November 2025 | 65th 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. | | |
Want to be a Better Leader? Master These Skills
Forbes | Marcel Schwantes | October 28, 2025
True leadership isn’t about what you achieve. It’s about who you become.
Two decades of coaching leaders and developing myself as a leader have taught me a key lesson: Leadership isn’t a destination. Just when you think you’ve reached the top of the mountain, look up, you’ll see another peak waiting.
The truth is, there’s no secret sauce for leading yourself or others. Leadership is an ever-evolving process of learning and growing. The best leaders never stop evolving.
Here are four lessons every great leader eventually learns.
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5 Career-Changing Mindsets to Help You Win at Work
FastCompany | Thomas Oppong | October 20, 2025
If you want leverage, freedom, and a career that works for you, these ideas can help you take your career to another level.
The one practical career security no one can take from you is control. I’ve built my career on five core mindsets that helped me transition to being responsible for my own career success. It’s how I run my professional life.
Careers are not just built. They’re owned. That’s how you become indispensable. Your career isn’t a ladder. It’s a business. And you are in charge.
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Federal Agencies Provide Updates Amid Government Shutdown
Pay News Now, payroll.org | Rayna Alexander, Esq. | October 17, 2025
Some federal agencies have provided updates and shared contingency plans as the government shutdown continues, including:
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Due to limited employees, BLS delayed the release of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is important as the 2026 social security wage base is based on the September CPI, which will now be released on October 24.
Social Security Administration (SSA) – Should announce the 2026 social security wage base on October 24; PayrollOrg members will receive a Compliance Update with this information. Released its Agency Shutdown Contingency Plan.
U.S. Department of Labor – Released its plan for the Continuation of Limited Activities
During a Lapse in Appropriations.
IRS – Released its Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan.
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Why Associations Need to Invest in Professional Development
Associations Now | Mark Athitakis | October 24, 2025
A recent study shows that members are looking for education in a variety of ways. Associations need to do more to provide it.
Association members still place a lot of value on their association and feel a lot of loyalty to it. But as with so much these days, it’s best not to take it for granted.
Momentive Software’s new survey, Bridging the Gap, sees a lot of positives in associations’ relationships with their members. As I wrote in a story about the preview of the study, members give high satisfaction ratings and a strong majority intends to renew.
But it’s worth drilling into one element of the survey that highlights a structural and technological shortcoming that associations need to consider.
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'Job Hugging' Signals Shift in Worker Priorities
Employee Benefits News | Jimmy Nesbitt | October 28, 2025
Key Insight: Discover how "job hugging" shifts retention from loyalty to survival-driven behavior.
Supporting Data: 75% of workers expect to remain in the same job for at least two more years.
Forward Look: Prepare for rising "quiet quitting" risks and demand for expanded benefits and upskilling.
Increased fears over job security have led to a new trend in the workplace:
Employees are putting off career moves.
While on the surface lower turnover seems like a positive for employers, it can also present some challenges.
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E-Verify Resumes Operations During Government Shutdown
MEC Sponsor McMahon Berger | Arturo Hernandez | October 13, 2025
On October 9, 2025, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that E-Verify has resumed operations as of October 8th, restoring participating employers’ ability to confirm work authorization of newly hired employees, resolve outstanding cases, and otherwise manage their E-Verify responsibilities. The E-Verify system had been offline since October 1, 2025, when the most recent federal government shutdown began.
Employers that participate in E-Verify and were unable to create or process cases while the system was unavailable must now take action to ensure compliance with E-Verify requirements.
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Five Places to Deploy AI Agents Today in Your Association
ASAE | Erin M. Fuller | October 20, 2025
AI agents can boost association efficiency and insight — if paired with thoughtful rollout, education, and pilot projects.
AI isn’t a silver bullet you “turn on.” It’s a capability you cultivate. In my work with association leaders, the most successful rollouts pair the tech with four conditions: education, experience, exposure, and an environment where people can try things, make mistakes, and learn quickly. If we simply throw tech at people, adoption stalls. But if we create space to experiment with purpose, AI becomes a practical teammate for staff and volunteers.
Below are five high-impact places to deploy AI agents right now, including specific prompts and tips your team can use to get started.
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Public Support for DEI as a Business Priority Falls, But the Majority of Americans Still Support It, Survey Finds
HR Brew | Kristen Parisi | October 28, 2025
People in the US also want businesses to take a public stance on free speech, healthcare, and climate change, according to Bentley University and Gallup.
Most Americans (56%) believe that businesses should take a stance on DEI issues, but fewer believe they should promote DEI, according to a new survey by Bentley University and Gallup.
Some 69% of Americans believe it’s at least somewhat important for businesses to promote DEI, a nine-point decrease since 2022 and a five-point decrease since 2024, the survey found.
