May 2025 | 59th EDITION NEWSLETTER

Cultivating Happiness in the Workplace: Strategies for Employee Retention and Recognition

Hppy | April 21, 2025

Team spirit can truly soar when each person’s efforts are seen and honored in a way that feels personal. Simple gestures not only honor individual input but also inspire fresh ideas and creativity. This keeps individuals excited and proud to be part of the company. The best part is that basic appreciation further boosts loyalty and encourages a stress-free atmosphere.

How HR Can Innovate with Alternative Workforce Models

HR Executive | Sara Jensen | April 23, 2025

The employment landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Over the past year, global events and technological advancements have reshaped how organizations approach talent acquisition and workforce management. In 2024, employment growth slowed from 243,000 jobs per month in January to 173,000 in November, with unemployment rising to 4.2% by year-end. Despite these shifts, the labor market showed notable resilience, reinforcing the importance of agility and adaptability in workforce strategies as we move deeper into 2025.

HR Teams Are Grappling with the Human-to-AI Continuum

HR Brew | Adam DeRose | April 18, 2025

As new AI tools become more sophisticated and as technologists better tune them to the needs of their organizations, HR and business leaders are grappling with new considerations about who or what is doing that work.



AI tools can already tackle really simple tasks well, and they are getting more complex, according to Bryan Ackermann, head of AI strategy and transformation at Korn Ferry. What’s now considered “talent” in the world of work is (again) evolving as organizations look to leverage more agentic AI solutions to increase efficiencies and productivity.

What Should I Do About a Coworker Who Dresses Inappropriately at Work?

FastCompany | Kathleen Davis | April 23, 2025

Commenting on someone’s appearance is fraught. Here’s how to know if you should say something.

Q: What should I do about a coworker who dresses inappropriately at work?

A: My first instinct is to advise you to keep it to yourself. Commenting on someone’s appearance is fraught and how someone dresses or styles their hair, etc. very often falls into the category of none of your business. But, there are nuances and circumstances where something is actually inappropriate.

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 

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce: Best Practices for Success

Missouri Employment Conference Sponsor PayPro | Kayla Kelly | Mar 17, 2025



Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever, spanning four distinct generations—Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. While this generational mix brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives, it also presents challenges in communication, work preferences, and motivation. Managing a multigenerational workforce effectively requires leaders to understand these differences and implement strategies that foster collaboration, inclusivity, and productivity. This article explores best practices for creating a cohesive work environment that leverages generational strengths.

Minimizing Turnover Risk for Today’s Workforce: 4 Key Priorities

HR Executive | Elissa Tucker and Nathanael M. Vlachos April 17, 2025

Imagine 40 of your employees sitting in a room. What would it take to convince 10 of them to leave for another employer? Not much, we’ve found in new research on voluntary turnover.

APQC surveyed over 600 workers from various industries, organizational sizes and job roles to identify the things they value most about their employee experience and whether they are receiving those things in their current role. A quarter of our respondents disagreed with the statement: “It would take a lot to leave my current job.”

How Data and Strong HR Values Can Help Leaders Buckle Up for What’s Ahead

HR Executive | Cliff Stevenson | April 10, 2025

In my years of experience, I’ve never known an HR department that has won a popularity contest, no matter how good its work. Then again, most of us didn’t get into HR in hopes of being the cool kid. However, now it feels like the core concepts guiding our HR work are being attacked.



Here’s where I’m coming from: We just spent two or so long years responding to and dealing with the many workforce issues that arose during COVID. Then, after a brief respite, we’re back in the hot seat as DEI and other workforce-related policies come under fire, and the economic outlook is again uncertain at best.

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 

7 Tips on How to Manage Employee Expectations at Your Organization

AIHR | Simona Iancu | 2025

In recruitment, it is not only the candidate who needs to impress but also the company. Once an employee gets hired, not only do they need to perform well but the organization has to provide them with what they need to succeed. The process goes both ways. The successful integration, progression, and retention of strong employees rely in huge part on how well a company meets employee expectations.

And it is the HR department which is most responsible for securing a solid first – and lasting – impression.

Why is it important to manage employee expectations, and how do you do it? In this article, we will answer both these questions and provide employee expectations examples.

Background Screening Compliance Updates Employers Need in Q1 2025

Forbes | Alonzo Martinez | April 18, 2025

Employers entered 2025 facing one of the most dynamic and fast-moving compliance landscapes in recent memory. In the first quarter alone, lawmakers across the country advanced new rules affecting background screening, drug testing, pay equity, and the use of artificial intelligence in hiring.



Organizations that conduct background checks must pay close attention to these changes. The compliance landscape is evolving quickly, and staying ahead will require updates to policies, procedures, and platforms. These early developments already carry significant implications for employers’ hiring and risk management strategies.

Are Workplace Trends Making Your Job Better — Or Just Wasting Your Time?

Forbes | Dr. Diane Hamilton | March 3, 2025

Workplace trends come and go, promising to make your job better, increase engagement, and drive innovation. But do they actually deliver real change, or are they just corporate buzzwords that employees quickly learn to ignore because they see them as just wasting their time?



