Director's Spotlight

Workers' Compensation: Stepping Up Efforts against those Cheating the System     

In every industry -- not just those thought of as high-hazard – there are certain risks at the workplace. And an injury that renders a worker unable to do his or her job presents a serious financial strain on Missouri families. Missouri law recognizes this, and requires that injured employees be adequately compensated. This is the role of workers’ compensation insurance—to provide that important safety net for Missouri’s workforce.

U.S. Congress Does Not Renew Federal Extensions to Unemployment Insurance Benefits

So far, the U.S. Congress has not passed legislation allowing the renewal of federal extensions to unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. In addition, the emergency extended unemployment insurance benefits allowed by prior federal legislation are phasing out.

This includes all four tiers of the federal emergency unemployment compensation (EUC08) benefit program, state extended benefits (EB), and the federal additional compensation (FAC) $25 weekly payment.

Unemploment Services Expanded to LaBelle, Mo.

The Missouri Labor Department’s Division of Employment Security (DES) recently added a new four-week reporting location at the Gamm, Incorporated office in LaBelle, Mo. The expansion offers a new location for individuals claiming unemployment benefits who must report to a four-week reporting location as a requirement to continue receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

Labor Department Establishes Online Memorial to Honor Deceased Workers

On April 28, the Missouri Labor Department paid tribute to 116 workers who lost their lives on the job in 2009. This nationwide observance is called Workers Memorial Day, and every year on this day, thousands of people in hundreds of communities across the nation recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job.

Although the official ceremony has ended, the Department continues this observance through an online memorial honoring the deceased workers. The online tribute is available at http://www.labor.mo.gov/rememberworkers/.

Bootheel Public Invited to Free MCHR "Dine & Discuss" Fair Housing Events

This summer, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) rolls out a major component of its year-long public awareness campaign, the Show-Me Fair Housing Awareness Project, with 12 public lunch and dinner events spanning six southeastern Missouri counties. The free events, Dine & Discuss: Fair Housing, provide members of Missouri’s Bootheel communities with an opportunity to learn about fair housing rights, including information about discrimination in rentals, predatory lending, foreclosure avoidance, and more.

MCHR Executive Director Meets Fair Pay Advocate Lilly Ledbetter at EEOC Conference

Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) Executive Director, Alisa Warren (left), poses with Lilly Ledbetter, namesake for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. The Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 29, 2009. The bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stating that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay  lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each new discriminatory paycheck.

Labor Department's Workplace Safety Month Events a Success

During Safety Awareness Month in June, the Missouri Labor Department formed partnerships with several Missouri employers in an effort to raise awareness about safety at work. The Department kicked off a safety awareness campaign by offering free workplace safety seminars to the participating Missouri employers.

Labor Department Promotes Safety at the Missouri State Fair

The Missouri Labor Department invites you to join us at the Missouri State Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 22. On these two days the Department will be sponsoring the annual car races and will raffle off Carl Edwards’ autographed memorabilia, while promoting our workplace safety programs, which are provided at no cost.

Missouri Employers Urged to Implement a Seat Belt Policy for Workers

Motor vehicle crashes – on and off the job, are the primary cause of death and injury in the nation’s workforce. According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), regardless of when, where, or why an employee is behind the wheel, when a motor vehicle auto injury occurs, there is a devastating impact on the workplace. Recent statistics show that the average cost of a motor vehicle crash to an employer is $16,500 regardless of whether it was an on-the-job or off-the-job crash.

Labor Quick Stats for May

The Department is responsible for administering state and federal laws regarding employer and employee rights and responsibilities. Throughout the past year, the Department has established a set of performance measures to rate our success and chart our progress. In light of current economic conditions, these measures assist the Department in gauging its success in meeting customer needs.