
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

Sep 23, 2022 • 50min
Navigating the Post-Roe v. Wade Workplace
One of the most contentious events of 2022 was the U.S. Supreme Court's decision (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization) overturning Roe v. Wade. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by SHRM Chief of Staff Emily M. Dickens and Janell Stanton, senior associate/head of the employment law group at Wagner, Falconer, & Judd, Ltd. to discuss implications for work, workers and the workplace, along with questions including:Can employers provide travel benefits to employees who go out-of-state to receive an abortion?Does abortion qualify for FMLA leave or leave under the ADA?Can employers offer specific paid leave for abortions?Earn 1.00 SHRM PDC for listening; relevant details provided during the episode.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Mystery.Episode transcript

10 snips
Sep 9, 2022 • 39min
Buck Gee on Cracking the Bamboo Ceiling
Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are no strangers to adversity in the workplace, but their experience often doesn’t receive much attention because of longstanding positive stereotypes of AAPI as hard workers and good employees. In this episode of Honest HR, host Wendy Fong is joined by Buck Gee (Cisco Systems, Committee of 100) to discuss why AAPI employees go under-promoted, stories on breaking the stereotype of the model minority and how to challenge leadership when climbing the corporate ladder.Earn 0.75 PDC for listening; relevant details provided during the episode.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Mystery.Episode transcript

Aug 17, 2022 • 38min
Paula Harvey on Successful Hiring During the Great Resignation
The pandemic prompted serious reevaluation of what employees expect from their jobs and widespread departures followed. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by Paula Harvey, SHRM-SCP, vice president of human resources and safety at Schulte Building Systems, to make sense of the new talent acquisition landscape and discuss how to make your organization turnover-proof.Earn 0.75 PDC for listening; all relevant details are provided during the episode.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Mystery.

Jun 24, 2022 • 45min
When Good Hires Become Bad Employees (Pt. 2 of 2)
Have you ever extended a job offer to a candidate who turned out to be a total dud? In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton, Director of SHRM’s Knowledge Center, continues the conversation on sound hiring with SHRM Knowledge Advisors Rosa Hardesty and Patty Graves on topics that include how to avoid filling a job too quickly, what to do when a new hire emerges as a bad employee and what they each love most about hiring.Earn 1.00 SHRM PDC for listening to both Part 1 and 2 of this two episode mini-series (When Good Hires Become Good Employees). All relevant details are provided during the episodes.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Greenhouse.Episode transcript

Jun 10, 2022 • 43min
When Good Hires Become Bad Employees (Pt. 1 of 2)
In an era of acute talent shortages and employee departures, it’s important to be sure you’re hiring the right “somebody”, not just “some body”. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton, Director of SHRM’s Knowledge Center, speaks with SHRM Knowledge Advisors Rosa Hardesty and Patty Graves on how bad hires can happen and what to do to avoid them.Earn 1.00 SHRM PDC for listening to Parts 1 and 2 of this mini-series (When Good Hires Become Good Employees). All relevant details are provided during the episodes.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Greenhouse.Honest HR is a podcast from SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management.

Feb 1, 2022 • 59min
Unseen at Work: Liz O’Donnell on Elder Care
Each day, more than 10,000 people turn 65, which prompts conversation on a topic that comes up much less frequently in the workplace: Elder care and caring for aging parents. In this episode of Honest HR, host Wendy Fong speaks with Liz O’Donnell on navigating work and while also providing important end of life care to parents, and approaches employers can take to support their employees with caregiving responsibilities.Liz O'Donnell is the author of Working Daughter: A Guide to Caring for Your Aging Parents.Honest HR is supported by Hireguide.

Nov 4, 2021 • 59min
Both In-Person and Remote: The Secret Power of Emotions at Work
Maya Angelou famously said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”, and this rings especially true in the workplace. In this episode of Honest HR, host Wendy Fong speaks with Liz Fosslien about emotions as your workplace super power to create rewarding workplace experiences for both you and your employees.Honest HR is supported by Namely.

Sep 28, 2021 • 48min
Notifying the Authorities: When Your HR Department Needs the Police Department
A recently terminated employee threatens you. One of your team members hasn’t reported for work in days. The underage intern is displaying signs of physical abuse. In each of these instances, should you call should you call the police? In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton is joined by employment law specialists Janell Stanton and Brittany Nicholls to discuss when to get in touch with law enforcement when something out of the ordinary happens at your workplace, as well as the essentials of a well thought out emergency plan for your organization.Earn SHRM PDCs for Listening to This EpisodeEpisodes of Honest HR help you build your competencies while also earning professional development credits (PDCs) toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. All relevant details, including the Activity IDs, are provided during the episode.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Namely.

Sep 13, 2021 • 35min
Tom Manion and Cracking Down on Domestic Violence in the Workplace
A tragic byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in the frequency of domestic violence. Likewise, domestic violence carries over to the workplace, which has real impacts on employees’ safety and attendance. In this episode of Honest HR, host Amber Clayton speaks with Tom Manion, Director of Montgomery County Maryland’s Family Justice Center, who shares advice for employees on coming forward about domestic violence, the resources for employers to protect and empower employees and what employers should have in place to support employees who may be experiencing domestic violence.Earn SHRM PDCs for Listening to This EpisodeEpisodes of Honest HR help you build your competencies while also earning professional development credits (PDCs) toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. All relevant details, including the Activity IDs, are provided during the episode.This episode of Honest HR is sponsored by Namely.

Aug 16, 2021 • 43min
Nicole Armstrong on How You Make Workplace Equity Happen
The heart of workplace equity lies in providing fair opportunities to all of your organization’s employees by identifying and supporting the specific needs of employees from different demographics, but how do you that? In this episode of Honest HR, host Gloria Sinclair Miller speaks with Nicole Armstrong, the Founder and CEO of Queen City Certified, a leading data-informed employer certification and leadership program for workplace equity. Hear Nicole discuss what goes into a data-driven assessment of your organization’s equity, how to get started making diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) assessments at your organization, and also advice for emerging professionals interested in pursuing a career in DEI.Earn 0.50 SHRM PDCs for Listening to This EpisodeEpisodes of Honest HR help you build your competencies while also earning professional development credits (PDCs) toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. All relevant details, including the Activity IDs, are provided during the episode.Honest HR is a podcast from SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management.