February 2025 | 56th EDITION NEWSLETTER

WE CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU BACK!

5 Trends That Will Shape HR In 2025

HR Dive | Ryan Golden | January 6, 2025

From harnessing artificial intelligence’s next big leap to addressing political and cultural volatility, HR will have the chance to shape its long-term future in a big way.

People watch from inside Amazon’s Day One building as Amazon workers hold signs during a walkout event at the company’s headquarters on May 31, 2023, in Seattle, Wash. While Amazon forced workers back to the office in 2024, flexibility is unlikely to disappear across the board in 2025, experts said. 

The countdown is over, the fireworks have faded and we are now officially halfway through the 2020s. That may seem a difficult fact for HR professionals to grasp given how the decade began amid the disruption caused by COVID-19.

10 HR Trends as Generative AI Expands in the 2025 Workplace

Forbes | Jeanne Meister | January 6, 2025

The unprecedented rise of generative AI, the growth of AI agents, and the need to apply digital and human skills in every job, demonstrate how AI is transforming the workplace.

In 2025, a growing number of organizations will move from experimenting with generative AI to making it an essential part of their business planning process, transforming key functions from customer service to supply chain and human resources.



Here is my countdown of what to consider as you include generative AI as part of your HR roadmap for 2025.

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 

Want To Boost Your Performance and Impact? Adding Purpose to Reflection Impacts You In 4 Ways.

MEC Sponsor BecomeMore | Scott Burgmeyer | December 12, 2024

As we wind down 2024 many take time to think about how the year went and often wonder – how could I be better? How can the team perform better?

Being more purposeful in your reflection can shift from just reminiscing to a way to unlock deeper learning potential. Using what we at BecomeMore call growth questions (What went well? What could have gone better? What could be done differently?)

Why do this? The benefit is longer lasting that just “oh yeah, that’s a good idea” to boosting memory, problem solving, self-awareness and your overall performance….AND it’s backed by science!

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A Management Professor Explains Why You Should Stop Explaining Everything

Fast Company | Chris Lipp | January 10, 2025

When direct reports receive abstract instructions, they are empowered through both clarity of purpose and the freedom to direct creative energy toward the best solutions. 

Today we obsess over metrics and actionable insights. Our desire to be good leaders compels us to overcommunicate the details. But science suggests that overexplaining by communicating details as leaders may stifle our power and our team’s creativity. 

Do you notice how great leaders speak on lofty abstract topics like belonging and innovation? During her time at Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg said, “Our mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.” Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, said “We see a world where AI augments human intelligence.”  

Are You Prepared for the 'Great Detachment'? The New Trend Harming Your Business

Employee Benefits News | Keith Button | January 10, 2025

Employees' dissatisfaction with work and their desire to leave their jobs are at their highest levels in a decade, according to a recent Gallup survey of 22,000 U.S. employees.

Company leaders will have a difficult time retaining and attracting employees through this Great Detachment — as Gallup calls it — if they don't do a better job of setting clear expectations and inspiring employees with a mission they can get behind, says Ben Wigert, Gallup's director of research and strategy for workplace management in Omaha, Nebraska.

"It's important that communication rallies people around why we're doing the work we do, how we do it to best serve our customers and how we ourselves can better develop into our job, into a career that's meaningful to us," Wigert says.

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 

Change Will Accelerate In 2025; How HR Can Keep Up

HR Executive | Dawn Kawamoto | January 2, 2025

CHROs may want to brace themselves for a challenging environment heading into 2025, as a number of trends will continue to unfold in the New Year that will test their HR leadership skills, experts say.

From demands for transformation and the integration of AI to evolving landscapes for hiring and DEI, HR leaders will face an environment rife with change and uncertainty, says Diana Scott, U.S. human capital center leader for The Conference Board. In the backdrop exists an environment where domestic and global conflict are on the rise, along with economic uncertainty, and organizations continue to grapple with new ways of working and persistent change fatigue, adds Brad Bell, director of the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies and a strategic HR professor at Cornell University.

Empowering Employees Through Financial Wellness

The HRCI Team | December 17, 2024

As HR professionals gear up for the new year, optimizing employee benefits programs with a holistic approach to wellness is a key focus for many. Financial wellness initiatives are increasingly recognized as a critical component of comprehensive benefits packages that support employee mental health.  

Today’s economic landscape is marked by high consumer prices and inflation, with financial stress affecting 60% of full-time employees—surpassing levels seen during the height of the pandemic —according to the 2023 PwC Employee Financial Wellness Survey. This stress impacts various aspects of employees' well-being, from mental health to overall productivity, and hinders their ability to bring their whole selves to work.  

From Support to Strategy: HR’s Rise as a Business Influencer

The HRCI Team | December 4, 2024

The world has drastically changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, and so has the role of HR. According to a recent survey conducted by HRCI and MindEdge Learning, HR seeks to broaden its scope in the new post-pandemic "normal," aspiring for a more significant role in business operations. Findings from the survey, which included feedback from 1,044 HRCI-certified human resources professionals, reveal that an overwhelming 88% of respondents believe HR should take on a more active role in business operations.

HR Professionals Can Be Friendly Without Being Friends

HR Bartender | Sharlyn Lauby

January 5, 2025

I’ve been seeing some postings on LinkedIn of a person holding a sign with a comment about HR.

