September 2025 | 63rd EDITION NEWSLETTER

Conference Chatter

What #MEC2025 Attendees are saying...



• Networking is always a plus and was very good. Vendor fair was nice. I did appreciate the interactive sessions, and the more leadership/team building focused sessions. Lunch was good.
• Variety of topics and interacting with other employers.
• The presentations are always great! And the topics are specific to what we face on a daily basis.
• A lot of useful information to take with me.

10 ChatGBT Prompts That Will Help You Work Smarter and Think Faster

Forbes | Dr. Diane Hamilton | June 02, 2025

More than 800 million people are using ChatGPT each week, and one in five people use it for work, but most are barely tapping into what it can actually do. I hear people say they use it to summarize articles or write emails faster, and that’s fine. But I’ve found that the real benefit comes when you use prompts to help you think. Not to replace your thinking, but to sharpen it, organize it, or speed it up when your brain is already juggling too much. It’s easy to underestimate how much mental space gets wasted just preparing for a meeting. That’s where prompts come in. They give you structure without slowing you down. I’ve been collecting the kinds of prompts that help with focus. Some of these might sound simple, but when you’re in the middle of a busy day, a good prompt can be the difference between momentum and burnout. I’ll share a few I’ve used and why they work.

Back To Basics: What the ADA Does — and Doesn’t — Allow Employers to Ask in the Hiring Process

HR Dive | Ryan Golden | August 18, 2025

It’s an area that employers “mess up all the time,” a disability compliance consultant told HR Dive. Yujin Kim/HR Dive Editor’s note: The Back to Basics column serves as an accessible way to understand employment law. If you’re new to HR (or just need a little refresher), follow along as the HR Dive team speaks with legal experts, peruses federal guidance and lays out the basics of employment law.

A hiring manager for a hotel chain is interviewing job candidates for a receptionist opening. As she opens the door to call the next candidate into the interview room, she notices that the candidate is using a wheelchair. The manager assumes that the candidate may be using the wheelchair due to some kind of medical condition.

CEO and CHRO Partnerships are Key to Success to the Future of Work

HR Brew | Mikaela Cohen | August 12, 2025

“If that CEO says, whether deliberately or unconsciously, ‘I want to have a strategic HR business partner who is business first and HR second’...then HR has a seat at the table.” Emily Parsons An organization’s success can likely be measured by whether or not the CHRO is a strategic business partner to the CEO. That’s according to Jenny Dearborn, chief people strategy officer at the Stockholm-based global consulting firm BTS and co-author of The Insight-Driven Leader: How High-Performing Companies are Using Analytics to Unlock Business Value. In her new book, which she wrote with talent development leader Kelly Rider, Dearborn highlights how companies can use talent analytics to navigate the future of work and why the partnership between a CHRO and CEO is crucial to business success. 

Comprehensive Benefits: Boost Employee Retention with These Strategies

HPPY | Editor’s Choice | June 6, 2025

In a world where employees have more choices than ever, attracting top talent isn’t just about offering a good salary anymore—it’s about creating an environment where employees feel valued and supported.

Imagine walking into your workplace and seeing teammates who are not just satisfied but truly engaged and excited to contribute. That’s what comprehensive benefits can achieve. They go beyond the basics to address diverse needs, leading to increased job satisfaction and a sense of belonging. Having spent years observing different companies, I’ve learned that those investing in their people reap the kind of loyalty that transforms workplaces into thriving communities. So, how can organizations implement effective strategies to boost retention?

Conference Chatter

What did ATTENDEES like MOST about #MEC2025?

• Local for me MO law updates/legislature. Good topics!
• The keynote speakers were AMAZING! If our library could afford to have them speak at our staff training, I would schedule them. I was able to take pieces away immediately and apply them to work.
• It was all very good. Tammy Rogers sessions were probably my favorite.
• Another excellent event for the books. Relevant and timely subject material makes it difficult to choose which sessions will be the most impactful. Thank you for organizing a great event!
• Networking!
• Really enjoyed every speaker I had the chance to hear from. They were all engaging and exciting even if their topics didn't mesh with me.

