Oct 2023 | 40th EDITION NEWSLETTER

WHAT'S NEW(S)?

How to Help Your Staff Feel Heard

ASAE | Brian Haney | August 11, 2023

If you want productive, motivated, and happy employees, they need to feel heard, be engaged, and have a sense of belonging. A look at some strategies for improving both workplace culture and employee well-being. Employees who feel disregarded by their organization are more likely to get frustrated, feel burnt out, and quit. Forbes listed being unheard by supervisors and feeling “overlooked or ignored” as two of the top ten reasons employees leave their jobs.

3 Ways to Shift the Perception of HR From Administrative to Strategic

HR Executive | Jennie Yang | September 27, 2023

From recruitment and hiring to mediating issues among co-workers, HR’s work is often seen as an administrative function within an organization. Case in point: A recent study by Sapient Insights found that only 46% of business leaders see their organization’s HR function as strategic. That’s compared to 67% who view the finance role as strategic and 60% who consider the supply chain role as such.

The Anxious Micromanager

Harvard Business Review | Julia DiGangi | From the Magazine (September–October 2023)

Why some leaders become too controlling and how they find the right balance 

In my work with corporations, I commonly hear managers say they are stressed because they don’t have enough “self-starters” on their team. But when I analyze their interactions, I find that the same people are often micromanaging their employees by, for example, asking too many questions, checking in too frequently, or giving too much advice. On multiple occasions, I’ve heard managers say to team members: “I want you to take total leadership on this project—just make sure you run everything by me first.” Those messages send conflicting signals and cancel each other out. 

How to Be a Better Leader Amid Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity

Harvard Business Review | Angus Fletcher, Thomas L. Gaines, and Brittany Loney | September 28, 2023

Your environment is changing fast. You lack the data to make confident decisions. Your operations sprawl with processes. You’re spotting trends that could be good — or not.

These are the four challenges of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. They’re the reality of business today. But they’re not new. They’re intrinsic to markets, sales, manufacturing — and life in general. So why do some organizations respond better? How do they succeed when others struggle or even surrender?

HR’s Layoff Strategy Could’ve Gone Better. Here Are Some Communication Lessons for Next Time

HR Brew | Mikaela Cohen | September 29, 2023

Nobody likes layoffs, but there’s always room for growth in how HR handles them. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...The words of Charles Dickens could be used to describe the current state of the economy, but for HR pros conducting layoffs, it’s mostly just the worst of times. Over 400,000 workers were laid off between 2022 and 2023, according to Layoffs.fyi, an online layoff database, and while there are few hard-and-fast rules for how HR should handle layoffs, one communications expert offered insight into where some have gone wrong in communicating layoffs, and some lessons for next time.

Whole-Body Health: 3 Ways to Approach Employee Wellbeing

Fast Company | Jennifer Gendron | September 29, 2023

Mental, physical, and social health are related, and must be considered as a combinationLately, I have been thinking about how we define health. Too often, we try to slot health into neat and tidy categories. We view mental, physical, and social wellness as existing independently of each other. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth: All aspects of our wellbeing are interconnected and impact each other. As a business leader, a parent, and a former social worker, I’ve seen how the mind impacts the body, and vice versa, again and again. Personally, I’ve seen that on days when I get too busy to get in some movement—whether that means my regular spin session or a quick hike outdoors—my mood suffers, as does my sleep.

What HR Needs to Know About the EEOC’s New Enforcement Plan

HR Executive | September 25, 2023 | Stephen Paskoff

The EEOC’s newly adopted strategic enforcement plan aims to increase the public’s access to the EEOC and increase investigation training and resources. The plan describes the EEOC’s vision of fair and inclusive workplaces and details expanded efforts to reduce systemic barriers to equal opportunity, including an enhanced focus on identifying offenses and additional staff and resources for enforcement.

