I Hate It Here

Join Jessica Winder, a candid HR expert, as she dives into the evolving landscape of human resources. Discover why retiring outdated practices, like annual reviews, is essential for effective feedback. Jessica advocates for clear skills expectations and emphasizes the importance of narrative feedback over numeric ratings. They also tackle the role of AI as a supportive tool, discuss the risks of poor management, and encourage transparency around pay. Prepare for a refreshing take on what HR should embrace and what needs to go!

Okay, we made it! WHEW. Welcome to the final episode of I Hate It Here for 2025, which feels both celebratory and mildly unhinged.  This episode is me doing what I do best: yappin with people I deeply admire and respect, asking them about their wishes for HR in 2026…while also openly admitting that I’m lowkey a little scared of what’s coming next.  The market is weird AF, recruiters are exhausted, candidates are frustrated, and the tools are absolutely not keeping up!  But instead of spiraling alone (okay, spiraling less), I wanted to end the year by bringing some of my fav people together, because the only reason I’m still standing in this job is community, collective honesty, and the belief that if we keep talking about what’s actually happening, HR might just survive, and maybe even win. Teamtailor is the fun, intuitive ATS that candidates actually like and recruiters don’t dread opening on Monday mornings. Create branded career sites, automate the boring stuff, and give candidates the hiring experience they dream of  — without burning out your team. Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here. 0:00:36 - Cassandra Babilya’s Wish for 2026 0:13:05 - Stacey Nordwall’s Wish for 2026 0:20:26 - Morgan Williams’s Wish for 2026 0:25:38 - Cassidy Edward’s Wish for 2026 0:32:36 - Tara Turk-Haynes’s Wish for 2026 And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Cassandra: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-babilya/ Follow Stacey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/ Follow Morgan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganbwilliams/ Follow Cassidy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-edwards-yyom/ Follow Tara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ttaraturkhaynes/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Raise your hand if you’ve worked in a toxic environment before! That’s probably 99.9% of you, so today we’re talking about those negative environments that get inside your nervous system and refuse to leave quietly.  The kind that turn you into a hyper-vigilant, over-prepared shell of yourself who flinches at a sporadic calendar invite titled “Quick Sync.” I brought back one of my favorite humans, close friend, returning guest, and resident shit talker Chris Hagood, because he actually understands the emotional underlayer of work, and I don’t mean just the LinkedIn version.  We get into how toxic cultures shape your identity, follow you long after you leave, and what it takes to unlearn survival mode when chaos becomes your baseline. Teamtailor is the fun, intuitive ATS that candidates actually like and recruiters don’t dread opening on Monday mornings. Create branded career sites, automate the boring stuff, and give candidates the hiring experience they dream of  — without burning out your team. Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here. 0:02:43 -  How Lived Experiences Shape Your Reaction to Toxicity at Work 0:08:30 -  Minimizing Toxicity Because You’re Conditioned to “Just Deal With It” 0:14:44 - Why Old Patterns Get Reactivated in Toxic Workplaces 0:17:20 - Why People Doubt Themselves More After a Toxic Job and Not During 0:20:27 - The First Step to Undoing a Toxic Environment 0:40:37 - How Toxicity Distorts Your Sense of Value, Competence, or Belonging 0:45:24 - How Tolerating Toxic Behavior Creates Long-term Damage 0:48:07 - What Habits Stick With You After Surviving a Toxic Workplace? 0:51:58 - Advice to People Currently Working in a Toxic Environment And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Chris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrhagood/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

George Boone, Director of Organizational Effectiveness at Mitratech, shares his journey through grief, deeply shaped by personal loss. He opens up about how grief infiltrates work life, often hidden behind corporate facades. The conversation delves into the loneliness of grief and its profound impact on leadership styles, fostering empathy and connection. George emphasizes the failure of rigid bereavement policies and the importance of ongoing support in the workplace. Ultimately, he reflects on how grief softens us and reshapes our priorities toward what truly matters.

Jessie Stettin, VP of Customer Success at Encompass Labs, discusses the profound impact of workplace culture on identity and behavior. With a unique background that includes being an end-of-life doula, he reveals how childhood experiences can unconsciously shape professional dynamics. Jessie highlights the importance of emotional granularity at work and the need to redesign social interactions around feelings. He also shares insights on rethinking success and the responsibility of leadership in influencing organizational culture.

Join Erica Lydell, a seasoned People and Culture leader passionate about neurodiversity and inclusion, as she unpacks the complex nature of belonging at work. She shares her personal journey, emphasizing that true belonging isn’t automatic and often requires navigating identity tensions. Erica critiques the concept of professionalism, advocates for the unique culture at Fluevog, and highlights the importance of understanding neurodiverse perspectives. She argues that leaders must build trust to foster genuine inclusion, making belonging a dynamic, evolving experience.

In this lively discussion, Madison Montgomery, an early operator at Workweek and direct report to the host, shares her candid insights about generational workplace dynamics. They dive into the fun chaos of collaborating across HR Millennials and Gen Z perspectives, revealing the amusing reality of their working relationship. Topics like micromanagement evolution, the importance of finding common ground, and memorable team moments add depth to their chat. Plus, expect some playful banter over pop culture favorites!

Mary Pat Jacobs, a leadership coach and organizational development consultant, dives deep into the intricacies of impatience and leadership. In a live coaching session, she helps unpack the host's struggles with urgency tied to childhood expectations. They explore how early career experiences shape leadership styles and the importance of separating personal identity from work-imposed patterns. Mary Pat emphasizes the need for self-awareness and encourages professionals to reframe their beliefs about disappointment to foster growth.

Dave Garcia, a seasoned builder and operator with nearly 20 years of experience, explores how external factors like immigration and inflation shape workplace culture. He discusses the ripple effects of immigration on belonging and loyalty, while emphasizing leaders’ responsibilities to foster safety and predictability for employees. Garcia also dives into the impact of global crises on workplace dynamics and advises companies on navigating employee anxiety in turbulent times. His insights stress the importance of empathy and coherent values in organizational leadership.

It’s that time of year again: spooky season! Which means Jessica Winder is back, I’ve got my pumpkin cold brew, and we’re diving headfirst into the terrifying (and somehow hilarious) world of HR horror stories.  From mysterious “sick leaves” to love spells gone wrong, these are the tales that make you question how any of us still have jobs.  Fair warning: if you thought your HR nightmares were bad…buckle up! 👻 Teamtailor is the fun, intuitive ATS that candidates actually like and recruiters don’t dread opening on Monday mornings. Create branded career sites, automate the boring stuff, and give candidates the hiring experience they dream of  — without burning out your team. Check them out here. 0:00:57 - HR Horror Stories Intro 0:01:44 - Story One: Hit List Hotline 0:04:44 - Story Two: The Sick Leave That Wasn’t 0:07:26 - Story Three: The Extermination Incident 0:13:51 - Story Four: The Baby Onesie Stalker 0:22:09 - Story Five: The Lady in White 0:26:50 - Story Six: Love Spells and Employee Relations 0:26:50 - Story Seven: The Catastrophic Security Breach And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef