Apr 2023 | 34th EDITION NEWSLETTER
WHAT'S NEW(S)?
15 Ways Employees Can Level Up Without Burning Out
Forbes | March 27. 2023
 
Being promoted to a leadership role is a great accomplishment and recognition of one's skills and potential. However, with greater responsibilities and higher expectations come greater challenges, including a heavier workload, more meetings and a need to be constantly available for direct reports.
Juggling all these demands can be stressful and overwhelming for rising team leaders. To help, a panel of Forbes Human Resources Council members explores some practical tips that can help team leaders keep up with their growing to-do list, manage their time more effectively and balance their leadership responsibilities without burning themselves out.
Managing Mismatched Expectations
Dynamic Team Solutions | Candice | March 27th, 2023
 
Effective communication is a universal goal of companies worldwide. To have highly productive and cohesive units, we must be able to direct, listen, lead, and provide feedback well. But oftentimes, we fall short, which can cause confusion, delays, and friction in the workplace. It isn’t the words we speak that cause confusion—but our expectations of how those words will be understood and interpreted. We each have a unique set of experiences that dictates how we understand things. To that point, some people might read directness as confidence, while others see it as authoritarian or demeaning.
Employees May Need More Structure as Workcations And ‘Hush Trips’ Become More Common
HR Brew | Kristen Parisi | March 30, 2023
Rawpixel/Getty Images
 
They’re not inherently bad, but HR may want to include parameters for employees. Zoom backgrounds can make it near-impossible to figure out exactly where colleagues are working from these days. And while an employee’s latest beach background may look like a photograph, it might actually be…the beach. A working vacation may be a welcome respite for employees but can become a headache for managers if it interferes with work. But there are ways HR leaders can help managers head off potential problems.
MEC Sponsor Husch Blackwell | Donna Pryor & Laura Higbee on March 19, 2023
POSTED IN WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Husch Blackwell’s Donna Pryor and Laura Higbee provide an update to our January post on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) intention to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review…
Who Helps HR? How To See the Signs of Burnout in Yourself, And What to Do About It
HR Grapevine | Kieran Howells
March 27, 2023
 
It’s safe to say that, after a period of rapid change and movement over the past few years, we’re now ‘out of the sprint and into the marathon’. That is to say, the hectic dash to keep work going around COVID, which saw workers pivot roles, work from unfamiliar places, or have to adhere to strict rules never before seen within the workplace, is over. This, however, isn’t the case for HR. In many ways, HR’s remit is a constantly-shifting, ever-evolving amalgamation of the very visible challenges faced throughout the pandemic. 
The Growing Popularity of a Four-Day Work Week: Is It Worth Considering?
The HR Digest | Diana Coker | March 19, 2023
Emily had been working at a marketing agency for several years and was feeling burnt out. The long hours and high pressure of meeting client demands had taken a toll on her well-being. One day, she heard that her company was considering a four-day workweek. At first, she was skeptical. How could they get all the work done in four days?
Full-Time Remote Work Is Falling—But Still Five Times Pre-Pandemic Levels, Survey Finds
Forbes | Jena McGregor | Mar 30, 2023
 
Don’t say RIP to the work-from-home era quite yet. A new Pew Research Center analysis, released with a broader report on worker satisfaction, finds that hybrid work schedules are rising, but roughly a third of workers whose jobs can be done remotely say they still work from home full-time. 
7 Questions CHROs Should Ask Themselves About Their Role
HR Today | Betterworks | Jamie Aitken | March 27, 2023
How to Write a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
HR Today | 15Five | Leah Bury | 2023
 
How does your business communicate its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts? Maybe you’ve got a few lines about DEI on an old about page, or perhaps you posted an International Women’s Day solidarity post on social media? A good start! But to show the real impact of your DEI work, you need to create a diversity, equity and inclusion statement. 
Still thinking about partnering with the Missouri Employment Conference to reach hundreds of attendees?

MEC Keynote Speaker Steve Fredlund | March 2023
Optimize Your Hiring Process For 2023 - Why Improving Your Hiring Process is Essential
HR Today | ClearCompany
March 16, 2023
 
Investing in hiring process development is critical for businesses seeking to optimize their recruitment process. In addition, it confers the following benefits:
Improving time-to-hire: Simplifying your hiring process can help you quickly fill open positions and expedite the onboarding of new employees. Using tools such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) allows businesses to make swift decisions and streamline the hiring process.
The Silver Lining to A Hiring Slowdown? TA Pros Are Building Talent Pipelines to Prepare for A Rebound
HR Dive | Laurel Kalser | March 30, 2023
 
