HR Leader Podcast Network

According to Roxanne Calder, the age of COVID-19 blurred the lines between workplace wellness and individual wellbeing, with new expectations for workplace policies creating undue burdens for businesses and their leaders. In this episode of The HR  Leader podcast, host Jack Campbell speaks with EST10 founder Roxanne Calder about revamped policies potentially putting too much pressure on workplaces, the potential flow-on effects for employers, the sweeping impacts of burnout on workers across the board right now, and including more workers in decision making about policy decisions. Calder also delves into the pressure being exerted to solve an individual’s wellbeing versus broader wellness responsibilities, striking the right balance and remaining competitive as an employer, the duty of candidates to align themselves with ideal employers, the utility of options like a four-day working week, and ensuring better understanding of working conditions and expectations.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with O.C. Tanner, the global leader in strengthening organisational culture through meaningful employee recognition, Russell Flint and Paul Stratford discuss the challenges of managing change and uncertainty in the workplace during Newmont’s acquisition of Newcrest Mining. Russell, the Director of Business Development APAC at O.C. Tanner, and Paul, Global Head of Talent and Capability and Acting Chief People and Culture Officer, Newcrest Mining, explore the need for effective communication and leadership, prioritising employee engagement, safety and wellbeing, the importance of empathy, practical support and symbolic gestures in creating a positive legacy during organisational change, including acknowledging the organisation’s history and recognising employees’ contributions. The pair also emphasise the need for senior leaders’ mindset and conviction in managing change, the importance of creating a unified leadership team and fostering a positive workplace culture, as well as share insights into Newcrest Mining’s acquisition by Newmont Corporation and how adoption of a people-centred approach was essential in better managing change and uncertainty.

In the wake of voluminous change in the industrial relations space, it is critical to reflect on how such legislative updates will impact workplaces of all stripes and how both employers and employees can navigate such evolutions to working life. In this episode of The HR Leader podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with barrister Ian Neil SC about the “tumultuous” past year in industrial relations reform, the myriad changes that were legislated and are coming into effect, what the response from businesses and employers has been to such change, and whether the net effect of such changes will be to drive up the cost of labour. Neil also delves into how businesses can and should respond to the “tidal wave” of changes, why good governance has never been more essential, what the Closing Loopholes and Right to Disconnect legislation means and what its impacts might be, what might be the headline industrial relations issues to contend with in the future in light of such changes, why prudent employers will see the changes as an opportunity, what will constitute best practice moving forward, and the likely volume of work headed in the direction of legal practitioners and HR professionals.

Learning and development (L&D) is an area that is increasingly seeing more investment from companies across the board. However, in challenging economic times, it can be easy for business decision-makers to push L&D to the side – despite trying times, this will be a mistake. In this episode of The HR Leader Podcast, host Jack Campbell speaks with Women Rising founder and chief executive Megan Dalla-Camina about the increases being seen in learning and development initiatives, why it is so dangerous for companies to put L&D on the backburner, whether there are fiscally prudent options for L&D, the broader benefits that come from making proper investments, and how critical such training is for the next generation of professionals. Dalla-Camina also delves into the imperative for proper and effective training policies, the place for mentorship in L&D, the “dip” in mentorship opportunities for women in the workplace, how workers can seek out mentors in the current climate, developing women into next-generation leaders, how individuals can take matters into their own hands, and why much more work is needed to better support staff by way of L&D.

Jasleen Kaur, Gartner HR Advisory senior principal, discusses the growing focus on DEI integration in businesses, benefits of embedding DEI into workforce planning, addressing talent shortages, challenges in promoting DEI, and the role of data analytics in driving diversity initiatives.

Nothing pisses off employees more than issues with their pay cheques. Getting this right is absolutely essential for businesses – thankfully, there are practical ways to get on top of it. In this episode of The HR Leader podcast, host Jack Campbell is joined by Rippling vice president and head of Asia Matt Loop to discuss why businesses are getting payroll wrong on multiple fronts, the need to consolidate tech, the need for better workplace training, the Closing Loopholes legislation, and avoiding accidental payroll errors. Loop also delves into the consequences of making mistakes with payroll, being proactive rather than reactive in preventing issues, keeping up with prescribed changes, getting payroll right against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, managing payroll in a global business, practical steps to take, and improving the wellbeing of your business.

When workers look back on their careers, they remember roles they held both for the good and bad managers they served under. If businesses take the time to properly develop those with managerial responsibilities, not only will those managers become better leaders, but the business will also see more substantive returns on investment. In this episode of The HR Leader, host Jack Campbell is joined by Florida-based “HR Lady”, Wendy Sellers, to discuss the importance of developing management internally rather than seeking external talent, how PD gets overlooked by businesses, the differences between a manager and a leader, the flow-on effects for businesses that invest in leadership, and the need for more holistic approaches to developing managers. Sellers also delves into how smaller businesses can meaningfully dedicate time and resources to such matters, how leaders can be HR-minded, managing the juggle of leadership training, staying up to date with relevant legislation, the ever-increasing need for good communication, and motivating employees suffering from burnout.

Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation, discusses the importance of building inclusive workplaces for employees with ADHD. She highlights the benefits of flexible working arrangements, the impact of the pandemic on promoting engagement, and the need for tailored support for neurodiverse workers. Creating a neurodiverse-friendly environment not only benefits individuals but also unlocks potential for workplaces.

Driving growth should be on every leader’s mind, however, with the uneasiness of the modern workforce and the challenges that come with that, leveraging growth can be difficult. Helping to break down these barriers is Damien Andreasen, HiBob’s vice president APJ. In this episode of The HR Leader, he reflects on his experiences in building high-performing work teams, both during his time at HiBob and in previous roles. Continuous development and upskilling have only become more important as tech advancements require teams to be educated and up to date on digitally evolving processes. However, there is a clear opportunity, says Andreasen, as this tech can facilitate effective growth. Purpose, culture, and engagement are crucial aspects of business that are becoming increasingly important considerations for candidates, with Andreasen noting that these components can be utilised to drive performance. Also under discussion is the importance of communication, and how processes can break down when lines of communication aren’t upheld. Andreasen touches on his experiences at both start-ups and large organisations, and how many themes overlap, no matter the size of the company. For leaders looking to drive growth, he says that a vision needs to be established, and that vision needs to be clearly communicated as early as the hiring process. One major challenge in the modern workforce is the multigenerational cohort of employees. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, it should be seen as an opportunity, as these differences can create diversity of thought, which can drive creativity and innovation.

There are plenty of variables that all play a part in influencing the job market. With so many outside influences, the state of recruitment is, unsurprisingly, very unpredictable. In this episode of The HR Leader, Jas Singh, managing director of SKL, dives into the current trends in the recruitment market, outlining the shifting dynamics in employer-employee relationships and strategies for jobseekers and employers alike. According to Singh, the market is transitioning from the 2023 trend where there was a high demand for employees. It is neither entirely an employer’s market nor an employee’s market but rather a balanced scenario. Companies are now more cautious, aiming for sustainable long-term productivity instead of panic hiring, which was common post-COVID-19. With this in mind, Singh urges candidates to showcase flexibility. Upskilling and staying updated with the latest technology trends are crucial in the modern workforce but should be balanced with personality, as these considerations make for an attractive candidate. The episode also touches on bias in recruitment. Bias is inherent in all humans, often unconscious, and can impact hiring decisions. Companies need to be aware of and address these biases, whether an SME or a large multinational company.