Joplin HR reports large drop in workers’ compensation payouts, seeks data to address turnover

Michelle Ducree, the city’s Human Resources representative, told the council at the informal session that the HR office is managing a posted HR specialist vacancy and tracking higher turnover even as workers’ compensation costs fell significantly.

Ducree presented applicant and hiring totals across recent years and said turnover remains a concern: the city received roughly 1,200–1,300 applicants in recent years and hired dozens annually, while separations included retirements and terminations and a number of employees who left during probationary periods. She asked departments to prepare for potential retirements; she said about 60 employees could be eligible to retire within five years.

On insurance and liability, Ducree highlighted steep declines in workers’ compensation payouts: she said 2022 claims amounted to over $4 million, 2023 paid claims totaled about $680,000 across 79 claims, and 2024 had 74 claims with roughly $151,000 paid. She credited staff and third‑party partners for the improvements. Ducree cautioned that the figures reflect paid claims and that the city is working with risk partners to reduce injury and liability exposure.

Ducree also described initiatives: succession planning, emergency action plan revisions with department partners, leadership training partnerships (University of Missouri), and a compensation study planned for the third quarter of 2025 to benchmark pay against peer cities and identify compression issues.

Council member Koppel praised the workers’ comp improvement and asked Ducree to provide periodic turnover reports and to review longevity pay (noting long‑tenured employees may be at top of pay scales). Ducree agreed to provide requested data and to continue work on recruitment, retention and policy clarifications.

Ducree closed by inviting council support for upcoming staff awards and thanking departments for cooperation.