HRchat Podcast

Welcome to this country-profile special episode of the HRchat show. Guyana's economy registered a staggering real growth of 62% last year and it has been forecasted to expand by another 25% this year. Revenue from oil exports and royalties is expected to climb 31% to $1.63 billion this year, fueled by an average $83 per barrel price for Guyana's export basket. With new oil revenue flooding into Gayana comes an opportunity to rapidly develop infrastructure and the skills of its working citizens. Joining Bill Banham on the pod today is Rita Sookrit, Canada Learning Lead at Hemsley Fraser. Skilled in aligning business goals with L&D strategy, Rita helps companies implement innovative solutions using technology, tools, and frameworks. Check out episode 535 with Rita to learn more. Also joining Bill is Dr. Vishnu Doerga, Ph.D., MBA, DME – Chairman of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. As past president, chairman and councillor of many Business Support Organizations including the Georgetown Chamber and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Vishnu has over 20 years of private sector development service. Vishnu comes from a Mechanical Engineering background and, having evolved into business, he is now a certified business coach, mentor, trainer and speaker.  Questions for Rita and Dr. Vishnu Include: Vishnu: Talk about ACI and your personal vision for Guyana.Rita: What initial impressions do you have of corporate learning in Guyana?Vishnu: Guyana is quickly becoming a country of interest to many foreign corporations – how do you plan to upskill employees to enable them to work on a global platform?Rita: Talk to us about how you plan to introduce global learning strategies, trends, and best practices in the Guyanese market.Vishnu: ACI is known for its coaching strategies – do you coach internal employees and how does it differ from external clients?Both: In 60 seconds or less, what is your hope for the future of learning in Guyana?We do our best to ensuSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

The repercussions of the Great Resignation created a long-lasting global talent crisis. Organizations must adapt and adjust strategies to succeed in attracting and retaining top talent. At the SHRM Talent Conference & Expo starting today, talent professionals will learn about new tools, research and processes to help them thrive in 2023 and beyond. In this special event preview episode of the HRchat show, Chris Bjorling and Bill Banham look ahead to the April 16-19 event designed to help folks update practices, re-shape the future of talent management and build better workplaces for all.Listen too, as we offer some snippets from recent conversations with SHRM Talent 2023 speakers Natalie Massey, Former EA at NASA and current Operations Coordinator at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and Sandy Michelet, Director of Human Resources at Sparkhound. We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.   Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

In an era where burnout, ‘quiet quitting’, and work-life balance have permeated the conversation around employment, how can employers stand out? The implementation of a shorter work week is the most equitable way to strive towards this universal goal of balance and happiness. While a Canadian pilot of a four-day week is still underway, recent results from a similar UK trial show a four-day workweek can significantly improve employee wellness. Key findings include:54% of employees reported a reduction in negative emotions43% reported an increase in mental health    71% reported a decrease in burnout        54% reported a better work-life balanceHelping Bill Banham to delve into these findings today is Joe O’Connor a globally recognized expert in shorter working weeks. Joe leads the Toronto-based Work Time Reduction Centre of Excellence (WTR-CoE) that's focused on how a four-day week might work in the HR field and what it might mean for recruitment, retention and employee happiness.Questions for Joe Include: Can you tell us what inspired you to get involved with the four-day workweek movement?What are some of the benefits of a shorter working week?How does a shorter workweek affect retention and recruitment?What are some key obstacles to the four-day week you’ve seen that HR professionals might encounter and how can we best overcome them?What’s your hope for the future of the shorter workweek movement?What are some things HR professionals can implement (such as training, tools and technology) to make a shorter work week a reality?More About Joe O'Connor, Director &Co-founder, Work Time Reduction Center of ExcellenceJoe is the Director and Co-founder of the world's first Center of Excellence in Work Time Reduction, a new global initiative based in Toronto, Canada, which has been launched in partnership with leading people-first transformation company Curium Solutions.Previously, as the chief executive officer of 4 Day Week Global, Joe led the design and implementation of four-day week trials all over the world, supporting hundreds of employers and thousands of employees to make the transition to reduced-hour, proSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Today's guest expert says that the way we pronounce colleagues' names is a big deal. Our names, he explains, are central to our unique identities, and saying them correctly is the first step in connecting with, respecting, and appreciating one another.Bill Banham is joined on the show by Dr. Praveen Shanbhag, Founder & CEO at Namecoach Inc., a tool offering users access to accurate audio name pronunciations to promote inclusion, belonging, and rapport.Questions For Praveen Include: How common are mispronunciations in the workplace?Is tackling mispronunciations getting more share of DEI and HR budgets than in past years? Give us a sense of the size of investments going into efforts to fix this workplace issue.What is Namecoach and what's the mission and what inspired you to start the company?What makes Namecoach different from just Googling the pronunciation of a name?What has been the most pivotal moment for Namecoach so far?Why do educational institutions and organizations work with NameCoach? Can you also offer any use cases?What difference can Namecoach make in one's organization?We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.   Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