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4 Steps to Build a Strong Municipal Planning Strategy
Spider Strategies Blog | Conor Crimmins | October 24, 2025
Cities invest months crafting comprehensive plans, only to watch progress crumble when departments clash over conflicting priorities. Housing teams fast-track developments without consulting transportation planners about infrastructure capacity. Months of community feedback from packed public meetings vanish into departmental black holes, leaving residents frustrated and ignored.
Meanwhile, critical data sits trapped in separate systems, preventing the unified perspective you need for smart municipal planning strategy decisions.
This fragmentation turns promising initiatives into expensive cycles of delays and wasted resources.
In this blog post, we’ll explore four proven steps to transform scattered planning efforts into a coordinated municipal strategy.
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Small City Solutions: How Wasilla, Alaska Uses Braided Funding to Finance Local Projects
National League of Cities | Samantha Pedrosa | October 22, 2025
The Alaskan city of Wasilla may have a population of just under 10,000 residents, but its influence extends far beyond its city limits. Surrounded by rural communities, Wasilla serves as a hub for more than 150,000 people from the region who rely on the city for essential supplies, entertainment and transportation.
Recently, Wasilla recognized the need for critical infrastructure updates and faced the challenge of funding both large- and small-scale projects required to sustain the region. With its small population, relying solely on the general revenue budget was not enough. The solution for Wasilla came in the form of braided funding.
In municipal finance, braided funding means taking various forms of funding and weaving them together one source of revenue with another for the same project. This allows a city to use various revenue streams to stretch their budget and make costly projects feasible. Each source of funding has its own compliance and reporting requirements, which are monitored separately with stakeholders aware of how the funds are being used.
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Living on Borrowed Time: Missouri Faces Big Budget Cliff
Missouri Budget Project | August 2025
Governor Kehoe recently announced that Missouri expects a $1 billion shortfall in general revenue in FY 2027. This shortfall is expected mostly because of the implementation of previously passed tax cuts. COVID-related savings temporarily masked the shortfall, and this budget gap has grown as state legislators continued to approve additional tax cuts.
The recently passed federal budget cuts will magnify this gap.
Over the past five years, extraordinary federal funds designed to address the health and economic impacts of COVID have been flowing through Missouri’s state budget. This boosted the economy and allowed Missouri to stockpile billions of dollars in general revenue. These federal dollars were used to pay for investments in infrastructure, ongoing expenses, and expansions of existing programs. As that federal funding comes to an end, Missouri faces a significant budget cliff.
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AIM president/CEO McCarty honored with Neighbor Award by the Assn. of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
October 1, 2025 - The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives presented Ray McCarty, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri with the "Coop Neighbor Award" at their annual dinner in Branson.
"From time to time, we come across a person who epitomizes what the words 'Good Neighbor' mean," said Caleb Jones, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. "There are people in this world who value helping others. They are individuals who go out of their way to share their time, talents and treasures to see others succeed. Such a person is Ray McCarty."
AMEC Executive VP and CEO Caleb Jones presents award to Ray McCarty, president and CEO of AIM.
“Ray McCarty’s dedication to fostering a strong business climate and his unwavering support for Missouri’s cooperatives make him an indispensable partner in strengthening rural communities and advancing Missouri’s economy,” Jones said. “It would be almost impossible to accurately count the true value of the assistance Ray has provided to Missouri’s electric cooperatives. For this reason, we felt it important to thank Ray for his service above and beyond the call of duty.”
| | The recent government shutdowns have brought about temporary disruptions in access to various essential resources and services, which may affect websites and platforms that rely on government oversight and information dissemination. While such challenges can create uncertainty, it is important to recognize the resilience of our workforce community in navigating these changes. The Missouri Employment Conference (MEC) remains committed to fostering collaboration and support among professionals, encouraging individuals to adapt and seek alternative resources during this time. We invite you to stay connected with your peers and leverage MEC’s networking opportunities, ensuring that we all remain informed and empowered. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation, reinforcing the importance of community and shared knowledge as we move forward. | | |
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.
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Help For Employers on Pay and Leave Laws
Department of Labor Blog | James R. Macy | September 9, 2025
Late this July, the Department of Labor relaunched the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program. In a recent blog, Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling explained how self-audits, “enable you to identify and fix potential violations, reduce the likelihood of litigation, and demonstrate a good-faith commitment to following the law. They also help ensure that workers get the protections and benefits they are entitled to — like timely wages, fair and safe working conditions, and benefits security.”
Now that PAID is underway, we want to spotlight how employers can use the PAID program to engage with specific labor laws and regulations. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the signature law enforced by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Violations can lead to the failure to pay the minimum wage or overtime rates. Through a voluntary self-audit under the PAID program, employers can clear themselves from potential violations and distinguish themselves in their communities and among their competitors.
