a norm in the labor market, Eagle Hill Consulting’s CEO said.

Employee retention spiked upward during the second quarter of 2024, continuing a first-quarter increase and signaling the potential for lower employee attrition through the rest of the year, according to a July 22 report from Eagle Hill Consulting.

Consider Artificial Intelligence in Developing Your HR Tech Stack

HR Bartender | Sharlyn Lauby | July 25, 2024

A couple of years ago, I published an article about how an “organization’s technology strategy needs to include building the perfect tech stack”. It’s still true today. A quick refresher: a tech stack is a grouping of technology services that are “stacked” together to create the best, most effective, and efficient process possible. For example, a traditional talent acquisition tech stack might look like this: 

Best is a tough score to reach, but your conference is right up there with the best ones that I have participated in.

It was an awesome event filled with helpful tools and tips to make HR better.

The team was a true pleasure to work with and put on an awesome event!

Feedback from Spring 2024 MEC Speakers 

Disgruntled Employee: Meaning, Threats & Ways to Deal

hrlineup | July 23, 2024

In the corporate world, maintaining a harmonious and productive work environment is crucial for the success of any organization. However, the presence of disgruntled employees can pose significant challenges. A disgruntled employee is someone who is dissatisfied or unhappy with their job or workplace, leading to negative behavior that can affect not only their own performance but also that of their colleagues. In this article, we will explore the meaning of a disgruntled employee, the potential threats they pose to an organization, and effective ways to deal with such situations.

How Flexible Talent Strategies Can Help Grow Your Business

HR Executive | Mark Frein | July 24, 2024

Among all the future of work predictions we’ve heard over the last few years, none have come to fruition faster than the rise of the flexible workforce.

The way organizations identify, recruit and hire talent is evolving in real time as remote work, globalization and changing employee demands have created the need for a fluid, dynamic workforce.

Healthy Leaders Build Healthy Companies

Forbes | Dr. Talia Varley | June 28, 2024

Over many decades, the definition of health and how we think about it has evolved for the better. Originally viewed as the absence of disease, the most useful definitions of health today are comprehensive and go well beyond traditional thinking. Health includes physical health, emotional health, cognitive capacity and, surprisingly to some, a sense of purpose.

MEC is a great conference. I have referred you to a lot of my HR friends and colleagues.

Overall, the conference was great! I love that you offer a variety of topics ranging from employment law to self-care.

Thank you, ladies. I appreciate all the hard work that goes into this event. You nailed it once again.

Keep up the with the great conference!

You guys did an amazing job putting this conference together. I thought it ran very smoothly.

Feedback from Spring 2024 MEC Attendees

I really enjoyed this year’s conference. The weather was great until the very end, the lunches were good. I really like this conference because it is small enough that you get to know people and can have real conversations. The session topics and speakers were great this year! Everything was very relevant to our current environment and what is important to both employers and employees alike. This conference is always so organized and well put together. Hope to see you next year!!  - 2024 MEC Attendee Jennifer Knigge 

Diagnosing Low Employee Morale: The First Step to a Healthier Workplace

MEC Sponsor Tesseon | July 19, 2024

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely noticed a change in your employees’ attitudes or behaviors. Perhaps there’s less enthusiasm in team meetings, increased absenteeism, or a general sense of disengagement. These are often signs of low employee morale and addressing them is crucial. Your first instinct might be to start implementing quick fixes – maybe throw a pizza party, organize a team-building event, or hand out some gift cards. But here’s the thing: these band-aid solutions rarely address the real issues.

HR’s New Role

Harvard Business Review | Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh May–June 2024

In this tight labor market, cost cutting is out. Championing employee concerns is in. 

From World War II through 1980 the focus of the human resources function was advocating for workers—first as a way to keep unions out of companies and later to manage employees’ development in the era when all talent was grown from within.

Then things changed. Driven by the stagflation of the 1970s, the recession of the early 1980s, and more recently the Great Recession, HR’s focus increasingly shifted to relentless cost cutting. 

Optimism For AI In Hiring Is High, But Don’t Forget Transparency

HR Executive | Tom Starner | July 18, 2024

When it comes to AI in hiring, respondents on both sides of the hiring equation reported in a recent survey that they are fairly confident in the fairness baked into today’s AI tools. But, experts say, to take advantage of AI’s potential for fair hiring, HR leaders need to ensure they are clear and transparent about AI’s role in hiring decision-making.



