August 2026 | 74th 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.

How to Build an Ownership Culture That Keeps Top Talent

HR Executive | Marissa Frois | July 16, 2026

We have officially moved past the “gold watch” era. For decades, the corporate contract was simple: Give a company your loyalty and they will reward you with a guaranteed pension and lifelong security. Today, that traditional safety net is fraying, and HR leaders are feeling the impact firsthand.

If you sit in an HR leadership role today, you are likely agonizing over retention. Most HR leaders operate under the assumption that they lose their top talent to competitors that offer a slightly higher salary or a better hybrid schedule. In reality, they more often lose them to the desire for independence and control.

Workers today look for autonomy instead of an old-fashioned boss. If your employees feel their only path to professional and financial security is to leave your organization, it is time for you to change the internal narrative.

Your Core Values Should Show Up in Every Room You Enter. Here’s What Happens When They Do.

Entrepreneur | Thiru Thangarathinam | July 15, 2026

When I think about core values, I don’t think about something that is only posted on a wall. I think about whether I can carry the same version of myself from work to home and back again. 

As entrepreneurs, we always have to be “on.” At work. At home. At work again. And I have witnessed myself, and others, be one version at home and something different at work. The truth is that being a separate self in each place becomes overwhelming and exhausting.

Authenticity is one of my core values. Yes, it is posted on our wall at the office, but it’s so much more than that. I see authenticity as being directly tied to consistency. The person making decisions in the office should be the same person sitting at the dinner table.

As Employers Expand Inclusion Efforts to Neurodivergent Staff, Their AI Falls Short

EBN | Danielle Lee | July 10, 2026

As more adults are being diagnosed with autism, and 2.21% of adults in the U.S. are reported to have autism spectrum disorder according to the most recent CDC data, employers are increasingly addressing the needs of this population — though they may be overlooking AI's role in their inclusion efforts. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry found that between 2011 and 2019, the overall rate of adults diagnosed with autism more than doubled, though a 2025 Gallup report, Neurodiversity in the Workplace, found that 37% of employed neurodiverse individuals do not to share their condition with coworkers, fearing stigma. 

Caveat Emptor: How the AI Gold Rush is Repeating HR’s Old Mistakes

HR Executive | Maggie Allen

June 10, 2026

Human resources leaders are hearing the same sales pitch everywhere: AI will fix hiring, automate workflows and unlock a faster, smarter experience for candidates and employees. Yet many organizations want the promise of artificial intelligence before they have built the foundation needed to support it.

The “cart before the horse” tension is now shaping the HR technology market.

Buyers want a fraud agent or a voice agent, but many of them do not yet have the underlying data structure, career site, candidate relationship management (CRM) or workflow architecture to integrate the tools effectively.

Is Your AI Really Working? Why Productivity Isn’t the Same as Progress

Fortune | Jamie Garverick

July 15, 2026

One question I hear repeatedly from Fortune 500 executives is: “If AI is making our teams more productive, why doesn’t the business feel any faster?”

What’s interesting is that very few of those conversations are about whether AI works anymore. They’re about how to operationalize it across an organization.

I see a similar pattern playing out across industries. Many organizations have invested heavily in AI to accelerate content creation, for example, yet campaign timelines continue to lengthen because the underlying operating model remains unchanged.

7 Best Practices for Managing Heat Stress in Indoor Work Environments

MEC Sponsor Cottingham & Butler | June 15, 2026

Heat-related injury and illness are occupational hazards that impact many industries and affect millions of employees annually. Heat stress occurs when an individual’s body accumulates more heat than it can dissipate. The increase in body temperature can result from several factors, including metabolic heat from physical exertion, workplace conditions, and clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) that make it difficult to release heat from the body. Indoor work environments can create hot atmospheric conditions similar to outdoor environments and, in some cases, exceed outdoor temperatures. Types of heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis, heat syncope, and heat-related cramps and rashes.

The good news is that heat-related injury and illness are largely preventable and, with strong controls and procedures in place, can be managed in your operation. Consider these seven best practices to manage heat stress in your workplace.

Change-Ready Leadership: Why 70% Of Transformations Fail on Behavior

Forbes | Tracy Lawrence | July 1, 2026

Many leaders overestimate their teams' adaptability, often seeing delayed decisions and suppressed innovation instead. This disconnect stems from a lack of psychological safety, where leaders fear speaking up or challenging ideas. True adaptive leadership isn't a belief but a set of observable behaviors.

