
Honest HR
Honest HR is the go-to podcast for aspiring and informed HR professionals intent on transforming workplace challenges into golden opportunities. Hosted by Nicole Belyna, Monique Akanbi, and Wendy Fong, this podcast brings you insights, trends, and actionable advice through relatable stories from the REAL world of HR.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2024 • 57min
Employee Mental Health and Workplace Accommodations
Employee mental health is a subject that has been top of mind since the pandemic, but both employers and employees frequently have questions about how to best accommodate mental health conditions in the workplace. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by Melanie Whetzel, principal consultant with the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), to provide answers to some of the most frequent questions from employees and employers about mental health accommodations and effectively supporting employees’ mental health needs; also, hear from SHRM senior researcher Daroon Jalil about SHRM's latest findings on mental health in the workplace.Earn 1.00 SHRM PDC by listening to this podcast; details provided in-episode.Episode transcriptRate and review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apr 18, 2024 • 40min
Nicole Armstrong on Creating Empathy-Centric Workplaces
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings, perspectives, or experiences of another person, and for workplace leaders, empathy is a communication skill that helps transform debates into conversations premised on understanding of shared experiences. In this episode of Honest HR, host Monique Akanbi is joined by workplace consultant and Ellequate founder/CEO Nicole Armstrong to discuss topics including the relationship between empathy and vulnerability, leveraging empathy to create safe spaces to communicate at work, and how to lead with empathy while also instilling accountability among employees.Episode transcriptEarn 0.75 SHRM PDC by listening to this podcast; details provided in-episode.Rate and review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.This episode is sponsored by Workleap.

Mar 18, 2024 • 47min
The Imperative of Addressing Workplace Incivility with Sejal Thakkar
Civility is a cornerstone of workplace culture that allows people and businesses to thrive by fostering respect and empathy among everyone. However, according to SHRM research, U.S. workers report that incivility is increasingly prevalent in their workplaces. In this episode of Honest HR, host Wendy Fong speaks with TrainXtra Chief Civility Officer Sejal Thakkar about her framework for helping organizations make workplace civility happen, the elements of effective civility trainings, and the business imperative for creating civil workplaces.Episode transcriptVisit SHRM's Civility Hub to learn more about how you can foster respectful dialogue and SHRM’s 1M Civil Conversations initiative. #civilityatworkEarn 0.75 SHRM PDC by listening to this podcast; details provided in-episode.Rate and review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Feb 28, 2024 • 46min
How AI Will Transform HR’s Work with Jim Link
SHRM CHRO Jim Link discusses AI's transformative impact on HR operations, emphasizing the need for HR professionals to embrace new opportunities. The podcast explores the balance between excitement and caution in integrating AI, the importance of combining AI with human intelligence for organizational benefits, and the risks and ethics associated with AI in HR. It also highlights the resources and learning opportunities available for leveraging AI effectively in HR practices and business operations.

Feb 14, 2024 • 1h 4min
What the Research Says About Workplace Romance with Casey Sword
Workplace romance: It’s complicated. But it happens, and employers need to know how to deal with it. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by SHRM researcher Casey Sword to present the findings from her work on SHRM’s latest research in the area of workplace romance, share real stories related to romance in the workplace, and discuss how HR professionals should handle them.Earn 1 SHRM PDC for listening to this podcast; all details provided in-episode.Episode transcript

Jan 26, 2024 • 1h 4min
Dr. Milton J. Perkins on the Power of HR People Analytics
Dr. Milton J. Perkins discusses the transformative potential of people analytics in HR, the evolution of people analytics, the power and importance of HR people analytics, making data-driven decisions in HR, designing a better workplace, the future of people analytics and AI technology, and an announcement about Dr. P's upcoming book on intentional workplace inclusivity.

Jan 11, 2024 • 39min
A Look Back at 2023 and Look Ahead to 2024
Reflecting on the biggest HR trends of 2023 and looking ahead to 2024, the hosts discuss topics such as workplace civility, empathy, artificial intelligence, and managing a hybrid workforce. They also explore challenges faced by parents with teenagers, promoting mental health in the workplace, and the potential of AI. Cybersecurity and the importance of training against cyber attacks are also highlighted.

Dec 28, 2023 • 39min
Stories About Bad Bosses | Part 2 (of 2)
In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton and SHRM Knowledge Center Advisors Robyn Hopper and Rue Dooley continue with Part 2 of their two-part mini-series of listener-submitted stories of bad bosses, give more advice on handling problematic people managers, and close out the session with a set of redeeming stories of outstanding bosses who were there for their employees in amazing ways.Earn 1.25 SHRM PDCs for listening to both parts of this two (2) part mini-series on Stories About Bad Bosses; details on claiming your credit are provided in-episode.Episode transcript

Dec 14, 2023 • 47min
Stories About Bad Bosses | Part 1 (of 2)
If you’ve ever had a bad boss, not only did they make work miserable, but also probably gave you a good story to tell later on.In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by SHRM Knowledge Center Advisors Robyn Hopper and Rue Dooley to read listener-submitted stories of bad bosses, identify their problematic behaviors, and give advice on solving for them in your workplace.Earn 1.25 SHRM PDCs for listening to both parts of this two (2) part mini-series on Stories About Bad Bosses; stay tuned for Part 2, which will contain info on claiming your credit.Rate and review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Episode transcript

Oct 27, 2023 • 54min
Marijuana in the Workplace: What’s HR to Do?
Holland & Knight attorneys Dana Feinstein and Travis Nelson join host Amber Clayton to discuss marijuana in the workplace. They cover topics such as legal compliance, navigating multiple state laws, challenges of drug testing, potential federal legalization, and advice for employers on how to handle marijuana in the workplace.