The survey, from hiring tech provider HireVue, asked 3,100 workers and 1,000 HR professionals in the U.S. and the U.K. to share their perspectives on the current and future landscapes for AI in hiring.

The 5/5/5 Method: How the World’s Best Teams Get Smarter In 15-Minute Sprints

Forbes | Keith Ferrazzi | July 20, 2024

In today's fast-paced business world, the ability to learn and adapt quickly isn't just nice to have—it's essential for survival and success. We cannot possibly think we are equipped for what is happening around the corner. That's everyone and every team—including the C-suite. There is a false belief among people who reach the leader ranks that they need less development than they did during earlier stages of their careers. But we all must get 30–50 percent better every year to keep up with the pace of change. 

Training Requirements and Resources

OSHA provides information on employers' training requirements and offers resources such as free publications, videos, and other assistance to help employers protect workers against injuries and illnesses.

READ MORE

OSHA provides safety and health resources specifically designed for small businesses. Find information on complying with OSHA standards and receive advice you can trust through OSHA's no-cost and confidential On-Site Consultation Program.

READ MORE

Celebrate Your Financial Independence

Dept of Labor Law Blog | Lisa M. Gomez | July 16, 2024

July is the month we celebrate our nation’s independence, but it can also be the month you celebrate your Financial Independence Day! Make this a time to review your current financial planning – including a financially secure retirement. Whether you’re early in your career or have been working for many years, it is important to check your progress at least once a year so you can adjust your plan for reaching your retirement savings goal if needed. Here are some tips to help you get started: 

1. Update your financial plan for life events. Life events, such as marriage, separation, divorce, birth or adoption, may create new financial demands. Update your financial plan for potential income and expense changes – and make sure to continue saving for retirement. Also, check your beneficiary designations with your plan to make sure they are up to date. 
2. Understand your retirement needs. If you estimated your retirement needs in developing your financial plan, review that estimate in case changes in your life have impacted your savings goal. If you are one of the many people who have not estimated how much you need to save for retirement, this step is critical to your planning. A common rule of thumb is to save enough to provide 80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your standard of living in retirement. Your actual needs may vary based on your lifestyle and health expectations. Use tools like our Retirement Saving Worksheet guide to estimate how much you need to save for a comfortable retirement. 

READ MORE

Employer Resources

When you hire a new employee, you must verify their identity and employment eligibility using Form I-9. You may be among the nearly 3 million proactive worksites that also use E-Verify to electronically verify Form I-9 information. The checklists, videos, and other English resources on this page will help you understand your responsibilities and make the hiring process easy.

Check out the resources customized for employers like you.

READ MORE

Are you an employer or employee who has been affected by an emergency or unforeseen circumstance, such as a natural disaster or national emergency?

Check out our new Emergencies and Unforeseen Circumstances webpage for guidance on Form I-9 and E-Verify if these circumstances arise. 

READ MORE

Laws Enforced by EEOC

READ MORE

Employers

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces Federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. These laws protect employees and job applicants against employment discrimination when it involves:

• Unfair treatment because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
• Harassment by managers, co-workers, or others in the workplace, because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
• Denial of a reasonable workplace accommodation that the employee needs because of religious beliefs, disability, or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
•  Retaliation because the employee complained about job discrimination or assisted with a job discrimination investigation or lawsuit. 

READ MORE

Thank you for hosting us, MEC. Making connections, both professional and furry, has been the highlight of our day.

Spring 2024 MEC Sponsor UMSL Graduate Business Programs

CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! 

Grow with the Conference & Benefit from the Marketing Enhancements

PRESENTING SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Human Resource Capabilities

Talent management can be tricky, but our HR module is a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for every stage of the employment lifecycle. Inspire^HCM’s automated HR functions allow you to streamline core HR and talent management tasks and eliminate the administrative burden of sorting through piles of paper. From applicant searches to evaluating employee performance, this system enables you to manage employee records for the entirety of the employment lifecycle in one secure location.

Employment Lifecycle Management

It is no secret that managing a workforce and remaining compliant in your HR duties is complicated. Inspire^HCM brings simplicity to tasks associated with the recruiting and hiring process, performance tracking and more by offering a singular platform for

• applicant tracking,
• onboarding,
• secure real-time data access,
• benefits and performance management, and
• workflow automation.

