February 2026 | 68th EDITION NEWSLETTER

While the articles selected for this newsletter may not directly represent the opinions of the Missouri Employment Conference, they have been thoughtfully curated to spark interest and engagement among HR professionals. Each piece offers unique insights and perspectives that can enhance your understanding of the dynamic field of human resources. We encourage you to approach these articles with an open mind, as they are designed to inspire dialogue and promote a deeper exploration of the trends shaping our industry today.

When You Have to Assign Work No One Wants to Do

Harvard Business Review | Adam Eric Greenberg, Vicki G. Morwitz and Kurt P. Munz | January 26, 2026

A manager assigns a team member to an unglamorous task. A senior colleague hands off a notoriously difficult client to a junior colleague. Someone must assume extra responsibilities to cover for a teammate on leave.

These situations are routine in organizations: Sometimes work simply needs to get done, which often means employees must do things they don’t necessarily want to do. Yet leaders still depend on enthusiasm, effort, and buy-in from people who didn’t volunteer for these assignments. Many managers respond by treating the conversation like a sales pitch—highlighting the business case, offering incentives, or dangling future opportunities.

Why Smart People Avoid Risk at Work Even When Leaders Encourage It

Forbes | Dr. Diane Hamilton | January 9, 2026

When people hear the word risk at work, most think about what could go wrong for them personally. Risk brings to mind losing jobs, damaged reputations, poor performance reviews, and whether speaking up today changes how someone is seen tomorrow. Leaders may believe they are inviting ideas, yet employees experience something else entirely. They pay attention to how the last person who challenged an idea was treated and whether anything good actually came from it. When risk feels tied to personal loss rather than progress, even very capable people decide it is safer to stay quiet, no matter how often leaders say they want people to speak up.

Is Your Leadership Style Too Nice?

Harvard Business Review | Ron Ashkenas and Gali Cooks | January 12, 2026

“If you work very hard and get results, you are well rewarded here. But if you don’t work as hard and don’t really produce, you are also well rewarded.”



That’s what an employee of a premier electronics firm told one of us (Ron) during a consulting engagement several years ago. The company’s CEO took pride in a supportive, relationship-based culture. But interviews with employees revealed a common theme: too many key people were not pulling their weight, and the top performers felt unfairly burdened. As laudable as the CEO’s commitment to a supportive culture was, the way it manifested meant that the company was becoming too nice to be good.

13 Best Practices for 360 Assessments: Turning Feedback Into Growth

TMA Performance (DecisionWise) | 2025

360 assessments can be one of the most powerful tools for leadership development. When used well, they give leaders a holistic view of how they are perceived by colleagues, direct reports, and supervisors, often surfacing blind spots that traditional performance reviews miss. But in some cases, 360s can feel punitive and erode trust.



To get the most out of the process, organizations need to approach 360 assessments with intentionality. Here are some best practices that ensure 360 feedback becomes a catalyst for growth and stronger leadership.

AI Isn’t Enough to Drive Innovation—HR Needs to Focus on Talent Strategy

HR Brew | Mikaela Cohen | December 23, 2025

Would you be surprised to know that AI use isn’t moving the needle for most organizations? The majority (88%) of global employees report using AI at work, but just 28% of companies have seen a discernible impact on “business transformation,” a recent report from consulting firm EY found. This is the case, despite the fact that 50% of leaders, 42% of knowledge workers, and 33% of essential workers report using the tech daily. AI adoption and use is accelerating at a time when some companies have “fragile types of talent dynamics,” said Roselyn Feinsod, a principal in EY’s people consulting practice.

How Associations Can Meet the Moment

Associations NOW | Mark Athitakis | January 23, 2026

Around the world, CEOs are skeptical about what the next year will bring. Associations have an opportunity to support them.

The bears are stirring.



That seems to be the main takeaway from the latest edition of PwC’s latest Global CEO Survey. The release of the survey is usually timed to the Davos Global Economic Forum, which most years is a staid gathering of world leaders. This year, though, the mood was more, er, fraught, and that geopolitical anxiety is reflected in the survey findings. And there are some good lessons for association leaders in it.

Employees Say Narrative-Based Performance Reviews Are the Fairest

HR Dive | Ginger Christ | January 13, 2026

When it comes to performance reviews, it may be time to scrap the numbers, new research finds.

