Smart Workforce Solutions

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.

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.

• Website article from KZRG/News-Talk 1310 Radio
• WIB Market Data on Lowest Paying Occupations in Joplin (PDF)
• DOLIR Minimum Wage Regulations Q&A
• Free download of Mandated Workplace Poster (PDF)

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.

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.

• Download an informational flyer with a registration form (PDF)