“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
September 3, 2024
How is it September already? A pang of change is in the air, as we shift from sultry summer to crisp fall, from vibrant greens to leaves tinged with yellow and gold. There’s a sense of loss, but also excitement for the final stretch of the year – ready or not, Q4 is almost upon us, and it’s time to let go of summer vibes and finish out the year strong and well-positioned for 2025.
I’ve been thinking about how we manage change as an organization. It is truly the only constant to running (or functioning within) a business. The economic, political and cultural environments are always in a state of flux. Market trends and demand for our products and services evolve. The people we work with come and go. Technology disrupts our operations and communications. We elect new leaders to run our local, state and federal governments. Laws get passed that we need to comply with, and then they change again. All of it requires a measure of adaptability, resilience, and optimism, because change is nothing if not opportunity – in business and in life.
As you’ll see, the idea of change is the through line to the content we’re sharing this month.
State and Federal Labor Law Changes
Maine PFMLA
Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Act, signed into law by Governor Mills in July 2023, marks a substantial change in employment policy that will affect virtually all Maine employers.
The law introduces a paid leave program that will begin collecting contributions from employers and employees starting January 1, 2025, with benefits available to eligible employees beginning May 1, 2026. We’ve got you covered! In this article, we discuss what employers need to know to prepare for these changes.
We are also pleased to be teaming up with Aimee Parsons of Ogletree Deakins, and Shelly Paules of Acadia Benefits, for a complimentary webinar on this topic on October 1, from 12:00-1:00.
While we are all awaiting clarification from the Maine DOL in many critical areas (Maine DOL issued this update last week) this session will provide a basic understanding of the law as it stands now, its implications for your business, and how you can begin preparing. We won’t have all the answers, but this is a great opportunity to tap into the diverse expertise of our panelists.
Register here.
(Don’t worry if you’re unable to attend – we will post a recording of this session to our website.)
FTC Non-Compete Ban Blocked (for Now)
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a final rule which would have banned almost all non-compete clauses nationwide. On August 20, 2024, a federal judge in Texas blocked the ban on non-competes that was set to take effect on September 4, 2024. This means that for now, non-competes will continue to be enforceable under federal law and employers will not have to issue any notices to employees on this subject. It’s important to note, however, that non-competes are still subject to any applicable state requirements.
We will be watching for appeals on this, but for now, this rule will not take effect.
Facilitating Employee Voting
With the upcoming presidential election, the one thing we know for sure is that we will have change at the top leadership level in 2025 when our 47th president is sworn into office.
Voting is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of democracy. By supporting this process as employers, you show that you value democratic participation, which can improve your organizational culture as well as your employer brand.
In this article, we offer some reasons why facilitating employee voting is the right thing to do, and how to go about it.
Q&A With Sharon Callahan
Managing people is not always smooth sailing, because people are inherently complex, as Sharon Callahan noted in our Q&A interview, in which she discusses the biggest challenges and changes she’s seen in her 25+ years in HR.
Best Places to Work in Maine Announced
We offer a hearty congratulations to all 134 businesses who made the Best Places to Work in Maine list, many who are KMA clients, partners and friends –and all who are an inspiration!
Every day we help our clients manage change in the workplace. Whether it’s creating and implementing policies; managing performance issues; recruiting, hiring and onboarding new employees; crafting strategies for workforce development and growth; investing in the future by building a better culture; or understanding how a new law impacts their operations, we are experts in change management.
I hope you’ll reach out to me if you’re in need of strategies and tools for planning, implementing and communicating change…or with any HR, compensation or recruiting challenges you might be grappling with. The KMA team is here to help.
Happy fall, y’all!
Kim Anania
President and CEO
KMA Human Resources