In this episode of the HRchat show, we preview the Benefits and Wellness Superhero Symposium, happening May 18 in downtown Toronto and the virtual edition of the event series happening two weeks later.Bill's returning guest is Roger Thorpe. Roger is the President of the integrated benefits and wellness consulting company, Thorpe Benefits. Having joined the firm in 1997 and later acquiring ownership of the company in 2005, Roger has built a team of senior consultants that understand Group Benefits inside out.Listen as Bill Banham and Roger Thorpe Discuss: In terms of the benefits and wellness space, how is 2023 different from the pandemic years? Future trends in benefits & wellness Designing the better group benefits plans What employees want in the area of Health & Wellness Developing a better relationship with your benefits consultant/broker Preview of the Benefits and Wellness Superhero Symposium in TorontoRegister for the in-person and/or online edition of the Benefits and Wellness Superhero Symposium here. We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.   Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

The focus of this HRchat episode is 'Your Admin Staff: Tapping HR’s Golden Natural Resource'. Listen as we consider such questions as: How will redefining Admin’s role create a new pipeline of talent? How can HR and admin staff work together in the new workplace? And what challenges can admin and HR staff better tackle together? Our guest this time is Natalie Massey, Operations Coordinator of the Space Exploration Sector at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.Natalie leads the team that runs the SES office and supports the Sector Head and members of the Executive Leadership Team. She provides oversight and analysis of operations and prioritizes day-to-day operations. Natalie has been the recipient of a NASA Honor Award in Administrative Excellence and will be speaking at SHRM Talent Conference later this month!Questions For Natalie Include:You’re presenting at the upcoming SHRM Talent Conference. The session is called “Your Admin Staff: Tapping HR’sGolden Natural Resource”. Tell us more!Why SHRM Talent? Given the onset of generative AI and machine learning, what does the admin professional role and job description look like in the new workplace?More About NataliePreviously, Natalie served as Executive Assistant to NASA’s Deputy Administrator, where she directly contributed to the overall Agency vision and independently performed administrative management functions that serviced organizational requirements. She demonstrated critical, institutional familiarity of agency process and history to enable thoughtful decision-making on behalf of the Deputy Administrator.Natalie joined NASA in September 1996 as a Cooperative Office Experience student at Goddard Space Flight Center and has served in a variety of roles at the agency, including at Headquarters in 2010.  Natalie has over 25 years of progressive experience in programs and projects related to NASA strategy formulation, science, and technology investments. She has had significant experience in the development and implementation of strategies to maintain a viable administrative community.Ms. Massey earned a B.A. in Communication Studies – Technical Writing and a certification in Desktop Publishing from the University of MarySupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

As employers look to the future, creating a workplace where employees feel heard, where they feel that their voice matters, and where they feel a sense of belonging is vital for the future success of any business.  Employee engagement is an excellent barometer of organizational health. The companies that get employee engagement right can enjoy a competitive advantage that's hard for others to replicate.  With this in mind, the All Access: Employee Engagement and Experience 2023 online event, produced by IQPC's HR Network Exchange, will focus on such issues as:Is employee engagement on the downturn and, if so, where are we going wrong?Prioritizing diversity, equality and inclusivity in your employee engagement strategyHow do you evolve your business to embrace a culture change of digitization?Placing wellbeing first and preventing burnout in a hybrid environmentThe event includes a panel called Prioritizing diversity, equality and inclusivity in your employee engagement strategy and features Heather Laychak - Vice President & Chief People Officer of People Operations, The Aerospace Corporation, and today's guest, Dr Stephanie Murphy - former Head of People Insights & Assessments at Dell Technologies and current Adjuct Professor at the University of Texas at Austin.Stephanie is passionate about people analytics. What Stephanie appreciates about the numbers, she says, is how Human Resources leaders can connect them to human stories. Questions For Stephanie Include: In terms of raising the DEI bar at Dell, what are you most proud of from your time there?You serve on several boards and committees including the HR Exchange Network, the IT Survey Group, and the Society of I-O Psychology. Why get involved with these groups and how are they helping to push the needle in the world of work?How have companies reprioritized DEI efforts since the murder of George Floyd and which companies are getting it right?What are typical challenges HR leaders face when it comes to getting leadership buy-in to prioritize DEI in their employee engagement strategies? You'll be on the IQPC's HR Network Exchange panel at the Employee Engagement and Experience 2023 online event called 'Prioritizing diversity, equality, and inclusivity in Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Our returning guest is Bobby Umar, an inspirational speaker and storyteller. Bobby has delivered 1,000+ keynotes and workshops across 4 continents in the past two decades. Inc Magazine named Bobby one of the Top 100 Leadership Speakers, alongside such noteworthy giants as Sir Richard Branson, Brene Brown, and John Maxwell. Bobby is a 5x TEDx speaker, and one of the top digital influencers in the world, with over 650,000 global followers. You can check out Bobby's previous appearance on the HRchat show here.Questions For Bobby Include:You love to talk about thought leadership and one of the trends you talk about is Multi-Platform content strategy. Why is that so important?What are the benefits or outcomes of building thought leadership?Are companies scared to hire thought leaders because of their reach and the potential for negative consequences? Obviously, you are on Twitter, what is your take on the recent Elon Musk changes and shifts?Given the clients you work with, what are the biggest challenges they have to build their brands and how do you help them overcome them?More About BobbyTo date, his social media influence has garnered over 2 billion impressions. He's been named the 2nd best business coach to follow on Twitter and the 4th best leadership influencer according to Kred. Bobby is an international author of three books, including a #1 bestseller and most recently, he was named a Top 7 Networking Guru to follow. A dad and a board game nerd who champions authentic connection and heart-based leadership, Bobby has appeared on hundreds of podcasts, TV & radio shows. With a background in brand marketing (Kraft & Unilever), engineering (Bombardier) and the performing arts (Second City), Bobby has led Raeallan for two decades, and runs two other companies. He is now a recognized thought leader in Digital Marketing, Personal Branding and Building Meaningful Relationships.We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.   Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

