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HR Pieces:
June 2025 News
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Dear Lynette,
This June, we’re kicking off summer with a mix of updates you won’t want to miss!
The Missouri Proposition A repeal is advancing but not yet official, so it’s crucial to stay informed about how potential changes to paid sick leave and wage laws may affect your organization. Plus, the IRS just released the 2026 HSA and HDHP limits and the 2024 EEO-1 filing period is open, with a few key changes to watch for.
And don’t forget—we’re still celebrating 20 years of HR Advantage! Our special anniversary pricing of 20% off on Career Development Services runs through July 1st. If you’ve been thinking about resume help or interview prep, now’s the time. Great gift for the special grad in your life!
We’re always here to help you navigate what’s now and what’s next in the world of HR.
With gratitude,
The HR Advantage Team-
Lynette, Camille, Karla, Dana, Liz, Seth, Sarah, Anita, Erinn, Dana, and Diane
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Lynette Weatherford MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President
Email Lynette
877.894.0202 ext 4
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Camille Knowles PHR,
SHRM-CP, HR Advisor
Email Camille
877.894.0202 ext 3
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Karla Callaway BS
HR Advisor
Email Karla
877.894.0202 ext 2
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Dana Baldwin BS, SPHR,
SHRM-SCP, HR Advisor
Email Dana
877.894.0202 ext 1
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Elizabeth Hurst MBA
Business Development Director
Email Elizabeth
877.894.0202 ext 5
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Seth Bunn BS
Recruitment Advisor
Email Seth
877.894.0202 ext 6
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Sarah Matthews BA
Business Development Manager
Email Sarah
(877) 894-0202 ext 8
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Anita King MA, SHRM-CP
Learning & Development Advisor
Email Anita
877.894.0202 Ext 7
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Erinn Johnson
HR Advisor Assistant
Behind the Scenes
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Dana Snyder, MS, BS, SHRM-CP
HR Advisor Assistant
Email Dana
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Diane Stites, MA, MBA, SHRM-SCP
HR Advisor Assistant
Email Diane
| | HR Hotline | Email | 877-894-0202 ext. 8 | | |
June HR News
- Missouri PROP A Repeal!
- Inflation Rises as Tariff Effects Begin
- Question of the Week
- IRS Releases 2026 HSA & HDHP Limits
- 2024 EEO-1 Component 1 Filing Changes & Deadlines
- HRA Celebrating 20 Years
- HRA Employee Spotlight
- Career Opportunities
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PROP. A
Missouri's Repeal of Paid Sick Leave
& Portions of Minimum Wage:
⚠️ What EVERY business should know!
On May 14, 2025, the Missouri Senate voted 22-11 to repeal two major parts of Proposition A, the voter-approved law that raised the state minimum wage and required earned paid sick leave.
Here’s what’s changing:
1. Paid Sick Leave Requirement — Repealed
As of May 1, employers were required to offer 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Under this new legislation, that requirement will be removed.
2. Inflation-Based Minimum Wage Increases — Removed
Proposition A tied future minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Those automatic adjustments are being eliminated.
If you’ve already updated your policies to meet the sick leave requirement, you’ll now need to decide whether to keep those policies in place or roll them back.
What’s NOT Changing:
Missouri’s minimum wage increases for 2025 and 2026 are unaffected. These were already scheduled and weren’t tied to the CPI. CPI-based increases wouldn’t have started until 2027, so they’re the only portion impacted.
Legal Background:
Although Proposition A passed in November 2024, it faced several legal challenges. On April 29, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the law in Raymond McCarty, v. Missouri Secretary of State.
Shortly after, Senate Republicans used a rare procedural move to bring the repeal to a vote. The bill passed unchanged through the House and Senate and is now headed to Governor Kehoe, who is expected to sign it.
Effective Date:
If signed into law, the repeal takes effect August 28, 2025.
Until then, employers must continue to follow current law.
The Missouri Department of Labor has released a video overview of Proposition A along with FAQs to guide employers through current compliance requirements.
Need help navigating the changes?
HR Advantage is here to help you stay compliant, minimize disruption, and support your team through every update!
Source: Labor.Mo.Gov & Polsinelli
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Tariffs Begin to Impact Inflation and Wages
Recent data shows that tariffs are starting to influence inflation—and there may be more to come. In April, consumer prices rose 0.2%, largely due to higher housing and energy costs. Food prices, on the other hand, dipped slightly. Over the past year, core inflation (excluding food and energy) is up 2.8%.
Experts say these changes are partly due to higher costs from tariffs on imported goods. While inflation remains moderate, ongoing trade uncertainty is making it harder for businesses to plan—especially those relying on global suppliers.
Wages Holding Steady
Real average hourly earnings stayed flat in April. Though wages rose 0.2%, so did prices—canceling out gains in buying power. Weekly earnings dipped 0.1% due to unchanged work hours.
At the same time, total compensation costs continue to rise. Since December, wages increased 0.8% and benefit costs climbed 1.2%, according to the latest Employment Cost Index.