3 Ways to Shift the Perception of HR From Administrative to Strategic

HR Executive | Jennie Yang | September 27, 2023

From recruitment and hiring to mediating issues among co-workers, HR’s work is often seen as an administrative function within an organization. Case in point: A recent study by Sapient Insights found that only 46% of business leaders see their organization’s HR function as strategic. That’s compared to 67% who view the finance role as strategic and 60% who consider the supply chain role as such.

What's Left for the Human Leader in a World of AI?

Power to Fly

AI is a powerful engine to make bold decisions and drive change. But the decision-maker must still be human. HR and L&D leaders should see AI as a force for great leadership. But, for its potential to be realized, and its pitfalls avoided, key human qualities – communication, collaboration, empathy, critical thinking, and emotional judgement – must be prominent in all organizations.

Pandemic-Era Child Care Funding Runs Out Saturday. HR Has an Opportunity to Step In.

HR Dive | Caroline Colvin | September 28, 2023

An estimated 70,000 childcare programs are set to shutter soon. How can employers help parents avoid further burnout? At the 6th annual National Maternal and Infant Health Summit on Sept. 19, advocates, labor professionals and politicians imbued their panels with a sense of urgency. Not only are working mothers buckling under the lack of structural support in general: The clock is running out on pandemic-era federal child care funding, leaving working parents with sparse benefits options in a lurch.

Financing The Future

Fast Company | Michael Grothaus | September 29, 2023

Single Generation X women are earning more than their male counterparts in 15 cities. The gender pay gap persists in most metro areas, but single Gen X women have a notable edge when compared to other cohorts. Pay equality still has some ways to go in the United States. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor found that women working full-time earned just 83.7% of what their male counterparts did.

However, a recent study from LendingTree shows that there are areas of the country where single women are out-earning single men of the same generation.

FLSA Protections to Pump at Work

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the milk. Employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public.

E-Verify: What Organizations Need to Know

HR Bartender | August 27, 2023

READ MORE

What is the OSHA poster and why do I need it?

The OSHA Job Safety and Health: It's the Law poster, available for free from OSHA, informs workers of their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. All covered employers are required to display the poster in their workplace. Employers do not need to replace previous versions of the poster.

Employers must display the poster in a conspicuous place where workers can see it.

READ MORE

REQUIRED EMPLOYER POSTERS

Religious Discrimination & Work Situations

The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.

READ MORE

"I had such a great time today presenting at the IEC! Wonderful group of people and lots of growing together. Thanks, Nan, for having me there another year!"

IEC 2023 Speaker Gilmara Vila Nova-Mitchell

THRILLED TO INTRODUCE THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS!

+ 20 ADDITIONAL BREAKOUT SESSIONS

= FULL DAY OF LEARNING & EARNING CEs!

"I think I have been coming for 5 years or so and this one was the absolute very best! Thank you for helping us be happier!"

IEC 2023 Attendee

"I've made some really great professional and personal connections at this conference, I always learn new things and it helps remind me why I love doing what I do!"

IEC 2023 Attendee

"This is my 4th year attending the Iowa Employment Conference. Each year the program gets better and better. I come home motivated and energized with plenty of new ideas."

IEC 2023 Attendee Mindy Webb Todd, CFO The Dana Company

"The conference is well run, well organized, and professional in every way. Thank you for an outstanding event."

IEC 2023 Speaker Todd

IGNITE CHANGE SPONSORS

THANK YOU to all 2023 Conference Sponsors!

Sponsor support is integral in continuing the growth, quality & integrity of the continuing education unique to this conference year after year. You are appreciated!

"This was my first experience attending this conference and I thought it was just a terrific balance of valuable content and sponsor/participant interactions. Very well managed by Nan and team."

IEC 2023 Sponsor

"Your conference is the best conference we attend. We sponsor every year." 

Spring & Fall IEC Sponsor Delta Dental Iowa Representative

"Really wonderful conversations with those participants who were engaged enough to stop by our booth to learn how they might implement a volunteer, team-building activity."