In this episode, we ask why organizations need an offshore strategy to support their recruitment needs. Listen too, as we consider how businesses can maintain their company culture when working with outsourced employees.Bill's guest is Kal Kukadia, Chief Recruitment Officer at Cloudstaff. A seasoned strategist in talent development and recruitment, Kal has been tasked with establishing Cloudstaff’s talent operations in the Philippines, India and Columbia to support global client expansion. He believes a customer and candidate-centric approach supported by technology offers the best chances to find the right staff for any client needs.Questions For Kal Include: Why do organizations need an offshore strategy to support their recruitment needs?How has offshoring/outsourcing supported communities in developing countries – and what makes some countries attractive for outsourced employees?  Why is tech so critical to supporting remote and offshore working – what do companies use to manage their outsourcing?  How can businesses maintain their company culture when working with outsourced employees? contingent/gigWhat are some misconceptions about outsourcing?What are the top reasons small companies might give for not outsourcing, and why should they do it?  More About KalWith 20+ years of experience, Kal has an exceptional track record of leading strategic large-scale recruitment programs for rapidly growing organizations. Former employers include Barclays, Severn Trent Water, Rolls Royce, Atkins, and General Electric.Kal is highly respected within the industry and regularly spends his time mentoring and coaching rising stars.Kal studied at Coventry University and lives in Warwick, England with his family.We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.   Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

In this performance coaching-focused HRchat episode, we consider ways to prepare for and run productive and outcome-focused 1on1s. Our guest is Libby Stewart, the VP of Customer Experience & Revenue at Topicflow, a new tech platform designed to connect with your favorite calendar(s) to transform your 1on1s into powerful coaching conversations to potentially eradicate the need for performance reviews altogether.Questions For Libby Include: Topicflow sees traditional performance management as broken. We'll get into the details soon but, at a high level, what's wrong with the ways many companies have been planning for, and conducting their performance management processes?What are some toxic/counter-productive practices to avoid in the build-up to, and during, performance reviews?Let's talk about preparation ahead of performance reviews. What are some ways to set everybody up for success before they begin?Why is it important to be meeting with your people more frequently? How can that lead to more productive performance coaching conversations?Can you share some practical tips to help managers run more intentional and focused 1on1s that are designed to actually drive performance?Where does HR fit in? How can HR ensure the tools and processes are in place to create the opportunity for successful meetings and 1on1s?Topicflow offers tools to help managers and HR pros to gain a "bird’s-eye view of team progress and the next steps for success." Tell us more.You also talk a lot about the impact of employee burnout. How can managers spot signs of impending burnout in their 1on1s?More About LibbyOriginally from Australia and now based in beautiful BC, Canada, Libby is a Strategic Coach, Facilitator, and Senior Leader with a background in Behavioural Science. She has experience spanning Strategic Goal Frameworks (including OKRs), Performance Management, Coaching, Leadership Development, Change Management, Psychometric Assessment, Talent Management, Board Advisory and Senior Leadership in Customer Success & Professional Services for SaaS products and apps that enable all of these!Libby says she is driven by empowering individuals and teams to thrive and kick goals in highly diverse and inclusive work environments!Request a discovery cSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events