HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

In a recent survey, McKinsey highlighted three major trends that will likely continue to reshape work as we know it: remote work, e-commerce, and the adoption of automation and AI. Jared Pope, Co-Founder & CEO of Work Shield, joins HR Work Break to discuss how these topics will affect the future of work, the importance of employee engagement, and other trends to keep an eye on in the new year.

Guest: Daniela Elazari, Director of Well-Being in the Office of Work/Life at Columbia University Have employee expectations around work/life balance and flexibility changed? Why is it vital for employers to show their investment and commitment to workplace wellness, and what elements of employee well-being should HR teams be paying close attention to as many teams return to the office in 2024? In this week’s episode of the HR Works Podcast, we are joined by Daniela Elazari, a workplace well-being expert and Director of Well-Being in the Office of Work/Life at Columbia University. Listen as Daniela helps us take a closer look at how workplace well-being has changed in recent years, and learn why a renewed support of work/life balance and employee wellness is essential for organizations, especially as RTO mandates and policies ramp up in 2024. And don’t miss as Daniela offers some must-have wellness and nutrition tips for HR teams to support employee health, both mental and physical, during this holiday season. This is one you’ll definitely want to check out!

Guest: Simon Taylor, Head of Organizational Effectiveness at Gap Inc. Why is organizational effectiveness essential in building thriving, high-performing workforces? Where can HR teams make their biggest contribution to organizational effectiveness, and what are some red flags of organizational ineffectiveness that HR leaders should be looking out for in 2024? In this latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, we are joined by Simon Taylor, a globally recognized organizational leadership thought leader and Head of Organizational Effectiveness at Gap Inc. Listen as we discuss the importance of maintaining a dedicated workforce strategy, built to withstand challenges and ultimately lead to long-term success, and Simon shares a preview of his upcoming book, Build Smart: A Blueprint for Building a High-Performing Organization that is set to release in April 2024.

The US Surgeon General recently deemed loneliness and isolation and “epidemic” as over half of Americans reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. What can HR leaders do to better support their employees' mental health? Bestselling author Erica Kezwin joins HR Work Break to discuss the loneliness epidemic, employee mental health, and more.

Guest: Thomas Leeper, Vice President of Client Solutions at Sevenstep What are successful talent acquisition and hiring teams doing differently to address the latest challenges of the labor market? Could predictive workforce intelligence tools and talent analytics be the difference makers for the organizations looking to attract top-talent in the marketplace? In this latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, Thomas Leeper, Vice President of Client Solutions at Sevenstep, joins to helps us take a closer look at how are hiring teams and organizations taking advantage of an evolving access to analytics and deeper understanding of the talent market. Listen as Thomas shares findings from a recent Sevenstep report, Predictive Workforce Intelligence Comes of Age, explaining what the latest workforce analytics are telling us about the future of the talent market, and which data sets and trends hiring teams need to be paying closer attention to going into 2024.

What is the best piece of professional advice that you’ve received and could pass along to HR and recruiting professionals? We ask this question every week to our first-time guests on the HR Works Podcast and each time we get a truly unique and impactful response. In this week’s episode of the HR Works Podcast, we are sharing some our favorite responses from our 2023 season and paying it forward, giving the gift of game-changing advice as we head into the gift-giving season.

In last month‘s Pages of HR, I chatted with Patti Temple Rocks. Over the course of her four-decade career in the communications industry, Temple Rocks has held senior leadership positions in different sectors including PR, advertising, and the corporate client side. Patti is also an inspirational leader, builder of teams, creative thinker, problem-solver, and agent of change. Welcome back to part two of our discussion as we delve further into her book, "I’m Still Not Done: It’s Time to Talk About Ageism in the Workplace."  Listen in as we discuss how to use the mirror test to determine if you or your organization is being ageist, five tips for mentoring employees over 50 years old, 10 steps to creating an anti-ageism organization, and more.

Guest: Dr. Trish Holliday, Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services at Nashville Electric Service (NES) What are some of the biggest challenges facing new managers transitioning from roles as individual contributors into managerial and leadership positions? What skill gaps need to be immediately addressed to prepare new managers and what should be built into a long-range learning plan? In the latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, Dr. Trish Holliday, Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services at Nashville Electric Service, helps us take a closer look at the challenges facing employees as they take on their first roles as managers and leaders. Listen as Dr. Holliday offers her expert insight and shares how HR teams can support their advancing workforce in their career growth, becoming effective, successful future leaders of their organization.

As many companies contemplate a return to office, the digital nomad trend has since shifted into "tethered nomading." Audra Nichols, Chief Operating Officer at MBO Partners, joins to discuss this trend, the importance of flexible work, and more!

Guest: Lauren Winans, CEO and Principal HR consultant of Next Level Benefits What are the biggest challenges facing HR teams during open enrollment? What are some effective methods for driving employee engagement when selecting their 2024 benefits, and have any new must-have benefits emerged to attract talent in recent years? With open enrollment season underway, HR teams are collectively diving into the challenge of educating and assisting their workforce with enrolling in 2024 benefits. So what better time than right now to check-in on the pulse of employee benefits and unpack some of the most-common challenges facing HR teams during the open enrollment process? Next Level Benefit’s CEO and Principal HR consultant, Lauren Winans, joins this latest episode of the HR Works Podcast and offers her expert insight and advice for HR leaders looking to navigate a successful and productive open enrollment process.