Organizational transformations frequently fail, not due to strategy, but because leadership teams lack readiness. Key indicators include how teams handle uncertainty, genuinely challenge each other, learn from failures, and base decisions on current realities.

Think Remote Work is an Easy Ride? This New Hiring Trend Predicts a Harsh Reality for Entry-Level Workers

INC. | Kit Eaton | July 2026

Fresh management research covering 50 million job postings reveals that working from home has triggered a massive upshift in qualification demands—and it’s bad news for anyone trying to break into the market.

We know that remote work is here to stay, as a new normal in our post-pandemic world (even if this annoys certain ego-centric bosses who press for “return to office” rules.) It’s changed the modern workplace, and we’re all still getting used to the subtleties brought about by the shift.

Why Your Smartest People Stop Taking Risks at Work (And How to Reverse It)

FastCompany | Tamsin Simounds

June 16, 2026

Companies need to create the conditions that encourage experimentation.

You’ve probably said some version of it yourself: We need to be more experimental, more adaptive, faster to learn. And you truly meant it.

So why isn’t it happening?

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that 39% of core skills will change by 2030. Creativity, adaptability, and resilience are among the most in-demand of these skills. Many organizations talk about how these are the skills that they need more of.

MUNICIPALITIES IN MOTION

AI’s Real Promise for Government: Shortening the Distance from Data to Decision

Route Fifty | Paul Decker | July 13, 2026

Artificial intelligence is often discussed in government as a tool for automation, one that helps agencies do the same work faster or with fewer resources. That framing understates its real potential.

The most important impact of AI in the public sector may not be automation at all. It is the ability to shorten the time between data becoming available and leaders gaining the insights they need to act. In other words, AI’s real promise lies in improving time to insight.

For governments responsible for complex programs affecting millions of people, the speed of decision-making matters. Whether responding to emerging challenges, evaluating programs, or analyzing regulations, policymakers must turn vast amounts of information into decisions that shape service delivery, outcomes and people’s lives. Historically, this process — from analysis to action-ready insight — has been measured in months or even years.



AI is beginning to change that.

10 Things for Local Leaders to Know About the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act”

NLC | Michael Wallace | July 2, 2026

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is the first comprehensive housing package to pass Congress in decades. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate (85-5) and House (358-32), aims to boost housing supply through improvements to existing programs, unlocking private capital and reducing federal regulatory barriers.

Just as importantly for local governments, the package is an example of Congress choosing partnership with local governments over preemptions to address the nation’s deficit of millions of units of housing.

The bill is now with the President, and enactment is expected soon. Although it will take months for federal agencies to stand up the new resources and regulatory changes in the bill, cities can start thinking about what the bill means for their own housing strategies now.

The Biggest Story in the Federal Workforce Cuts Isn't How Many Left, It's Who Wasn't Replaced

Government Executive | Ali Akram | July 13, 2026

The story of the 2025 federal workforce reduction has been told in headcount. In September 2025 alone, about 121,000 civilian employees left federal service, nearly six times the figure for the same month a year earlier, the bulk of them through a governmentwide deferred resignation program with an end-of-September deadline. The number is large, and the debate about whether the government is now too small or right-sized will continue. But headcount is the wrong number to watch. What determines whether agencies can still do their work is not how many people left. It's who got replaced.

I looked at public Office of Personnel Management data on federal separations and accessions, and I want to be precise about the window. This is a snapshot of one unusual month, the month the deferred resignation deadline fell, compared with the same month in 2024 to strip out the seasonality in federal hiring.

Purpose and Responsibilities

The Missouri Association of Counties (MAC), formed in 1972, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan member service organization dedicated to the improvement of county government. It was designed and incorporated by county elected officials to provide services, research, uniformity, and coordination among member counties, in order for the county elected officials to best serve their constituents.

MAC’S TRIMESTER MAGAZINE

Missouri County Record

Covering all statewide news and information important to counties and county governance.

The Missouri County Record is a magazine published quarterly by the Missouri Association of Counties, a statewide lobbying group headquartered in Jefferson City, Mo. The publication generally runs 32 pages in length, and it is distributed to more than 1,400 subscribers (including county elected officials who purchase supplies, equipment, and services for Missouri county governments; all state administrative, commission, and department directors; members of the state General Assembly; as well as national affiliate associations.