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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.
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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.
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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. | | |
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.
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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.
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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.
| | 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!
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Promoting PTO Utilization
MEC Presenting Sponsor Bukaty Companies | October 29, 2025
Reports show that nearly a quarter of U.S. workers opted to not utilize any paid time off (PTO) last year, emphasizing the need for employers to know the difference between simply offering PTO and encouraging time off.
Hand in hand with lack of PTO utilization is a rise in workplace burnout. When workers feel overwhelmed by job duties, performance often suffers. Taking even a day or two to recalibrate lets workers come back renewed and focused. PTO is a chance for employees to step away from their duties to rest, recharge or handle personal tasks. Company leaders should lead by example and demonstrate that employees can take PTO without fear of retaliation or being perceived as disconnected from their role.
| | Kent Friend of Bukaty Insurance out at Prairie Meadows cheering on his racehorse, ICE Again! | | |
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 OPENS JANUARY 2! | |
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.
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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.
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Every year on Oct. 10, people and organizations around the world observe World Mental Health Day by raising awareness, starting conversations and inspiring action. It’s a moment to reflect on the importance of mental health and how supporting it benefits us all.
Mental health challenges touch everyone, directly or indirectly. In the U.S., nearly 30 million people — our neighbors, families and friends — lack access to the mental health and substance use care they need. The effects ripple outward, impacting schools, workplaces and communities. Here’s a snapshot:
1 in 5 adults experience a mental health condition each year.
1 in 6 youth (ages 6-17) face a mental health disorder annually.
1 in 20 adults live with a serious mental illness that significantly disrupts daily life.
3 in 5 adults with a mental illness did not receive care last year.
1 in 2 adults with a mental health condition say stigma has affected their work, relationships or ability to access care.
Mental health isn’t just a personal concern — it’s a shared responsibility. Prioritizing mental wellbeing strengthens families and communities, and creates workplaces and neighborhoods where everyone can thrive, even as it helps individuals navigate life’s challenges.
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SUCCEEDING AT WORK
Accommodations At Work
While you must be able to perform the essential tasks of your job, you are entitled to reasonable accommodations (changes made to company procedures/rules) that will help increase and maintain your job performance.
Examples of accommodations include:
· Flexible work schedules or start times
· Reduced distractions or noise in the work area
· Working from home or telecommuting.
· Written directions and task lists
· Regular written or verbal feedback
· Flexible break schedule
· Private, quiet space to rest during a break
· Use of a job coach
| | 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.
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The CFO provides philanthropic leadership to build stronger communities.
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.
We help donors achieve their philanthropic goals through professional management and investment of charitable funds.
We work with nonprofit organizations to help them fulfill their missions through fund administration, grantmaking and learning opportunities.
We award scholarships to deserving students to help them achieve their educational goals.
The CFO offers a range of philanthropic services to support our donors, affiliate foundations, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations in achieving their goals.
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Veterans Day Discounts and Freebies 2025
U.S. Veterans Magazine | October 2025
To honor our nation’s veterans, numerous companies are offering discounted or free products, meals, services and events to active-duty service members, veterans and—in many cases—military spouses and dependents. These deals are available on or around Veterans Day 2025 and may vary by location.
Note: While not all locations require proof of military service, it’s always best to bring a valid military ID, veteran ID card, DD214 or other accepted documentation in case verification is needed. This list will be updated as we get more companies offering deals and freebies.
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Tired of Turkey? These 18 Chef-Approved Thanksgiving Alternatives Always Impress
Parade | Alli Kelley | October 2, 2025
Move over, turkey? Consider duck, quail and pheasant.
It might be time to consider another protein alternative for your Thanksgiving feast especially if you have any turkey naysayers in your guest group or are just in the mood for something a little less traditional for Thanksgiving.
With these 18 easy and quick non-turkey Thanksgiving dinner ideas—including easy to more elaborate recipes—you’ll be sure to find what you need here. Pork recipes fit for entertaining, beef recipes that are as simple as can be and even a simple chicken recipe for those who want to stick with an old reliable.
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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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As November graces us with its presence, we are reminded of the cherished traditions that bind us together in our professional community. This season of gratitude encourages us to reflect on the importance of helping others and fostering connections that can enrich both our personal and professional lives.
Let's embrace this spirit by actively engaging in collaborative practices that not only enhance our own skills but also uplift our colleagues within the industry. As we prepare for the upcoming Missouri Employment Conference, let's take a moment to express our heartfelt thankfulness for the connections we've made and the invaluable knowledge we've gained. Together, we can create a supportive environment where everyone thrives.
So, let’s prioritize turning our aspirations into actions that contribute positively to the employment sector and strengthen our sense of belonging within the MEC community!
Nan, Sue and the Conference Team
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