Dive Brief:
Building talent pipelines to prepare for a hiring rebound is the No. 1 activity talent acquisition teams engage in during an economic slowdown, according to the nearly 700 TA professionals who responded to a recent survey by recruiting solutions firm Gem. TA teams’ most difficult challenge is finding quality candidates; 61% of TA pros from smaller organizations and 57% of those from larger organizations say it’s an issue. 
How To Encourage Engagement Between Employees And HR
HR Brew | Francis Scialabba
March 3, 2023
 
People pros need to show employees that they care about their well-being. How can I encourage my company’s employees to want to engage with HR? I love this question. It speaks to a shift in the world of HR and, most importantly, how many HR leaders are currently looking to build, or rebuild, their relationships with employees. HR has historically gotten a bad rap. My heart still breaks every time I hear someone say that HR is a compliance function intended to serve an organization, not the people who serve it.
MEC Sponsor Ogletree Deakins | April 1, 2023

In this episode, Dee Anna Hays, who is chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group, is joined by Susan Gorey to discuss the responses to the firm’s recent benchmarking survey. Susan and Dee Anna discuss the most challenging multijurisdictional issues that employers are facing, including leaves of absence, wage and hour laws, handbooks and policies, background checks, and marijuana laws.

They discuss how employers can keep up-to-date and in compliance with the patchwork of state laws in these areas—especially given the growing trend of remote workforces that started during the pandemic.
OSHA's online newsletter provides the latest news about enforcement actions, rulemaking, outreach activities, compliance assistance, and training and educational resources.

Join more than 380,000 subscribers who rely on QuickTakes for information about workplace safety and health. QT is free and distributed twice monthly. Starting in 2018, QuickTakes subscribers began receiving occasional "Did You Know?" messages informing them of OSHA safety resources.
Forms
 
These are the most frequently requested U.S. Department of Labor forms. You can complete some forms online, while you can download and print all others.
 
Temporary Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) Status Documentation

USCIS field offices recently started delivering Forms I-94 with ADIT (temporary I-551) stamps as temporary evidence of LPR status without requiring an in-person appearance at the field office. With this new operational process, USCIS has added more ways for applicants to obtain proof of status. This alternate Form I-94 with an ADIT stamp is an acceptable List A receipt for Form I-9 and E-Verify.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS
THANK YOU to all 2023 SPRING 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!
CONFERENCE ON THE BRAIN
The MEC article library is growing monthly with valuable information relevant to the ever-changing work environment. Check the website frequently for updates. If you have something important for our readers to benefit from, reach out to us to be included in the next newsletter or article library!

Earn Continuing Education Credits!
Sharpen Your Knowledge!
Network With Professionals!
Motivate Your Team!
Meet Vendors!
No need to be certified to attend the conference.
If you have a desire to learn, improve, network or motivate yourself or your team, you will find great value in attending the conference!
STRONG MINDS | STRONG HEARTS

Lake of the Ozarks
Stop Human Trafficking Coalition

The number of reported human trafficking cases grows year by year.


Missouri is no exception.
We are ready to hear from you. Whether you are reaching out for help, requesting us for a speaking event, or would like more information on joining this fight, please include in your message what you are inquiring about or email us directly with any questions.
FAMILY FORTUNE
A Lake Full of Activities

There’s fun events, and then there’s fun events...lakeside. You’re not going to want to miss the amazing activities happening up and down the lake. Check out the event calendar below to start planning your trip.
THE YUM FACTOR
15 Guilt-Free Zero Proof Cocktails
My Bartender | Paul Kushner | 2023

Zero-proof cocktails are a perfect alternative to alcoholic cocktails. These cocktails deliver the flavor and sophistication of your favorite alcohol-based cocktails without the negative effects of alcohol.

They are ideal when hosting parties with teetotalers or children, whether in the dead of winter or summer’s heat.

They are also perfect if you wish to explore the world of cocktails but are not so keen on alcohol. So, without further ado, here are some of the best zero-proof cocktails.
(H)EROES (R)ECOGNIZED
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.
NOTES FROM NAN & SUE
Great night networking with the chamber at Captain Ron’s in March!
THE SRING CONFERENCE IS 6 WEEKS AWAY!
 
The conference team works year-round finding the most dynamic speakers / trainers, researching the topics relevant in today's employment climate & working with powerful sponsors to support conference goals. Conference week is truly a culmination of the past year's diligent planning & coordination & we are all so excited to share the journey with you!

Only 6 weeks left to register if you haven't already, we hope to see you.
 
Whether it's your first conference, you're a seasoned veteran of the conference or if you haven't indulged in the continuing education realm with us yet, we welcome you & thank you for being a part of the mission to educate!
 
Happy Spring! Nan & Sue