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HR Pieces:
October 2025 News
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Greetings!
It’s October, and the season of change continues! 🍁
From new compliance deadlines to policy shifts at the federal level, there’s plenty happening that business leaders need to keep an eye on this month.
Employers should be preparing to order their 2026 Employment Posters "Federal/State." Currently there are questions around E-Verify and government shutdowns that are creating new uncertainty. The FTC’s latest move has also put Non-Compete agreements back in the spotlight, and with open enrollment season fast approaching, now’s the time to make sure your checklist is ready.
We’re also watching immigration updates, with the DHS proposing a new weighted H-1B lottery system—a change that could have major implications for future hiring.
At HR Advantage, our team is here to help you stay compliant, proactive, and prepared for what’s ahead.
Thanks for trusting us to be your HR partner as you navigate these ongoing changes and opportunities.
With gratitude,
The HR Advantage Team-
Lynette, Camille, Karla, Dana, Liz, Seth, 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
Administrative Services / Project 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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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 | | |
Our Mission Statement:
We deliver customized solutions to make HR simple, strategic, and human- so you can focus on what matters: Your Business. Your People. Your Peace of Mind
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October HR News
- Government Shut Down: How it affects E-Verify
- Order Your 2026 Employment Posters (deadline 11/20/25)!
- FTC Drops Ban… But Puts Non-Compete agreements Back in the Crosshairs
- Open Enrollment Checklist!
- DHS Proposes Weighted H-1B Lottery System
- Question of the Week
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Government Shut Down: How it affects E-Verify?
As you may be aware, the federal government shutdown on September 30th. A government shutdown directly impacts certain federal services, including the E-Verify system administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Key Points for Employers:
E-Verify Unavailability:
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If the government shuts down, employers will not be able to access E-Verify. This means: Employers cannot create new E-Verify cases for newly hired employees.
Form I-9 Requirements Remain:
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Even if E-Verify is offline, employers are still required to comply with Form I-9 employment eligibility verification requirements for new hires. This includes ensuring Section 1 (employee) and Section 2 (employer) are completed within the required timeframe.
Compliance Protection:
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DHS has historically suspended the "three-day rule" for creating E-Verify cases when the system is down due to a government shutdown. Employers will be allowed to create cases for employees hired during the shutdown once the system is back online, without penalty, provided that Form I-9s were completed on time.
Please feel free to reach out to HR Advantage for questions.
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Order Your 2026 Employment Posters!
Pre-order your exclusive 2026 Employment Federal & State ALL-In-One Laminated Poster now and stay compliant for the new year!
Supplies are limited, and once they're gone, they won’t be restocked!
Physical Posters
Posters for Remote Workers
Order Deadline:
Friday, November 20, 2025
HR Advantage retainer clients receive one free poster.
Do you have remote employees?
If a remote worker regularly visits a company location or main office, displaying the poster there satisfies posting requirements. Otherwise, the Department of Labor recommends providing electronic postings for remote staff.
Why Employment Posters Matter:
Employers are required to display labor law posters to keep employees and customers informed about key provisions of the law. Posters should be displayed in a location accessible to all employees or made available to remote workers.
What’s New for 2026:
- Updates to State Department of Labor, Wage & Hour, Unemployment & Workers’ Compensation
- Federal updates including OSHA, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other compliance changes
Estimated Delivery: January 2026
Pre-order now to ensure your workplace stays compliant!
__________________________________________ __________________________
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FTC Drops Ban… But Puts Non-Competes Back in the Crosshairs
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ended its effort to impose a nationwide ban on non-compete agreements. But that doesn’t mean employers are in the clear — instead, the FTC is shifting its attention to case-by-case enforcement, beginning with healthcare and staffing, where non-competes are widely used.
On September 10, the FTC sent letters to several large employers in these industries, urging them to review restrictive covenants like non-competes and non-solicitation agreements. At the same time, the agency launched a public inquiry (open through November 3) that could extend scrutiny to additional sectors. This action follows similar moves at the state level, where Colorado, Texas, and Pennsylvania have tightened limits on non-competes in healthcare.
The FTC also outlined the factors it will consider when evaluating agreements, such as:
- Employee wage and skill level
- Scope and duration of restrictions
- Availability of less restrictive alternatives
- Market impact and economic effects
Key Takeaways for Employers:
- Audit current non-compete and restrictive agreements now
- Ensure restrictions are narrowly tailored, fair, and legally defensible
- Explore alternatives like confidentiality or non-solicitation clauses
- Monitor both federal and state developments to stay compliant
Bottom line: While the nationwide ban is off the table, the FTC has made clear that non-competes remain a top enforcement priority. Employers should act proactively to reduce risk.
