February 2024 | 44th EDITION NEWSLETTER | |
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HR 101: The History of The Gender Pay Gap
HR Brew | Amanda Schiavo | January 29, 2024
Equal pay for equal work—what a notion.
Welcome to HR 101. Class is now in session. Today’s discussion will focus on the history of the battle to close the gender pay gap.
But first: Hey, Alexa, play “The Man,” by Taylor Swift.
The history. Women’s fight for equal pay is centuries old. An 1869 New York Times letter to the editor questioned why female employees of the federal government were not being paid the same as their male colleagues. The letter’s author noted that, at the time of publication, the Treasury Department employed about 500 women, all of whom were earning half as much as their male colleagues.
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This Benefit Is More Sought After Than Remote Work
Fast Company | Beth Castle | January 30, 2024
InHerSight data says that in 2024 women’s top must have in the workplace isn’t a home office at all. Rather, it’s flexible work hours.
There’s no avoiding the fact that many job seekers want to work from home.
According to FlexJobs, 65% of people say they want to work remotely full-time, and data from InHerSight, a company reviews platform helping women find companies and jobs, indicates nearly 90% of women are seeking or open to remote work. This headline is likely headache-inducing for many business leaders still locked in the ongoing remote-hybrid-office debate . . . but there’s a catch.
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I just wanted to thank you both so much for including me in the IEC and MEC this year. The incredible amount of time and energy you put into the conferences in unbelievable, but the love you have shines through and I think brings a collaborative spirit for everyone to learn and share. So THANK YOU for all you do!
MEC Speaker Lindsey K. Niemeier | Head of Strategy TCare
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Surviving The Storm: How To Deal with A Narcissist at Work
HR Digest | Jane Harper | January 27, 2024
It would be nice if we could say that narcissistic coworkers were a rare breed, few and far between, but unfortunately dealing with a narcissist at work is something that may have had to come to terms with. Learning how to deal with a narcissist at work takes considerable time and energy, but if it allows you to maintain your peace at work and get your tasks done without interference or interruption, it seems worth investing the energy to figure it out. It might also help to understand these narcissistic coworkers in the workplace rather than just resorting to pushing them away every chance you get.
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The Top Ten HR Trends That Matter Most In 2024
Forbes | Jeanne Meister | January 4. 2024
Rapid use of Generative AI, the emergence of a new blended workforce of humans and digital workers, and increasing employee fear of being obsolete (FOBO), together prove what Intel co-founder Gordon Moore (and the author of Moore’s Law) said, at any given point in time, “change has never been this fast and will never be this slow ever again.”
Resiliency, agility, and adopting a “test and learn approach” will mark the winning strategies for 2024.
1. Generative AI Will Be Your New Work Buddy
In 2024, Generative AI will shake up how we think about what work we do and what we delegate to our new “work buddy.”
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Four Compliance Issues to Consider as Layoffs Tick Up
HR Brew | Courtney Vinopal | January 22, 2024
As job cuts continue into 2024, here are four rules HR must comply with when layoffs occur.
The year is off to a less than auspicious start for some parts of the workforce, as large companies including Google, Amazon, Citigroup, and BlackRock all announced their plans to lay off employees.
This is a continuation of job cuts that started last year, with the tech sector being hit particularly hard. And as some recent high-profile cases have illustrated (looking at you, Twitter), skirting legal obligations for departing employees can land firms in hot water.
Here are four compliance issues to consider when navigating layoffs for US workers.
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The conference was great and you and your team were awesome hosts. I imagine that you’ll see members of my team every year!!
Garon Holman – Law Enforcement Corrections Officer
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2024 Priorities: Helping Employees with Career Management Strategies
HR Digest | Ava Martinez | January 7, 2024
Career management strategies are more important now than ever before as we step into a new year and hope to leave behind one that was full of job losses and instability. While employee career planning is largely left to the employees themselves, considering that organizations play a huge role in making or breaking an employee’s career, it is important for them to also contribute to their career management and planning as well. A career development plan, despite being well-designed, is always going to be subjected to the whims of the market and the organizations that participate in it, making it all the more important to develop an assortment of career management strategies that can help your employees build a better foothold at your organization.
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7 Key Strategic HR Initiatives for A Triumphant 2024
Forbes | Joseph Soares | January 29, 2024
Undoubtedly, 2023 was a year marked by unprecedented challenges and transformations where the role of human resources became even more pivotal. As we step into 2024, organizations can use this transition to redefine their HR strategies, ensuring resilience, adaptability and success. Here are seven key focus areas for HR professionals to lead their organizations to a resounding victory in the coming year.
1. Embrace Digital Transformation
The digital age is not on the horizon; it's here. Throughout 2023, the imperative for HR departments to integrate digital technology was increasingly apparent. Companies like Tata Communications embraced this shift by adopting AI-driven recruitment systems.
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Why Great Leaders Should Sometimes Make Things Harder for Their Teams, According To 2 Stanford Professors
Fast Company | Robert I. Sutton & Huggy Rao
January 30, 2024
In their new book, Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao dive into the drawbacks—and benefits—of friction.
Our seven-year project taught us that a bedrock belief of friction fixers is that if we focus on what to make easier and faster and what to make harder and slower, life will be better for workers and the people they serve. And if we turn our attention to finding when and where friction troubles arise, understanding the causes, and developing remedies, then our organization will be more humane, productive, innovative, and profitable.
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20 Ways HR Managers Can Identify and Develop Talent
Expert Panel®
Forbes Councils Member
Forbes Human Resources Council
COUNCIL POST| Membership (Fee-Based)
January 23, 2024
The success and sustainability of any organization rely on the ability to identify and nurture emerging talent who will lead the company forward. That's why one of the most important tasks for HR managers is spotting and fostering these future leaders within their organization.
To that end, 20 Forbes Human Resources Council members share some proven strategies and techniques to identify, nurture and develop the next generation of leaders. Read on to explore how HR leaders can build a robust leadership pipeline to meet their companies' future needs.
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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
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Workplace Stress
Make Work Better - Mental Health Matters
Stress can be harmful to our health and increase mental health challenges. Mental health challenges can include clinical mental illness and substance use disorders as well as other emotions like stress, grief, feeling sad and anxious, where these feelings are temporary and not part of a diagnosable condition. While there are many things in life that induce stress, work can be one of those factors. However, workplaces can also be a key place for resources, solutions, and activities designed to improve our mental health and well-being.
Workplace stress and poor mental health can negatively affect workers through:
· Job performance
· Productivity
· Work engagement and communication
· Physical capability and daily functioning
READ MORE
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The new version of Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification is now available for use. This version contains changes to the form and instructions, including shortening the Form I‑9 to one page and reducing the instructions to eight pages.
What Form I‑9 versions may be used
Beginning Nov. 1, 2023, only the new Form I‑9 dated "08/01/23” may be used.
READ MORE
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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.
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Retaliation because the employee complained about job discrimination or assisted with a job discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
READ MORE
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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! | |
Had a phenomenal time at the Missouri Employment Conference! I appreciate all the love!
MEC Speaker Reggie Harris
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Everyone was super easy to work with. It was a well put together event and you guys knocked it out of the park!
MEC Vendor William Holtz | Multimedia Broadcast Journalist at Lake TV
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The MEC article library is growing monthly with valuable information relevant to the ever-changing work environment. Check the website frequently for updates. If you have something important for our readers to benefit from, reach out to us to be included in the next newsletter or article library! | |
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STRONG MINDS | STRONG HEARTS | |
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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.
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JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Together, we can raise awareness, educate and work towards bringing an end to human trafficking.
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Things to Do
Things to see. Food to eat. Places to discover.
Whatever you want to do, it's here.
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The 14 Recipes We Can't Wait to Make This February
ALLRECIPES | Andrea Lobas | February 1, 2024
PHOTO: DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
February might be the shortest month on the calendar, but that doesn't mean we have less going on.
From Super Bowl parties to Valentine's Day festivities to weeknight dinners, we've got a long list of recipes we are looking forward to whipping up. Plus, we even have an extra Leap Day this year to make these favorite late winter dishes.
But even still, there's no time to waste, so let's get to it!!
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CONGRATULATIONS to Celia Hagan, VP Human Resources, Mark Twain Behavioral Health. Celia was nominated as an HR Hero and was chosen to receive a $50 VISA gift card from the conference to recognize the positive impact Celia makes!
"She exhibits the true nature of HR while being the utmost professional and at the same time compassionate for the employees and clients that she serves."
...excerpt from Celia's nomination form
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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.
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February is here!! 2024 Conference registration continues for the two-day employment conference happening in May. Take advantage of the early bird discount, be sure to register yourself and co-workers soon. Don't forget to pass the conference information along to your management teams who will benefit greatly from this year's topics!
The spring conference will feature dynamic keynote speakers with inspiring stories to tell, multiple breakout learning sessions with some familiar and many new speakers.
The conference team is truly excited to bring you the latest HR and other important employment topics in an engaging and informative environment. Be on the lookout for the speaker spotlights rolling out on social media at the end of the month.
Our team is energized and ready to welcome you to the biggest conference yet, where you'll have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals. Attendees can take advantage of the many sponsor networking opportunities as well as cool prizes offered by the vast variety of conference sponsors.
Join us in shaking off the winter weather blues to be of service to someone in need, spread positivity in your workplace and make the strategic move in your career by registering now for a fabulous spring conference experience!
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