Listening but Not Following the Siren Song

MO Lagers | July 22, 2026

Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has recently taken the box offices by storm, and one of the story’s most famous images feels especially relevant: Odysseus, lashed to the mast so he can hear the Sirens without steering the ship onto the rocks, while his crew keeps rowing with wax in their ears. Today’s stock market has its own siren song. It is concentration. It is valuation. It is the belief that AI enthusiasm must either carry the market higher forever or end in a familiar bubble. We hear all of it. We are not ignoring the risks. But hearing the song is not the same as letting it steer the portfolio.

Today, the largest 10 companies in the S&P 500 account for 36%-41% of the index’s weight versus roughly 19% a decade ago.



The first verse is concentration. Today, the largest 10 companies in the S&P 500 account for 36%-41% of the index’s weight (depending on the analyst you reference), versus roughly 19% a decade ago. While the index includes more than 500 companies, a relatively small handful of its largest holdings now drive an outsized share of its performance. That does not mean the market must reverse. It does mean the S&P 500 is less diversified than its headline suggests, and a narrow group of companies has become unusually important to overall returns.

WORKPLACE WATCH

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. 

4 Reasons to Hire Veterans

Dept of Labor Blog | Darnice Marsh | July 22, 2026

The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service works every day to enable all service members, veterans, and military spouses to reach their full potential in the workplace.

As a military spouse and former human resource professional, I have seen firsthand how veterans strengthen the workplaces they join. Here are four reasons employers should seek out veteran talent:

• Leadership that strengthens teams: Veterans lead by example, communicate clearly, and stay steady under pressure. They understand mission-driven teamwork, placing organizational goals above personal gain. That balance of leadership and humility is invaluable. It helps shape workplace culture by enabling employees to recognize when to step up and when to support others. This creates stronger, more collaborative, and resilient teams.

• Discipline and reliability you can count on: Discipline is foundational to military service. For veterans, discipline shows up as accountability, consistency, and commitment to excellence. Veterans show up ready, prepared, and dependable because in the military, reliability isn’t optional, it’s essential.

• Adaptability in a changing workplace: Veterans thrive in environments where change is constant. New missions, evolving technology, shifting priorities, and changes in leadership are a part of their military experience. They access situations quickly, pivot with confidence, and stay focused under pressure.



• A work ethic second to none: Military service instills persistence, grit, and an unshakable commitment to doing the job the right way. This work ethic transfers into the civilian workplace as reliability, consistency, and a refusal to cut corners. Veterans take ownership and inspire others day after day, task after task, mission after mission.

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.

Confirm with Confidence

Enroll in E-Verify for fast and efficient employment eligibility verification.

It only takes a few simple steps to enroll in E-Verify and begin confirming the employment eligibility of all of your new hires. 

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.

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.

Compliance Assistance, Education, and Training



OSHA is committed to meeting employers where they are and empowering them to build strong safety cultures. Learn how OSHA is helping employers foster safer and healthier workplaces. Investments in worker safety and health can also reduce injuries and illnesses, and produce significant improvements to an organization's productivity and profitability.

Monthly newsletter featuring compliance assistance, training and other workplace safety and health resources.

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.

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. 

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. 

National Law Review:

Latest business law news and legal analysis...

First 10 Sponsor Registrations Unlock This Limited‑Time Savings!

GRATEFUL FOR THESE 2026 SPONSORS!

PRESENTING SPONSOR

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!

HR CONSULTING & TRAINING

Shifting rules and new regulations are complicating the human resource world. Our HR Consulting & Training team has the expertise to navigate through the catalog of compliance requirements – FMLA, FLSA, ADA, CAA, and more. We offer a wide array of services to address common challenges today’s HR professionals face.

IRS announces 2027 HSA and HDHP limits

MEC Presenting Sponsor Bukaty Companies | June 4, 2026

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Revenue Procedure 2026-4, establishing inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) for the 2027 calendar year. 

HSAs enrollees with self-only coverage can contribute up to $4,500 to their account. For family coverage, the HSA contribution limit is $9,000. Individuals age 55 and older may make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution.

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!

This program has been pre-approved for HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR™, PHRca™, SPHR™, GPHR™, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute™ (HRCI™).

Missouri Employment Conference is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

MIND & BODY 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. 

AI-Driven Change Is Intensifying Mental Health Needs. Leaders May Not Be Ready.

