HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

Lou Bachenheimer, CTO of the Americas for SS&C Blue Prism, joins the show to discuss the advancement of intelligent automation (IA) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Guest: Darci Dunn, President of EssentialHr – HR Done Right With the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) taking effect on June 27th, the onus is on HR departments to review their accommodation policies for their U.S.-based employees during pregnancy and childbirth. So what does the PWFA entail and what do organizations and their HR teams need to know to ensure they remaining compliant under these updated EEOC standards? Employee relations and benefits expert Darci Dunn, President of EssentialHR – HR Done Right, joins the HR Works Podcast and helps us take a closer look at the details of the PWFA. Listen as she shares some must-have insight and next steps to help HR leaders meet the updated standards for reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. Darci also offers some effective ways to communicate these policy changes across a workforce, and provides predictions for the next wave of workplace protections that could be on the horizon.

One week after SHRM23, we take some time to reflect on hot topics in HR, the future of work, the importance of flexibility, and more.

In the latest episode of Pages of HR, I'm joined by Genevieve Hawkins, a senior executive with extensive experience in leading major change programs in large organizations. We’re discussing her book, Mentally at Work: Optimizing Health and Business Performance Through Connection.  “Mentally at Work” is about understanding the science behind why connection matters and the practical strategies to build your mental health, the mental health of the team, and the strength of connection that delivers results. In an ever-changing, complex world, how we lead has become an increasingly critical skill. Genevieve hopes that this book can guide leaders to lead in a sustainable way for them, their teams, and their businesses, so that we may collectively reverse the trend of mental illness in the developed world. In part one of this two-part series, listen in as we discuss Hawkins' 20-year career in senior management and knowing exactly what this level of leaders face, as well as how a leader’s mental health reverberates through their ranks, the value of connection and what connection with others virtually and physically means for mental health, and more.

Guest: Caroline Dowd-Higgins (Executive leadership coach, media host, public speaker and best-selling author) How are we seeing the emergence of artificial intelligence in the workplace impacting some of HR’s most valued and prioritized elements, such as workplace culture and employee wellbeing? What are some of the long-term challenges from being solely focused on goals without celebrating achievements? In this latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, Caroline Dowd-Higgins joins to share her new philosophy that encourages employers and HR leaders to embrace a new kind of AI - Achievement Intelligence.  Listen as Caroline explains why workforces should start embracing an approach that looks beyond the quantity of work being done and instead values the quality of the work being accomplished from a workforce.

Guest: Will Clive, Chief People Officer at Pluralsight Where are managers making the greatest impact to an organization, and how can HR leaders provide the support and training to successfully navigate the demands of their roles in 2023 and beyond? In this latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, Will Clive (Chief People Officer at Pluralsight) helps us take a closer look at the value and impact that a team of effective managers can have on a workforce and an organization’s overall performance. Learn the skills and training that organizations and their HR teams should prioritize, helping to set their managers up for success and effectively lead in this digital economy.

Vicki Salemi, Career Expert at Monster, joins to discuss some of the common challenges and disconnects seen between employers and LGBTQ workers.

Guest: Larry Nelson-Guillen, Senior Talent Management Product Manager at American Family Insurance What are some best practices for HR teams to support and fortify their DEI culture, and avoid backtracking during challenging times? In the latest episode of the HR Works Podcast, we are joined by Larry Nelson-Guillen, an experienced DEI practitioner and Senior Talent Management Product Manager at American Family Insurance, to discuss how the recent wave of layoffs is impacting DEI efforts across organizations.  Listen as Larry explains how organizations should consider shifting their approach to DEI culture in 2023, moving beyond simply creating awareness across the workforce and instead utilizing their diversity as a strategic asset for long-term success and growth.

This episode of A Seat at the Table is not only featured as part of HRDA’s HR Diversity week but it also celebrates Pride Month, which recognizes the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on the world. This is the perfect time for HR leaders and organizations to assess their company’s DEI efforts. One of those important efforts is implementing and using pronouns at work. According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, about 1.6 percent of adults are openly transgender or nonbinary, and about 5 percent of people younger than 30 are transgender or nonbinary – that is, their gender differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. My guest today is one of the world’s few transgender CEOs, Wynne Nowland, and she transitioned at the age of 56, coming out as trans in an email to her entire company at Bradley & Parker. Listen in as we discuss tips for employees and employers who are implementing a preferred name at work.

46% of LGBTQ+ workers have experienced unfair treatment at work at some point in their lives. In light of events both past and present, we’ll dive into the history of the US’s protections of LGBTQ+ workers and best practices.