December 2024 | 54th EDITION NEWSLETTER

Countdown to Compliance: Missouri’s New Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Increases

Lathrop GPM | November 26, 2024 

On November 5, 2024, Missouri voters passed Proposition A, requiring employers to provide paid sick leave and increasing minimum wage.

The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2025, with paid sick leave accrual requirements going into effect on May 1, 2025. The first minimum wage increase becomes effective January 1, 2025, with an additional increase scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2026. This alert covers some, but not all the requirements under the new law. Employers are encouraged to contact their legal counsel for a full understanding of the newly enacted requirements.

3 Tips for Handling Election Emotions in The Workplace

HR Dive | Kathryn Moody | November 6, 2024

Managers can be trained not only to handle this event but other hard conversations that more commonly spring up in the workplace, one expert said.

Amid faster-than-expected election results, workers across the country may be grappling with unusually high stress that spills into their work lives.



And the workers likely to be dealing with these outcomes are the nation’s already stressed and burned out managers, Rachel Marcuse, chief operating officer at ReadySet, a consulting firm focused on culture building, told HR Dive.

Stop Over-Explaining: Why Pausing Is the Key to Better Communication

Forbes | Dr. Diane Hamilton | November 6, 2024

Ever walked out of a conversation feeling like you understood less than when you walked in? Over-explaining might feel like it adds clarity, but it often has the opposite effect—leaving everyone more confused and exhausted. This happens all the time in the workplace, where communication can sometimes feel more scripted than genuine. Recently, I saw a recruiter’s prep notes sent to a friend before her interview, filled with detailed lines on exactly what to say and how to say it. It left me wondering: Are we over-coaching people to the point of losing authentic connection?

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 

Texas District Court Vacates Department of Labor's 2024 Overtime Rule, Returning to the Salary Thresholds Set in 2019

Husch Blackwell | Andrew J. Weissler, Scott D. Meyers, Sarah Hamill, Joanna Rivers | November 20, 2024

On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2024 overtime rule, which significantly raised the salary thresholds for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This rule, which we previously wrote about, implemented a two-step increase in the standard salary threshold to qualify for an exemption under the FLSA:

• July 1, 2024: Increase from $684 per week ($35,568 per year) to $844 per week ($43,888 per year).

• January 1, 2025: Further increase to $1,128 per week ($58,656 per year). 

The rule also included a new mechanism to automatically increase the salary threshold every three years.

Why HR Needs to Play a Bigger Role In ‘Agitating’ For Change

HR Executive | Jen Colletta | November 26, 2024

Change is coming fast to businesses across industries—from rapid advancements in artificial intelligence to shifting ways of working and a new administration taking the helm of the federal government in January. Leveraging change management to help organizations and their employees not only weather that change but get in front of it will increasingly become a cornerstone of HR’s mandate, says Monique Herena, chief colleague experience officer of American Express.

The recently named Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources is looking to her record of leading large-scale change and transformation for guidance in confronting the coming challenges.

To Help Your Team Learn, Set Them Up for Productive Failure

Harvard Business Review | Manu Kapur | November 06, 2024

Failure is often viewed as something you need to avoid, especially by new managers who are eager to prove their competence or have been previously conditioned to think that way. But failure isn’t a bad thing.

In fact, it can help in fostering your team’s long-term sustainable development.

While avoiding failure may protect short-term performance, it hinders long-term growth and innovation. When employees take less risks and stay within their comfort zones, they miss opportunities to stretch their abilities and experiment with innovative solutions.

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 

Assess Character Alongside Competency for Hiring and Promoting, MIT Sloan Report Says

HR Dive | Carolyn Crist | October 28, 2024

Evaluating character can lead to greater returns, more effective leadership, greater psychological safety and better engagement, the report noted.

Since company culture reflects the character of people within an organization, assessing workers’ character attributes can help with hiring and promoting, Mary Crossan, professor of strategic leadership at Western University and author of an Oct. 22 report on character-based hiring and promotion published in MIT Sloan Management Review, said in a statement.

However, looking at isolated elements of character — such as courage or drive alone — can lead to a limited perspective, Crossan said.

From AI To Workplace Polarization: Top HR Trends Predicted For 2025

Forbes | Solange Charas | November 24, 2024

As the year winds down, HR leaders, consultants, and analysts are once again gazing into the proverbial crystal ball, attempting to chart the trends that will define the workplace in 2025. With rapid technological advances, economic uncertainty, and shifting societal dynamics, the coming year promises to be both a challenge and an opportunity for organizations ready to adapt.

In this column, my partner in thought-leadership — Stela Lupushor — and I examine six critical trends poised to reshape human capital management in 2025. These predictions are rooted in the challenges and successes of the past year, offering insights for HR professionals seeking to navigate an evolving workplace landscape.

Don’t Overlook Year-End HDHP Changes to Telehealth Cost-Sharing

MEC Sponsor Ogletree Deakins Blog | Stephanie A. Smithey | December 3, 2024

Employers providing health plan coverage through a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) may need to amend their HDHP before year-end to remove first-dollar telehealth coverage. Although prior regulatory relief permitted employers to provide telehealth coverage without cost sharing, that relief is due to expire at year-end. Absent an extension of that relief, individuals who are covered by an HDHP with no cost sharing for telehealth services will not be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA) in 2025.

Where Is HR Transformation Headed In 2025? 6 Predictions

HR Executive | Kimberly Carroll, Mary Faulkner and Mark Stelzner | November 26, 2024

Despite decades of HR transformation experience, trying to predict what is going to happen in 2025 boils down to philosopher Laozi’s famous quote:

“Those who have knowledge don’t predict. Those who predict don’t have knowledge.”