Employees enjoy a straightforward and uncomplicated onboarding experience and managers can manage HR processes with ease. From background checks for applicants to performance tracking of current employees, Inspire’s HR module saves employers and employees time and headache.

I really enjoyed this conference and hope to be able to attend in the future. Thank you for your hard work and dedication :) I was very impressed.

I appreciate the friendly environment. This conference was well organized.

Love this conference! Sue & Nan do such a great job organizing this event!

Definitely would recommend.

Feedback from Spring 2024 MEC Attendees

Thanks to Nan Boland and Sue Kmet and the teams putting on the Iowa and Missouri Employment Conferences! - Barb Ranck

Enjoyed my time! They do a phenomenal job! Just finished with a cruise of the lake on top of fun and great experience!! - Reggie Harris

Had a great time at the Missouri Employment Conference this week presenting on behalf of Cottingham & Butler on ways to measure, prioritize, and strategize on your employees’ wants. I took it as a positive sign to have Dubuque coffee served at the event. I’m so grateful for the time I spent in HR where I was able to implement various solution to drive retention and optimize health plan performance, and love sharing some of the great experiences! - Julie Oeth

Spring 2024 MEC Speakers

Had a blast sharing the infinite ROI of leading with care with 200+ HR professionals at the Missouri Employment Conference! I always feel humbled and lucky every opportunity I have to share my message on the new rules of care. Thank you Nan Boland and Sue Kmet for inviting me to join this wonderful event! - Danny Goldberg

Another successful presentation on workplace anxiety and stress. Today’s breakout room was packed with HR representatives who are all too familiar with organizational stress. Thank you Missouri Employment Conference for inviting me back to speak. - Kelli Risse

Spring 2024 MEC Speakers

STRONG MINDS | STRONG HEARTS

Lake Of the Ozarks Shootout History

LAKEOFTHEOZARKSSHOOTOUT.COM

The Lake Rescue Shootout started in 1989 as an event in which many local boats participated simply to establish who had the fastest boat. As the years went by it became a bigger and bigger event that also helped supplement the Lake Area Fire Departments water rescue efforts.

Without the help of all the charities, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout would not be what it is today. Our event raises funds for eight Lake Area rescue teams and a wide variety of other charities and funds across the community. By coming out and showing your support, you’ll be giving back to the community and supporting your friends and neighbors while also having a great time.

Things To Do in August 2024 in Lake Ozark

ALLEVENTS.IN

Discover all the happening events in August 2024 in Lake Ozark and make it a month of learning and exploration. From art exhibitions to kickass concerts, from yoga workshops to photography masterclass; the list of things to do in Lake Ozark in August 2024 is quite elaborate. Explore from the genres that you find interest in, there will be many events in August in Lake Ozark to keep you engaged.

Fun State Fair Foods

Bring the state fair home with these portable gourmet fair snacks from Food Network Magazine.

Chocolate-Strawberry Waffle Ball on a Stick

This recipe has everything you love about waffles in fun, easy-to-eat lollypop form. MORE...

HELP AN HR HERO WIN A $50 VISA GIFT CARD!

Do you know someone in your HR department (or company-wide) who deserves to be recognized for making a positive impact in your company from day to day??

Whether personal or professional, in a big or a small way, we all know those people who go above & beyond for the greater good.

We want to help these everyday (H)eroes be (R)ecognized! Send your nominations to us & one deserving person each month leading up to the current conference will be selected to receive a $50 VISA gift card! We will announce the winner in the following month's newsletters.

As I sit here reflecting on the upcoming celebration of my 40th anniversary, I am reminded of the importance of long-term commitment in various aspects of life. Beyond just marriages, the essence of commitment is fading in our interactions with employers, friends, neighbors, and even family.

At the Missouri Employment Conference, we prioritize fostering enduring relationships built on trust, respect, and mutual benefit. We believe in the power of collaboration to achieve greater heights collectively. Your feedback, loyalty, and support are invaluable to us as we aim to grow, learn, and enhance our services with each conference. While we are proud of our achievements, we remain dedicated to continuous improvement in quality, innovation, and ensuring the satisfaction of our attendees, speakers, and sponsors.

Join us on this journey of growth and excellence!

Sue, Nan and the Conference Team