Employees hear a buzzword tossed around in meetings, managers champion it in company emails, and yet many workers roll their eyes. For some, it feels like just another HR-driven initiative that fades as quickly as it arrives. Others, especially experienced professionals, see it as a repackaged version of skills they already have—something companies use to feel progressive without making meaningful improvements.

‘Meeting Hangovers’ Are Draining Your Team. Here’s How to Cure Them 

Fast Company | Aytekin Tank | April 20, 2025

Exhaustion. Mental fatigue. Difficulty concentrating. Irritability. Dreading your next calendar appointment.

Nobody likes showing up to work with a hangover. But these days, you don’t need a long night of drinking to feel the effects.

Instead, you might be suffering from a meeting hangover, the lingering exhaustion, disengagement, and productivity drain that follow an unproductive meeting.

Studies show that 28% of workplace meetings leave employees feeling drained, with more than 90% of workers experiencing meeting hangovers at least occasionally.

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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4 Types of Employment Laws That Can Help Domestic Violence Survivors at Work

Dept of Labor Blog | Kate Miceli | October 5, 2023

Domestic violence, which touches 17 million people in the U.S. each year, doesn't only affect survivors' physical and mental health and safety, it also impacts their ability to work and their economic security.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nationally, 15.9 million women (12.7%) and 6.7 million men (5.7%) have missed at least one day of work due to intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In another study of women in transitional housing programs, shelters and other domestic violence programs, more than half of the survivors surveyed said they had lost a job because of the abuse they'd experienced.



Some survivors may be prevented from working by an abuser; others may be discriminated against by an employer because of the abuse they are experiencing – for example, denied a promotion or terminated. Some workers may also face retaliation at work for reporting abuse or harassment within the workplace from a customer, coworker or supervisor. All of this can have devastating economic impacts on a survivor and their family.

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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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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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Laws Enforced by EEOC

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

Taking a Closer Look at PEOs

Authored by Bukaty Companies on April 23, 2024

Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) are a trending topic in the employee benefit arena. PEOs can bring efficiency and ease to some businesses, but partnering with a PEO is not a blanket solution for all organizations. It’s important to analyze all aspects of a PEO before making a transition.

In simple terms, a PEO is a co-employer that assumes responsibility for many of a business's functions, like HR tasks, payroll, benefit administration, and more. After entering a PEO partnership, a businesses’ employees are “leased” back, and the employee and PEO share employment-related liability. If an ex-employee sues, both the PEO and the individual business will be named in the lawsuit.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO RECAP THE 2025 CONFERENCE IN NEXT MONTH'S NEWSLETTER! STAY TUNED!

MAKE SURE TO TAG US IN YOUR POSTS IF YOU ATTENDED THIS YEAR!

HERE ARE A FEW PICS FROM THIS WEEK!

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

THIS JUST IN!!

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

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.

David was recently featured in a really great TV interview about one of the therapies that has changed and saved his life!

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.

Citizens Against Domestic Violence - Citizens Against Domestic

LOVE DOES NOT HURT

Domestic or sexual violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

5 Harmful Parenting Trends to Leave Behind 2025

RollingOut 25 | Amari Apple | January 25, 2025

Shutterstock.Com / Fizkes

New research reveals concerning child development impacts from common parenting practices.

The art of parenting continuously evolves, challenging even the most experienced caregivers to adapt their approaches. As we navigate 2025, parents face unprecedented challenges in raising emotionally healthy, resilient children. While online resources offer abundant parenting advice, the overwhelming information often leads to adopting generalized strategies that may harm rather than help individual family dynamics.

How To Grill the Best Burgers

Simply Recipes | Summer Miller | February 15, 2025

IMAGE: Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

The only recipes you need for the perfect burger on the grill every time.

Grilling season is upon us, and this year I’ve decided to master the art of America’s summertime grilling favorite—the hamburger.

My aim: a burger that is easy to throw together on a weeknight, flavorful enough to stand up to the person who adds every condiment known to mankind to his or her burger and yet balanced enough to satisfy the minimalist burger eater (ketchup only, please!).

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.

May is a month of expectation! As we transition into the month of expectation, we invite you to shed the early spring and embrace the warmth and vibrancy of summer ahead, expecting to be blessed.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for attending the 2025 Missouri Employment Conference; your participation has surely made it exceptional. It was our pleasure to work all season to bring together high-quality training and sessions. Next, we will pivot our focus to the exciting preparations for the 2026 conference, we encourage you to save the dates for May 6th and 7th, 2026!

Your insights are invaluable to us, and we are continually inspired by the feedback we receive from our network of business professionals. You can expect great things to come with this valuable conference.

As we gear up for the summer months, we anticipate amazing opportunities for your personal and professional growth, fostering a sense of self-worth and development within your organization. Let's work together to create an enriching experience again next conference! Keep in touch with us over the summer.

Set your sights on all the good to come in your lives this month and give yourself permission to set your expectations high.

Nan, Sue & the team at Missouri Employment Conference