That said, let’s give it a go.

Why Employees Quit

Harvard Business Review | Ethan Bernstein, Michael B. Horn, Bob Moesta | From the Magazine (November–December 2024)

New research points to some surprising answers. 

The so-called war for talent is still raging. But in that fight employers continue to rely on the same hiring and retention strategies they’ve been using for decades, even though those approaches aren’t working: People may be enticed to stay a bit longer than they otherwise would have, but they still leave. 

How Good Leaders Become Great by Never Leading Alone

Forbes | Keith Ferrazzi | November 21, 2024

David Brancaccio, host of Marketplace Morning Report, the long-running public radio show, is a master of the art of sharp questions—and he aimed one in my direction he interviewed me this week about the difference between good leaders and great teams. “I think many people listening will be scarred by some of their previous experience with dysfunctional teams,” David said. 

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.

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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.

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Start Making Better, Faster Hiring Decisions in Under 15 Minutes

Dept of Labor Blog | Nick Beadle | November 13, 2024

The U.S. Department of Labor launched the Good Jobs Initiative to make it easier to get workers into good jobs that help them get ahead. Not just for the sake of workers, but employers too. 

Adopting the Goods Jobs Principles is good for employers because the working conditions they provide lead to increased productivity and savings from lower turnover. But hiring can be hard, with many potholes and barriers that prevent employers from reaching excellent talent who can fill their good jobs. 

That is why we and the Department of Commerce worked with dozens of experts—from corporate thinkers to labor leaders—to build the Good Jobs Initiative Skills-First Hiring Starter Kit. Announced today at the White House, this user-friendly guide tells readers in plain and concrete terms what skills-first hiring is and how they can do it well. It also shares tools that can reduce the organizational lift of moving from traditional hiring to skills-first hiring. 

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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.

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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. 

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Laws Enforced by EEOC

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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. 

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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

Merge Benefits and Payroll for The Ideal Business Solution

Authored by Bukaty Companies on November 5, 2024

Bukaty Companies now integrates our cloud-based payroll software, Inspire^HCM, with our online enrollment tool. This seamless data transfer prevents duplicate data entry and enhances accuracy.

The integration is a game changer for employers of all sizes. Data interacts between the systems, which means if benefits are updated in our benefits administration tool, proper payroll deduction changes will automatically occur in Inspire^HCM. Data integration allows your HR managers to focus on more than data entry and system adjustments.

SAVE THE DATE!

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

MIND MATTERS

Resources for Mental Health Support

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat for free and confidential support from trained crisis counselors 24/7. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free help line: Call 800-662-4357 for 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish. 

David Woods Bartley has seen his fair share of successes and setbacks, from directing a nationally recognized nonprofit to battling the long-term effects of childhood sexual trauma and a life-threatening mental illness. The latter, a brutal knock-down, drag-out fight with clinical depression, led David to a suicide attempt.

Thanks to the support of many people and being shown the necessity of putting one’s self-care on a pedestal, David continues the essential yet challenging journey from the isolation of mental “hellness” to the inclusive space of mental wellness. His life having been saved, David is committed to moving the conversation about suicide, male sexual trauma, and mental illness from the dark shadows where they now live to the forefront of public concern.

In doing so, his mission is to shine a bright light on the crisis we now face and open doors to the possibility of mental health for everyone, everywhere.

STRONG MINDS | STRONG HEARTS

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

By definition, Servant Leadership is a leadership philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. If you are in a place where your talent and skills will help others, by all means, use them. We are proud of the work our leaders have done and hope that if you are in a place to serve, you choose to step up.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to change lives in the communities we serve by feeding those in need today, and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow.

VISION STATEMENT

We envision a community which has access to sufficient nutritious food.

SHARE THE HARVEST FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Christmas Village, Every Weekend Thanksgiving-Christmas

Join us November–December 2024 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Christmas Village festivities.

Make plans to spend time with family and friends this holiday season as we kick off the holidays on The Ice at Old Kinderhook with family-friendly events and; beautiful Christmas music. Create some great memories with your family and friends that will last lifetime.

This event is open to the public. Come join the fun!

Our 100 All-Time-Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

The Food Network | November 1, 2024

Whether you’re still learning the basics of cookie making or are all about using those pro baking tips you’ve mastered over the years, there’s no better time to bake from scratch than during the holidays. Whether you whip up an assortment of holiday bars and barks to pack and ship to someone special or are baking a batch of easy-to-make cookies to serve alongside homemade hot chocolate on movie night, you’ll find that cookies always spread cheer. 

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 we embrace the holiday season, let’s remember the true spirit of community that brings us together, reminding us to share our gifts and lend a helping hand to those in need.

This time of year is a beautiful blend of joy and beauty, filled with laughter and gratitude as we gather with loved ones, celebrating our blessings. While we revel in the warmth of togetherness, we also acknowledge the bittersweet moments as Nan recently experienced the loss of her beloved mother-in-law, Velma. She was welcomed into the arms of Jesus and reunited with her sweet son, Jerry, and we are content knowing they are now together. Many have extended prayers and support to Nan's family and we are wishing peace to everyone grieving during this holiday season.

As the new year approaches, let’s reflect on the past year with gratitude and look forward to the exciting Spring Conference on the horizon, where registration will be opening soon!

We can’t wait to see you next year, reinvigorated with inspiring speakers and enriching experiences awaiting us — let’s make it a season of growth and giving together!

Holiday blessings to you and your families,

Nan and Sue