HR Dive | Ryan Golden | May 28, 2026

Adeline Kon/HR Dive

Policies and benefits programs that extol the importance of mental health may be undermined by ill-equipped managers, Headspace’s chief people officer said.

Employers already faced significant challenges in addressing employees’ mental health issues, but the rapid pace of workplace transformation seen throughout 2026 seems all but certain to further intensify a thunderous storm.



Recent surveys of workers have borne out those concerns. The first quarter of the year marked a 65% increase in burnout reported by Glassdoor users compared to the same point in 2025. A separate May report by Monster found that 59% of employee respondents said their job actively hurts their mental health.

HELPING HAND

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.

National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB - Find Adventure for Veterans Across the USA

US Vet Connect Inc. is a tax-exempt 501c3.

(federal tax ID #85-0815848)

US Vet Connect Inc.'s National Veterans Outdoors Resource HUB is bridging the gap between veterans and the outdoors by providing a place to come together to find military comradery in outdoor experiences. The mission of USVetConnect.com is simple: it is to raise awareness for organizations that have a direct impact on veterans’ lives and to make it as user-friendly as possible for veterans to find their next adventure.

All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Donations here fuel the HUB—US Vet Connect Inc.—and our mission to empower, connect, and inspire. If you want to support one of the 270+ outstanding veteran- focused organizations in our directory, please donate to them directly through their own unique websites. 

​

Your gift here keeps The HUB running strong for all.

Ready to help veterans rise, thrive, and embrace new adventures?

Donate now and light the way for someone’s next big journey!

How HR Can Support Working Parents Amid Summertime Care Challenges

HR Brew | Courtney Vinopal | July 1, 2026

Morning Brew Inc., Photos: Getty Images

Experts say employers can lean into flexibility, subsidize summer camp, or even grant PTO so workers can register their kids for programs.

Caregiving needs among the workforce multiply during the summer.

It’s a phenomenon Sadie Funk, who runs the advocacy organization Best Place for Working Parents (BP4WP), likes to call the “great hustle.”

“You go from a fairly structured system of support, where you have full-time childcare and/or school in session, and maybe some after-school programming that’s fairly regimented to…the great wild west of pulling together summer camps, often week by week with different schedules,” she said.

Funk noted that many summer camps only last through part of the day, from 9am–12pm or 9am–2pm, for example, creating a “tricky situation” for working parents.

Dive Into Lake Activities

Explore a variety of outdoor adventures, cultural events, and entertainment options at the Lake. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Plan your itinerary ahead of time to make the most of your visit and create lasting memories. Be sure to take a look at the event calendar below to start mapping out your Lake getaway today!

Adventure Awaits



When it comes to things to do, the Lake is the place to be. From water play to exciting nightlife, you’ll always be able to explore your interests, discover new ones, and even just take the time to relax and unwind. Start planning your getaway by looking through your options below.

15 One-Skillet Summer Dinners That are Even Better as Leftovers

Allrecipes | Robin Shreeves | July 21, 2026

Credit: Allrecipes / Qi Ai© Allrecipes / Qi Ai



Cook once and eat twice this summer with these skillet dinners that leave you with leftovers that are easy to reheat. Many are filled with summer-fresh veggies, and all are packed with flavor. Pick one and enjoy a freshly cooked dinner tonight, then reheat the leftovers in a day or two and have the rest of the evening to do whatever you want.

As summer begins to wind down, we're especially grateful for the amazing community that makes the Missouri Employment Conference so special. Change is a constant in both our professional and personal lives, and embracing it with curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to grow helps us become stronger leaders, better colleagues, and more connected individuals.

Planning is well underway, and we're excited about the outstanding lineup of speakers we are starting to book and sessions that will provide practical strategies, timely legal updates, and valuable insights you can take back to your workplace immediately. Whether you're a returning attendee or joining us for the first time, we are committed to delivering the affordable, high-quality educational experience you've come to expect.

As you read through this month's newsletter, we encourage you to explore the latest workplace trends, conference updates, and resources from our sponsors. We also invite you to share the conference with colleagues who could benefit from the professional development opportunities and continuing education credits offered through the Missouri Employment Conference.

Thank you for being part of our conference community. Your continued support and enthusiasm are what make this event one of the fastest-growing employment conferences in Missouri. We can't wait to welcome you to Camdenton next spring for another exceptional conference!

Grateful for you -

Nan & Sue