Source: Polsinelli
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Open Enrollment Checklist!
Open enrollment is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time for employers to get ahead of deadlines.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a step-by-step checklist covering:
- Pre-meeting preparation
- Key compliance deadlines
- Questions to ask your brokers
- Employee communication planning
This resource is designed to help you stay compliant, manage costs, and keep employees informed as you prepare for January 1, 2026.
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DHS Proposes Weighted H-1B Lottery System
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a major change to the H-1B visa lottery. Instead of selecting registrations randomly, the agency plans to implement a weighted system that favors higher-paying positions while still allowing opportunities at all wage levels.
Key Points of the Proposal:
- Registrations would be weighted based on the offered wage for the position and location:
- Level IV wages: 4 entries in the lottery
- Level III wages: 3 entries
- Level II wages: 2 entries
- Level I wages: 1 entry
- The proposal builds on the recently introduced $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions.
- The rule is scheduled to be formally published on Sept. 24, 2025, with a 30-day public comment period.
What This Means for Employers:
- Review your wage offerings and H-1B sponsorship strategy to align with the new weighting system.
- Ensure reported wages comply with Department of Labor standards.
- Consider consulting immigration counsel to prepare for potential changes in lottery selection and filing strategy.
While these changes are still in the proposal stage, staying informed now can help organizations plan and avoid surprises during the H-1B process.
Source: SHRM
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HR Advantage's Question of the Week!
What is social engineering, and why should HR leaders be aware of it?
Answer:
Social engineering is a tactic where attackers exploit human trust rather than technical flaws. Instead of hacking into a system, they manipulate employees into giving away access, information, or resources. For example, a fraudster might call pretending to be from IT, asking for login details, or pose as a vendor requesting an urgent payment update.
Unlike obvious spam or malware, social engineering relies on creating a sense of urgency, authority, or fear to pressure employees into acting quickly. These attacks can compromise sensitive data, lead to financial fraud, and damage organizational credibility.
Because HR teams play a central role in training, onboarding, and communication, they’re critical in preparing employees to spot and stop these kinds of schemes. Building awareness and reinforcing a “pause before you act” culture can be one of the strongest defenses.
More questions you need answered? HR Advantage can help you get it right!
Source: OLEE
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HRA Employee Spotlight
🌟Meet Anita King🌟
Learning & Development Advisor
Meet Anita, our Learning & Development Advisor! She loves working alongside her incredible coworkers and is passionate about creating training programs that empower HR professionals.
Her BEST advice?
“Surround yourself with people who support and speak positively about you even when you’re not in the room.”
Fun Facts👇
🌸 Favorite Local Spot: Favorite local spots? Freakin Antiquin, Bambino’s, and Xurros food truck!
☕ Go-To Coffee Order: Iced Chai Latte.
🎬 Favorite Tv Show: The new Matlock or Traitors.
👻 Dream Vacation: Japan!
🎶 Dream Dinner Guests: Michelle Obama
Anita brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, helping others grow through training and development. We’re lucky to have her at HR Advantage!
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HRA is Celebrating 20 Years in Business!
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We’re proud to be celebrating 20 years in business, partnering with hardworking teams like yours to navigate change, grow stronger, and stay compliant every step of the way!
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HR Advantage is Hiring!!!
Looking for a Business Development Manager
Springfield, MO | Full-Time | Remote | Base + Commission
Are you skilled at building meaningful connections and creating lasting partnerships? Do you enjoy working with business leaders to identify opportunities and deliver solutions that make a real impact? If so, HR Advantage would love to connect with you.
What You’ll Do
•Drive growth by securing new business and expanding client relationships
•Build trusted partnerships with business owners and executives
•Strategize, consult, and deliver tailored solutions that exceed expectations
•Collaborate with our team to ensure seamless onboarding and client success
•Track performance and stay ahead of your goals
What We’re Looking For
• 3–5 years of proven success in B2B sales
• A track record of closing deals with confidence
• Strong relationship-building skills at the executive level
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities
• Self-motivated, results-driven, and strategic mindset
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
What You’ll Gain
➤ Competitive base salary plus uncapped commissions (with residuals)
➤ Flexibility and autonomy—this is your territory to own
➤ A role where your wins are visible, valued, and rewarded
Ready to grow your career with a team that values both people and results?
Apply today by emailing seth@hradvantageweb.net
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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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Candidate Search & Placement
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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