IEC 2023 Sponsor

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH...

Iowa

Our mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs of our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

Our Impact in Iowa

Susan G. Komen is funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease.

Need Help?

Call our breast care helpline to assist with finding local screening and diagnostic facilities or clinical research trials, requesting financial assistance, or other questions or care needs.

 1-877 GO KOMEN

(1-877-465-6636)

 helpline@komen.org

Get Involved

Help us reach our vision of a world without breast cancer by getting involved in our local community.

I don’t think any of us understand, until it’s too late, just how much we care for and depend on those we love. We only have so much time on this planet to let people know - then in a minute, in the blink of an eye, in one single heartbeat, they’re gone, and we’re left with the overwhelming doubts of - did they know how much we loved them? How much we needed them? How special they were in our lives? Did they know – REALLY know?

It been 29 years since my sister died of breast cancer at the incredibly too young age of 48. When she broke the news I thought, wow, this sucks. But I never ever had a doubt she would beat it... 



Excerpt from our own Sue Kmet's journey of loss and awareness | October 1, 2023

Iowa 2023 Halloween Events Calendar

Looking to plan a day of haunt-filled fun this fall?

Make sure to check out IowaHauntedHouses.com's Calendar of Halloween Events to find the best Fall Festivities and terrifying Haunts each and every day this September through November. Whether you're planning a last-minute outing with friends, or you are putting together a day filled with family fun, make sure to utilize IowaHauntedHouses.com's Halloween Events Calendar to get the most out of the season this autumn! Click on a day to see all events for that day.

iowahauntedhouses.com | September 2023

These are the Best Pumpkin Bars I’ve Ever Had

And here’s why: 

• Big pumpkin flavor
• Generously spiced with pumpkin pie spices
• Sweetened with brown sugar
• Soft, yet sturdy (just like my soft pumpkin cookies)
• Super moist
• Cakey, but not as cakey as others—no fork required!
• Finished with spiced cream cheese frosting
• …and sprinkles!

Sally's Baking Addiction | September 2023

Dear Valued Readers,

OCTOBER HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! We are thrilled to be on the final countdown to the exciting event that we believe will be a game-changer for your professional journey: our upcoming IGNITE CHANGE Iowa Employment Conference! This event is designed with one goal in mind - to empower you with the knowledge, tools, and connections you need to excel in your leadership role and ignite the change that may be needed in your workplace.

Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect:

Expert Speakers: We've lined up a roster of industry experts, thought leaders, and successful professionals who will share their insights and experiences. From emotional intelligence strategies to leading through change and how to be a hero in your organization, our speakers will cover it all. Dive deep into specific topics that matter to you.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees, sponsor organizations, and potential mentors. Networking is a crucial aspect of career growth, and we've created an environment where you can make meaningful connections.

Q&A Sessions: Have burning questions about igniting change in your workplace, industry trends, or employment practices? The kick-off panel discussion as well as the Q&A time in each breakout session will give you the chance to get answers from experts in real-time.

Interactive Exhibits: Engage with interactive sponsor displays, cutting-edge technologies, and resources that can boost your leadership skills.

Earn CECs: Great opportunity for professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge while also earning credits to maintain professional certifications.

Giveaways and Prizes: We have some exciting giveaways and prizes in store for our attendees. You could be one of the lucky winners!



Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on our event schedule, introduction of speakers, and last-minute registration information. This conference is your opportunity to gain the knowledge and connections you need to ignite change where it is needed most.

Remember, success in your organization is not just about the jobs you and your employees/co-workers have today, but the opportunities you create for tomorrow. Join us at the IGNITE CHANGE Iowa Employment Conference, and together, we'll pave the way for your future success.

We can't wait to see your smiling faces there!

And please make your annual appointments and make time for self-exams. They could save your precious life!

Nan and the Conference Team