Cornell University researchers discovered that narrative-only feedback is considered the fairest by employees and gives a clearer understanding of how to improve performance, according to a Jan. 6 release announcing the results. The study, published Dec. 22 in Academy of Management Discoveries, compared responses from 1,600 employees who received numerical-only, narrative-only, or combined feedback.

Breaking the Job Application Doom Loop

Classet | Paul Jones | January 26, 2026

Today, job search is going through its own inflation. Applications are cheap to send and hard to value. People rarely hear back from employers, so they apply to more jobs. Auto-apply tools push the numbers even higher, and each click to apply becomes worth less than the previous one. Recruiters face a flood of resumes, rely on filters, fall behind, and miss highly qualified candidates. Recent job shifts have accelerated application volume and frustration on both sides. In data from over 100,000 applicants on our platform, most applied to more than 20 roles, with one in five applying to more than 50 and spending under an hour researching.

MUNICIPALITIES IN MOTION

Understanding Workplace Drug Testing & Fourth Amendment Implications: A Guide for Employers

MEC Speaker Brent Hinders - Hopkins & Huebner | January 6, 2026

Public & Private Sector

Maintaining a drug-free workplace requires a delicate balance between operational safety and legal compliance. For private and public sector employers alike, implementing a drug testing program involves navigating constitutional protections, statutory requirements, and privacy considerations. Failure to adhere to these standards can expose an organization to significant legal liability. In this article we will address how to establish a compliant written policy, types of workplace testing, supervisory and rehabilitation, and lastly general private and constitutional considerations. 

10 Employment Law Risks HR Must Track in 2026

HR Morning | Carol Warner | January 30, 2026

If you’re looking for employment law predictions for 2026, a new survey from Norton Rose Fulbright highlights where employment and labor risk remains most persistent for employers.

The firm’s 21st Annual Litigation Trends Survey examines where businesses faced litigation in 2025 and how that legal risk is expected to shift in the year ahead.

Just 34% reported employment and labor litigation last year (down from 42%), suggesting things turned out better than expected – yet employment law claims still ranked second overall. 

What’s on the 2026 Horizon for NLC’s Federal Advocacy

National League of Cities | Archana Sridhar | January 12, 2026

As NLC heads into a new year, it is important to reflect on the significant progress we made together — and prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This past year tested local governments with unprecedented federal uncertainty, including a prolonged shutdown and shifting budget priorities. Through strong advocacy and partnership, NLC delivered critical wins that safeguarded essential programs and positioned cities, towns and villages for success.

WORKPLACE WATCH

As an organization with diverse functions, the U.S. Department of Labor carries out its mission through a number of offices and agencies. These are organized into major program areas, and headed by an Assistant Secretary or other official. 

I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

Use Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for every individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and aliens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.

On the form, an employee must attest to their employment authorization. The employee must also present their employer with acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization. The employer must examine these documents to determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee, then record the document information on the employee’s Form I-9. Certain employers who choose to remotely examine the employee’s documentation under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure rather than via physical examination must indicate they did so by checking the box provided. 

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.

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.

Monthly newsletter featuring compliance assistance, training and other workplace safety and health resources.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered.



The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.

EEOC Meeting of January 22, 2026

The commission held an open meeting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, Jan. 22, 2026, at EEOC Headquarters, Jacqueline A. Berrien Training Center, 131 M Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20507.

MATTERS CONSIDERED:

• Rescission of Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace

• Resolution Concerning the Commission’s Authority to Commence or Intervene in Litigation - NOT DISCUSSED, Approved by a Notation Vote on January 21, 2026.

• Obligation of Funds Requiring Commission Approval - NOT DISCUSSED, Approved by a Notation Vote on January 21, 2026.

EEOC Resources

Need information about a specific discrimination topic? We've categorized EEOC material for small businesses categorized by topic, so you can find what you need quickly and easily. 

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. 

PRESENTING SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Bukaty Companies is one of Kansas City’s top-ranked employee benefits and insurance brokerage firms.

Contact Kent Friend 913-777-7535 for more info!

HR CONSULTING & TRAINING

Shifting rules and new regulations are complicating the human resource world. Our HR Consulting & Training team has the expertise to navigate through the catalog of compliance requirements – FMLA, FLSA, ADA, CAA, and more. We offer a wide array of services to address common challenges today’s HR professionals face.

MEC is THE source for classroom instruction covering topics in the areas of employment, training, benefits & wellness education.

It remains an essential event for those who want to stay up-to-date and compliant with the latest developments in labor and employment law, best practices, healthcare reform, training, wellness, analysis, trends, and more.

