Smart Workforce Solutions

Business Services from the Missouri Career Centers of Joplin and Monett
 
 
 

Archive for the 'General News' Category

Jul 28th, 2009

HR Certification prep course coming to Joplin

Posted by blog @ 8:07 pm

Interest from a series of workshops sponsored with grants from the WIB have prompted the offering of an HR certification series set for this Fall.  The Management Development Institute (MDI) at Missouri State Univeristy, the training vendor the WIB’s HR workshops held this Spring, is bringing the certification series to Joplin.

The series launches September 12th and MDI has tapped Glenn Pace, a popular instruction from the Spring series, the lead the certification track.  Download a two-page flyer on the certification series or call MDI at 800-733-3203.

Jul 24th, 2009

Minimum wage increases in Missouri; new posters required

Posted by blog @ 2:23 pm

Friday, July 24th marks the increase of the state minimum wage to $7.25.  A helpful resource for employers to consider is the free download of required workplace labor posterreflecting the change.  Employers may receive mail order offers to purchase a poster, but should be aware that the free downloadable resource would be an alternative.  Most employment positions are affected, but the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations published a Q&A resource on their website for further detail.

The official change prompted interest from local news media outlets and requests for feedback from the WIB.  Correspondents from KZRG Radio and Fox-14 TV interviewed Executive Director Jasen Jones for local insights.

The WIB’s advanced labor market intelligence system provided research demonstrating only 13 of the bottom 50 lowest hourly wage occupations in the Joplin metro have medium hourly wages under the new $7.25 minimum wage.

Earlier in 2009, the Missouri Economic Research Information Center (MERIC) produced a comparison of minimum wages across the country.  MERIC’s report also analyzed the number of individuals making about $7.15/hour state by state.  At that point in time, 82.7% of Missouri’s hourly wage-earners made above the $7.15/hour threshold studied.

Jul 20th, 2009

Seminar Announced at Monett for HR Issues & Legislative Updates

Posted by blog @ 8:22 am

The Missouri Employer Committee is hosting a seminar in Monett August 13th with valuable updates and trends on issues and legislative updatees of priority to HR professionals.  The workshop is set for August 13th at Grants Restaurant on Highway 60 in Monett.

Special guest speaker is Rick Temple, Esq. from the law offices of Rick Temple LLC.   A $15 registration fee includes breakfast as well as the workshop and all presentation materials.  Registration and breakfast opens at 7:30 with the program to follow from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

For additional information or if special accommodations are needed, please contact Patty Spencer or Pam Barbour at (417) 235-7877.

May 15th, 2009

Career Center “Guide to Services” Updated

Posted by blog @ 1:00 pm

The Missouri Career Centers statewide are pleased to offer the latest roadmap to products available known as the Guide to Services.  You may download the guides here as PDF documents.

For more information, call your local Career Center in Joplin at (417) 629-3000 or in Monett at (417) 235-7877.

Apr 22nd, 2009

WIB Announces Summer Youth Jobs Initiative

Posted by blog @ 3:18 pm

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of Southwest Missouri announced Wednesday its plans to offer a summer employment program that prepares youth across the region for exciting careers in high-demand, high-paying sectors for the 21st century.

The Next-Generation Jobs Team, matches youth ages 16 to 24 with paid summer jobs and internships at cutting-edge employers throughout the region. As part of the program, the WIB and Career Center staff assist young people to identify career fields of interest and then make value-added placements with participating employers.

“The Four-State Region’s economy is well-diversified and ripe with opportunities for youth in the career pipeline,” noted Jasen Jones, Executive Director for the WIB.    “In addition to valuable work experience, it’s our goal that youth in this program see real life examples of how their current and future studies in school are relevant in today’s workplace,” Jones added.

Next-Generation Jobs Team participants will spend the summer gaining on-the-job training and work experience, along with ongoing guidance and support from professional career counselors from the Joplin and Monett Career Centers.  Wages for the young workers are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In the statewide announcements this week, Governor Nixon lauded how the program not only helps young people gain vital experience, it helps employers develop a pool of talent to meet their needs for educated and qualified workers and to “build the workforce that will lead Missouri’s economy into the future.”

Young Missourians or businesses interested in participating in the Next-Generation Jobs Team can apply by way of the website or call Kris Baldwin at 417-206-1717 Ext. 229.  The program is available between May 1 and September 30, 2009.  There is no fee to participate, but some eligibility requirements will apply.

The WIB is also recruiting employers that could benefit from providing internships to youth in growth-oriented, skills-driven sectors.  Interested businesses may contact Gary Box at 417-206-1717 Ext. 227.

May 16th, 2008

MEC Plans Immigration Seminar

Posted by blog @ 6:11 am

The Monett Area Missouri Employer Committee invites business owners and human resource professionals to its next seminar on Immigration. 

Hal Wood, with Advisory Management Services, will present information on labor market and immigration, changes to immigration law, immigration issues with the application process, types of documentation, the “no match” letter, and new approaches and penalties from ICE for illegal hires.  Read the rest of this entry »

May 9th, 2008

Joplin Earns “Choice City” Ranking

Posted by blog @ 6:13 am

Get Your Kicks on Route 66 is a vintage song that gave Joplin national recognition years ago as a popular stop along Historic Route 66.   Joplin is back in the national spotlight for its business climate.  A national business publication profiled Joplin as a top 25 “Choice City” among metro areas in the nation deemed most attractive for business development. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 12th, 2008

Missouri Employer Committee Plans OSHA Seminar

Posted by blog @ 6:10 am

The Joplin Area Missouri Employer Committee invites safety managers and human resource professionals to its next seminar titled “OSHA 101.”

Mark Banden, a compliance assistance specialist with the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, is the featured speaker.  Banden will speak about working with OSHA, OSHA compliance assistance and give an introduction to safety and health management programs.  Daniel Stark, program manager of the Missouri Division of Labor Standards, also will give a presentation on the Consultation Program.

The seminar will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on April 3 at the Missouri Career Center in Joplin.  The center is located at 730 S. Wall Ave.

The non-refundable registration fee of $20.00 covers a continental breakfast and all seminar materials.  Checks should be made out to Missouri Employer Committee and mailed to the Missouri Career Center by March 27.

Additional sponsors include the Missouri Career Center, Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development, and the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri.

For additional information or to request special accommodations, call Shirley Click at 417-629-3000.

Jan 3rd, 2008

Leadership Course Announced

Posted by blog @ 1:44 pm

Missouri Southern State University is offering a leadership skills course that begins in January.  Titled “Leadership Development for Today’s Quality Organizations,” the course will take place on Thursday evenings starting Jan. 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration at MSSU.  The course ends on March 13.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jan 1st, 2008

New Minimum Wage Poster Updated

Posted by blog @ 10:13 am

The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has updated the state’s minimum wage poster effective as of January 1 for the wage increase.  Download the poster here to help keep your organization in compliance with posting requirements.  Remember, don’t fall for direct mail scams to pay big bucks when these posters are available free through the Missouri Career Center!