Honestly, I assume it’s some sort of advertisement for HR related products or services. But one of the signs stuck out for me – it said something to the effect of “HR is not your friend.”

On some level, it’s true – HR isn’t. In many organizations, the human resources department acts as the eyes and ears of the workforce.

Is 2025 The Year DEI Defines Itself?

HR Dive | Caroline Colvin | January 8, 2025

Much of 2024 was spent — by HR, talent acquisition teams, employees and consumers alike — trying to make sense of DEI.

While experts told HR Dive last year they expected an increased focus on people analytics, they also highlighted increased concern around compliance.

Sure enough, 2024 became the year conservative activists and advocacy groups threatened boycotts and vowed to pursue legal probes into companies’ DEI practices, claiming they were breaking the law.

Improve Your Business Acumen Using These 10 Activities

HR Bartender | Sharlyn Lauby | January 7, 2025

At the beginning of the year, I always find myself thinking of goals and activities that I want to improve or work on. I don’t want to use the word resolutions. Rather I think of it more as refocusing on activities I should be doing more regularly. 

With all the talk about the new administration, it should be no surprise that we need to understand the business. In fact, as I’m typing this, I don’t know that it’s good enough to just understand the business. We need to be able to talk about it and make decisions related to the business. 

One of the behavioral competencies in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) competency model is business acumen.

Why We Urgently Need to Dismantle the Leadership Double Standard

Fast Company | Wema Hoover | January 9, 2025

Companies must commit to actionable steps that ensure every leader, regardless of background, has the opportunity to excel and contribute. 

Leadership should be about competence, vision, and results. Yet, for women—especially women of color—leadership is often about navigating a minefield of biases and double standards. Despite making up nearly half of the workforce, women hold only 10% of executive leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies.

This goes beyond a simple glass ceiling; it’s a complex maze of systemic inequities that consistently obstruct progress. 

Why does this gap persist in an era that champions equality and innovation? 

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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Stepping Into Leadership? Keep The Door Open

DoL Blog | Lisa M. Gomez | January 8, 2025

“May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and the difference you make.” 

I’ve had a sign with this quote hung in my offices over the years, guiding me through every chapter of my career—from my time as an attorney in private practice representing benefit plans to the past two-plus years of having the honor of leading the Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

But EBSA’s dedicated public servants have inspired me far more than any motivational quote ever could. They’re not here for flashy perks or big paychecks. They’re here because they believe in this agency’s mission—protecting the job-based benefits of America’s workers and their families.

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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

ACA Reporting Requirements Modified

MEC Presenting Sponsor Bukaty Companies | January 9, 2025

Changes to the reporting requirements (1094 /1095 series) imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were signed into law late last year. The Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act at face value provide some administrative relief to employers required to provide the annual information returns to the IRS and employees.

Form distribution

In the first quarter of each year, affected employers and health insurance providers have been required to submit coverage and enrollment information to the IRS and benefit-eligible employees using Forms 1094 /1095. Starting in 2025, employee forms are no longer required to be distributed, unless requested. Forms must now be provided within 30 days after a request. Employers and health insurance providers must give individuals timely notice of this option, in accordance with any requirements set by the IRS. Forms are still required to be provided to the IRS. From a practical standpoint, some employers may find it easier to continue issuing forms to employees, rather than respond to individual requests throughout the year.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

We can't wait to show you what we have in store for the 2025 conference!!

SAVE THE DATES 4/30 + 5/1!

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

Michelle, Lisa, Nan, Sarah & Sue

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!

Mark Your Calendars for These Big-Screen Family Movies Coming in 2025

Parents.com | Lynnette Nicholas | January 6, 2025

Parents/andresr via getty images

From original offerings to fresh spins on classic tales, here are some big-screen titles to look forward to this year.

Watching films is not only a great way to spend quality time with family and friends–it can also help fuel creativity, showcase different cultures and ethnicities, and even help us to understand more about our passions and purposes in life. 

2024 brought us some great family movies like The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2, Barbie, Transformers One, and many others. As we look ahead to 2025, there are several more amazing family movies on the way to theaters. Here's what you should have on your radar.

14 Easy Healthy Dinners to Put on Rotation in 2025

NYT Cooking | Allison Jiang | January 6, 2025

Becky Hughes’s vegan Caesar salad.Linda Xiao for The New York Times.

Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.

Start the year off right with these recipes to refresh and reinvigorate. Eating well at the start of every year can be a daunting task, encumbered by the prospect of unfamiliar cooking methods and monotonous meals. But sometimes all you need is a new slate of recipes to kick-start your creativity.

So consider the 14 below: They’re fresh, filling and full of goodness — and they’ve been tested and vetted not only by our recipe developers and editors, but by our readers as well. Healthy can look like different things to different people, but the goal with these dishes is to help you get cooking, and to make something that feels nourishing.

Read on for dishes that will make you feel confident about cooking, and, most important, taste really good.

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.

Hello, February!

A new month brings fresh beginnings, and February is no exception! Whether you're celebrating love, embracing new goals, or enjoying the cozy winter vibes, there's something special about this time of year.

Stay tuned for exciting updates, inspiring stories, and plenty of ways to make this month memorable.

Speaking of exciting updates and making memories, the Missouri Employment Conference registration is open!

We look forward to seeing you April 30th!

Stay connected, stay inspired!

Nan, Sue & MEC Team