What is Hybrid Remote in Today's Workplace?

Missouri Employment Conference Sponsor Tesseon | April 22, 2025

Breaking Down Hybrid Work: The No-Nonsense Guide

The corporate world loves its buzzwords, and “hybrid work” sits at the top of that heap. After years of workplace whiplash—from office-bound to fully remote and back again, companies have landed somewhere in the middle.

What is Hybrid Remote Work?

Hybrid remote work, often simply called “hybrid work,” is a flexible work model that blends in-office and remote working days. Organizations practicing this model maintain physical offices for certain days while allowing teams to work remotely on others. A hybrid work schedule might involve teams coming into the office on fixed days, flexible days, or a mix of both.



This model has gained significant traction in recent years. According to recent data, as of May 2024, 63% of companies now embrace a hybrid work model, making it by far the most popular approach. Research from a top firm further reveals that 75% of the Fortune 100 operate on a hybrid work schedule, and 46% have reduced their office space footprint since 2020.

Employee Burnout is Rising and So Are Leave Requests. What Employers Should Do Next

HR Executive | Amanda McCollum | August 13, 2025

Burnout is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business reality. In 2024, more than half of employers reported an increase in leave requests, and over half of those saw increases exceeding 20%. While the reasons for this uptick vary—including illness, mental health, caregiving responsibilities and parental leave—the common denominator is that today’s workforce is stretched thin. In frontline service industries like hospitality, senior care and restaurants, where labor shortages are already impacting operations, the strain is even more visible.

This rising tide of time-off requests is a signal of a deeper shift in how individuals experience work. SHRM found that almost half of United States employees feel burned out and emotionally drained, and more than half feel “used up” by the end of the workday. All of these point to a workforce that’s reaching its limits. What’s fueling the employee burnout trend?

The Conflict-Intelligent Leader

Harvard Business Review | Peter T. Coleman

From the Magazine (July–August 2025)

The past few years have been exhausting for many Western organizations. Civil strife seems to be widespread, with clashes over racial, gender, and income inequality; rising authoritarianism; immigration; climate change; and foreign wars deepening the divides in an increasingly polarized society. It’s perhaps inevitable that in this time of growing discord, conflict at work would increase too. A recent Society for Human Resource Management survey of 1,622 U.S. workers showed that 76% had witnessed acts of incivility in the past month, with 21% experiencing it personally. Nearly half said they had encountered it weekly, and 13% said they had encountered it daily. Forty-four percent believed incivility would worsen in 2025, and 26% said they were likely to leave their jobs because of it. With employee engagement at a low, contentious interactions at work are estimated to cost businesses more than $2 billion a day in productivity losses and absenteeism. Polarization and increased incivility have put CEOs under intense scrutiny too.

Conference Chatter

"Day 1 of Missouri Employment Conference! City of Mexico is here to Level Up, Learn More... Build Leaders!" #MEC2025 Attendee Vicki J. Duenke

In response to Vicki's LinkedIn post…

"Two of Mexico's finest! Thank you both for taking the initiative to learn and for bringing that knowledge back to share with our city & community - it makes a real difference." Gigi Quinlan McArevy

"Way to invest in yourselves and to add value for those around you!" Beth Joelner 

How the Busiest People Find Joy

Harvard Business Review | Leslie A. Perlow, Sari Mentser and Salvatore J. Affinito | From the Magazine (July–August 2025)

Anna Hurley Research suggests that to have a satisfying life, you need to regularly feel three things: achievement (recognition or a sense of accomplishment), meaningfulness (a connection to something bigger than yourself), and joy (happiness or positive emotion) in the moment. How well are you doing on each of those fronts? For the many ambitious professionals we’ve studied, the answer is typically OK to great in the first two areas but decidedly lacking in the third. While achievement and meaning often flow naturally from work and family, joyful experiences tend to be rare and fleeting.