Earn CEUs while networking with top industry professionals!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! 

Missouri Employment Conference

The Missouri Employment Conference has been THE source for classroom instruction covering topics in the areas of employment, training, benefits & wellness education.



The mission of the Missouri Employment Conference is to deliver an affordable conference that provides the opportunity to develop professionally as well as receive continuing education credits through multiple professional associations such as:

• Human Resource Certification Institute Credits
• Society for Human Resource Management Professional Development Credits
• Continuing Legal Education Credits
• Continuing Professional Education Credits
• Missouri Municipal Finance Officers Association Certification
• American Society of Association Executives CAE Credits

The Missouri Employment Conference is the fastest growing conference of its kind in Missouri, offering multiple informative, interactive and educational sessions delivered by some of the top employment lawyers, payroll professionals, workforce development leaders and many others, from Missouri and surrounding states. It remains an essential event for those who want to stay up-to-date and compliant with the latest developments in labor and employment law, best practices, healthcare reform, how-to’s, wellness, analysis, trends, and more.

CONFERENCE TEAM

MICHELLE, LISA, SUE, NAN & SARAH

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. 

10 Laws and Regulations to Know to Maintain Mental Health Compliance

Spring Health | Hayden Goethe | January 26, 2026

Mental health support intersects with a unique web of privacy rules, parity laws, and anti-discrimination statutes. Navigating mental health compliance isn't just about avoiding penalties; it's about ensuring your employees have equitable, protected access to the care they need. 

Whether you are managing a traditional health plan, a digital mental health solution, or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), staying compliant requires vigilance across federal, state, and even international lines. To help you manage this responsibility, we have compiled 10 essential laws and regulations every benefits decision-maker needs to understand.

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.

From volunteering and outreach, to becoming a member, there is a place for you to join in the fight against human trafficking.

Find out how to:

• Become a member

• Request us for a speaking event

• Share and help spread the word

• Follow us on Facebook and share posts to raise awareness

If you see something, say something. Watch for signs of human trafficking and report suspicious activity.

Write a Card, Read a Poem, Take Fewer Photos: How to Feel More Human in 2026

The Guardian | Tom Gill | January 20, 2026

Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

While ‘touch grass’ has become a popular prescription for a less digital life, choosing social friction over efficiency can also feel curative.

At the turn of the millennium daily life looked very different. The modern internet was just a decade old, mobile phones were far from universal and our social lives were mostly physical – and local.

In the 25 years since, technology has changed how we live in profound ways. Most people check their phone within minutes of waking and return to it on average 186 times a day. Computers and the systems that sit behind them mediate every aspect of modern life, shaping how we move through the world.

15 Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day Recipes from Breakfast in Bed Through Dessert

Delish | Colton Trowbridge | January 23, 2026

Photo: Andrew Bui; Food Styling: Makinze Gore

Romance doesn't have to break the bank.

You shouldn’t have to worry about an expensive bill ruining your Valentine’s Day dinner. Afterall, there’s nothing romantic about stressing over your bank account. Instead, try these 15 budget-friendly Valentine’s recipes for a perfect, affordable day of romance from breakfast through dessert. Trust me, even though these recipes don’t cost much, they sure look and taste like they do—your boo will never know.

Start the day off with breakfast in bed, complete with our crescent breakfast tart or Nutella-stuffed pancakes, then move to a candlelit dinner-for-two of our creamy Tuscan white bean skillet, Marry Me shrimp pasta, chicken cacciatore, or more, then finish the night off with something sweet like our big-batch lava cake or chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.

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 February unfolds, it’s a time to move from reflection into focus—taking the intentions set at the start of the year and putting them into action. The challenges facing today’s workplaces—from evolving employment laws to employee well-being—remain complex, but they also create opportunities to lead with purpose, compassion, and confidence.

Through the Missouri Employment Conference community, we continue to foster meaningful conversations that help ensure HR professionals and leaders are navigating these issues together, supported by peers who are committed to learning, compliance, and thoughtful leadership.

Thank you for being part of this network and for your continued engagement with our newsletter and conference. Your dedication to staying informed and proactive strengthens workplaces across Missouri and beyond. As the year gains momentum, we look forward to continued dialogue, deeper connections, and more opportunities to support you in the important work you do every day.

Take time this month to sharpen your focus, strengthen your connections, and build on the goals you’ve set—and as always, we are here for YOU.

Nan, Sue, and the Conference Team