What This Means for You:
- Watch for rising input costs if your business depends on imports.
- Plan ahead—uncertain trade policies could affect budgets and payroll.
- Review compensation strategies to stay competitive in a shifting economy.
HR Advantage Insight
As inflation and compensation pressures evolve, we can help you evaluate your pay structures, benefits strategies and workforce planning to stay ahead of shifting trends.
Source: DOL
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Question of the Week!
How can I tell if my company’s job postings and descriptions are helping or hurting our efforts to attract top talent?
Your job postings and descriptions are often the first point of contact candidates have with your company. If they’re clear, engaging, and accurately reflect the role and company culture, they’ll help attract the right candidates. But if they’re vague, overly complicated or don’t align with what candidates are looking for, they could actually be driving talent away.
Regularly reviewing and updating your job descriptions to match your company’s needs and market expectations is key to making sure you’re bringing in the best applicants.
(If you’re unsure about your job posting, HR Advantage can help you get it right!)
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IRS Releases 2026 HSA & HDHP Limits
Contribution and plan thresholds to increase slightly next year
The IRS has announced the 2026 contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and updated requirements for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs). These adjustments, effective January 1, 2026, give employers and employees time to plan ahead.
2025 vs. 2026 Limits at a Glance
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Why It Matters?
HSAs offer triple tax benefits:
- Pretax contributions
- Tax-free growth
- Tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses
According to SHRM, 60% of employers offer HSAs, and many also contribute to employee accounts. With HSA balances and contributions on the rise, now’s a great time to begin planning for 2026 benefits communication and enrollment strategies.
Source: SHRM
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Important EEO-1 Update for Employers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced updates to the 2024 EEO-1 Component 1 filing process—and employers need to act fast.
Key Filing Dates
- Opens: May 20, 2025
- Closes: June 24, 2025
- This year’s filing window is shorter than usual—only five weeks—so don’t wait to prepare your data.
What’s New in 2024?
- Binary Gender Reporting Only: Non-binary gender options have been removed, in line with a new Executive Order. Employers must now report gender as either male or female.
- Federal Contractor Rules Clarified: If your business has federal contracts of $50,000+ and 50–99 employees, you must file.
- Pay Data Still Not Required: The Component 2 pay data collection remains suspended—for now.
- No Filing Loopholes: If your headcount hits the threshold (100+ private sector or 50+ for federal contractors) at any point in Q4 2024, you must file.
- Enforcement is Ramping Up: The EEOC recently filed lawsuits against 15 companies that failed to file reports. Don’t risk fines or federal contract issues.
Tips for Staying Compliant:
- Start gathering demographic data now from a pay period between Oct 1–Dec 31, 2024.
- Double-check your headcount and federal contractor status.
- Visit Source: www.eeocdata.org/eeo1 or at www.eeoc.gov.
- Missed a past filing? Seek legal advice and file overdue reports ASAP.
Source: www.eeocdata.org/eeo1 or at www.eeoc.gov.
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HRA is Celebrating 20 Years in Business!
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In celebration of our 20th anniversary, we’re offering a 20% discount on Learning & Development services throughout May to support your team’s growth and
long-term success!
Contact a team member to learn more—this offer is available through July 1st only!
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HRA Employee Spotlight
🌟Meet Diane Stites🌟
This month, we're excited to spotlight Diane Stites, our HR Advisor Assistant!
💬 One of the most important lessons she’s learned?
"Practicing good listening skills—not just at work, but in all aspects of life—is critical." She focuses on truly understanding a message rather than just formulating a response, which has helped her build strong relationships.
Fun Facts About Her👇
🎺 She still plays the trumpet with her high school’s Alumni Pep Band!
☕ Prefers black coffee, but has a soft spot for Panera’s Kitchen Sink cookies.
📺 Favorite shows? True crime all the way—First 48, Dateline, and more!
🌍 Dream destinations? Switzerland, Austria, and maybe Australia!
🇺🇸 If she could have dinner with anyone, it’d likely be one of the First Ladies.
Diane made a major career pivot after 25 years in HR technology, earning her SHRM-SCP designation to step into the role she has today. We’re so excited to have her on board!
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Recruitment Services
tailored to your needs...
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Our team offers knowledge on effective recruitment strategies.
We are here to step in when time and resources to recruit internally are scarce.
If you're struggling to find great candidates for that critical role, let our expert team help...
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Executive Recruitment
Leave top talent recruitment in the hands of seasoned experts who will conduct a full-scale, comprehensive search to deliver the best match for your company.
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Recruitment Support
The beginning stages of a candidate search can be the most tedious and time-consuming. Let our team support your efforts with posting, monitoring and pre-screening activities.
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Candidate Profiles
HR Advantage takes the time to source and screen active candidates in advance to simplify the recruitment process for employers. Preview some of our featured candidates on our website!
| | Let our expert recruiters help you attract and hire your next quality employee. Contact us today for more information! | | |
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