Need A More Strategic HR Function? Focus On These Key Skills, Priorities

HR Executive | Jen Colletta

August 15, 2025

Before Alison Borland assumed the chief people and strategy officer at global workplace mental health platform Modern Health earlier this year, she worked directly with the CEO to develop her new title. It’s a nod toward the increasing assimilation of the people and business strategy—and HR’s critical role in driving both, she says. As HR leaders evolve their hard-won seat at the table to be one of the most essential seats, Borland says, it creates significant opportunities for more innovative and strategic HR functions.

Office Attendance Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels in Some Cities

HR Brew | Mikaela Cohen

August 14, 2025

Just when you thought the RTO debate was over… The return-to-office (RTO) conversation is a lot like Russian nesting dolls: seemingly never ending.

Now, it appears the number of RTO holdouts is, like the dolls, getting smaller and smaller. In March, visits to US offices were down 32.2% compared to March 2019, a slight improvement from 35.9% in March 2024 and 37.9% in March 2023, according to data from location analytics platform Placer.ai. But last month, office visits reached new heights nationwide, and even more so in a few cities.

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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How Self-Audits Help Build a Culture of Compliance and Trust

Dept. of Labor Blog | Keith Sonderling | July 24, 2025

At the U.S. Department of Labor, we are committed to helping employers, unions, and plan administrators follow the law. That’s why I’m proud to announce the launch of our expanded self-audit compliance assistance initiative.

Many of our agencies offer self-audit programs, which are voluntary tools to help the regulated community proactively assess and improve compliance with the labor laws we enforce. If you run a small business, administer an employee benefit plan, represent a labor organization, or lead workplace safety and health efforts, our self-audit tools can guide you in building safer, fairer, and more transparent workplaces.

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.

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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. 

READ MORE

Conference Chatter

What #MEC2025 Attendees are saying...

• Easy! Walked right in, got my badge, and got to networking!
• The team at check in were wonderful... so happy to be there and lots of laughter from that table.
• Loved everything!
• I was so impressed that all of the sessions occurred as planned, and the location of sessions was dedicated. I would say it all ran on time, and so smooth which I appreciated.

"This is our first year to sponsor the event. We are excited about the connections we are going to make!" IPE Screening

"IPE Screening is a proud sponsor!" Jennifer Cummings, Owner IPE Screening

PRESENTING SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Promote Employee-Paycheck Literacy

MEC Presenting Sponsor Bukaty Companies | July 24, 2025

Employers can support employee financial literacy by demystifying the payroll process. In an era where many employees are more knowledgeable about what they pay for streaming services than what they pay in taxes and premiums, employers can bridge the gap through education and payroll improvements.

Enhancing payroll understanding starts with clear verbiage. Confusing payroll codes create an unnecessary burden on employees trying to decipher their deductions. While abbreviations like “EEMED” might seem convenient, many employees may not associate that code with their health plan deductions. Forgo the complex shorthand and use the clear terminology like “Health insurance contribution.” In cases where payroll software necessitates concise codes, conduct a brief training on what employees can expect to see their deductions labeled as on paystubs. 

"Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it! Huge thanks to Sue Kmet for the opportunity to pour into an amazing group of HR professionals about neurodiversity in the workplace. The conversation was rich, real, and deeply needed. The drive to Camden, MO was breathtaking, and the Old Kinderhook Resort and Conference Center? Absolutely flawless. The entire Missouri Employment Conference was a hit! Here’s to creating workplaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered." Leslie Tolliver

"Thank you putting together a wonderful event!" Tammy Ebright

"#MEC2025 was another great event! Well done, Nan!" Julie Oeth

"I had an amazing time presenting my topic, "Mastering Modern Marketing: Strategies for Success." I'm grateful to the Missouri Employment Conference for the opportunity to present at the beautiful Old Kinderhook Golf Resort." Leizl Kurtz

"PERFECT opener!" Alan Feier

Feedback from #MEC2025 Speakers

Conference Chatter

What did ATTENDEES like MOST about #MEC2025?

• Opportunity to network in a smaller conference setting with folks in and around the lake.
• Location. Diverse topics
• Great topics and well done!! It's always one of the best in MO!
• Great sessions with lots of networking opportunities!
• Well organized event with a great mix of topics to choose from.
• Meeting new people.
• Lots of options to choose from! Great location & space. Everyone was kind & engaged with everyone.
• The different sessions regarding engaging with different people during the course of your duties.

Conference Chatter

"Great show! Thank you #MEC2025!" Kayla Kelly

"Although my photos from the conference are lacking this year, my experience is not! I love #MEC2025!!" Jordan Shalla

"It’s been the best one yet." Rachael Cox

"Worth attending!" Shereen Bender

Feedback from #MEC2025 Attendees

"Just had a blast speaking at #MEC2025 on one of my favorite topics—Unlocking Personality Strengths! Grateful for a room full of curious, engaged professionals ready to grow!" Rae Lyon

"Honored to be invited to speak at the Missouri Employment Conference! Thank you for the opportunity to support the incredible professionals shaping Missouri’s workforce." Lyon Coaching Group

"Had a blast speaking today at the #MEC2025. A privilege to be a part of such an amazing group of speakers. It was a great group….so fun and so engaged." Jason Herman

"It’s been a great conference! So many good takeaways." Steve Hughes

Feedback from #MEC2025 Speakers

What did ATTENDEES like MOST about #MEC2025?

• David Bartley, Jennifer Peterson & Tammy Rogers Sessions.
• Learning the different topics and talking to other HR professionals.
• Variety of topics. Quality of speakers.
• I loved the interaction of the events. Everyone was so hands on, and happy to engage in real content and conversation which is sometimes hard to find at some of the larger events. It felt authentic, intimate, and well worth the time spent. 

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. 

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.

THE HEALING BOX

What makes the organization unique?

The mission is to bring veterans together to feel the healing power of music through guitar performance.

​Who can sign up to participate: Any military veteran may join us. Those with 100% disability status qualify for a gifted guitar. Lessons are provided at no cost.



What kind of activities are offered? Activities include weekly meetings for lessons and guitar playing, and sometimes members get together casually to perform in public. Many members get together on their own to make music together.

A Parent’s Guide to Starting College

Parenting for College Blog | August 1, 2025 Suzanne Shaffer

Watching your child leave for college brings a mix of pride and worry, which is completely natural as a parent. 

It is a significant shift for everyone involved, from you as parents, your child who is leaving, and any other children you have at home. 

Daily routines change. Conversations become less frequent. You want to support your child but also help them become independent. 

Think of it like teaching your child to drive. At some point, they steer on their own. With precise planning and communication, this transition can be easier for both of you

85 Of Our Favorite Back to School Dinners!

HowSweetEats.com | Jessica | August 7, 2025

Here are 85 of the best back to school dinners! Whether you’re going back to the classroom or not, these meals can get you back into your routine and make life easier. Easy, 30-minute weeknight meals that the entire family will love. They’re all so good!

I have the best back-to-school recipe guide for you today!

I love the fall season – it always represents the start of a new “year” for me, even before my kids were in school! It’s my favorite time of year and the kids love it too. Feels so good to get back into somewhat of a structured routine – and that means making easy, delicious weeknight meals that everyone loves. Even if you’re not in back-to-school mode where you are, it’s always nice to get back into the swing of things with a bunch of fantastic dinners.

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.

As the school year kicks off and parents navigate the bittersweet moments of college drop-offs and the return to daily routines, we are reminded of the importance of community and support during this transitional season.

The 2026 Employment Conference on May 6th and 7th presents a unique opportunity for professionals to reconnect, share insights, and collaborate as we face the evolving challenges of the workplace together. This fall, let us celebrate the blessings that come with change, embracing the growth opportunities that arise both personally and professionally. By nurturing our skills and forging valuable connections within the employment sector, we can collectively strengthen our HR practices and workforce management strategies. We invite you to save the date for this vital event, where together, we can uplift one another and invest in a brighter future for ourselves and our communities.

Nan, Sue & the team at Missouri Employment Conference