HR Unplugged: Recent Episodes

BambooHR

HR Unplugged is a show for HR and business leaders unafraid to ask the tough questions needed to tackle the competing challenges posed by today’s complex global economy. Each highly interactive episode will feature unfiltered conversations with HR professionals answering the most pressing questions in people leadership — including many sent in by listeners like you. Whether you’re seeking to re-engage your workers, navigate social justice issues, or simply learn the secrets to competitive pay — if you care about your people, you’ll find a home in our community.

What’s stopping HR leaders from being heard in the boardroom?

It’s not always about strategy or experience. Often, it’s about how they communicate their value and impact.

Host Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro and acclaimed TED speaker. Together, they discuss how HR professionals can grow their influence through strategic framing, storytelling, and public speaking. Sara shares success stories from the leaders she’s coached, proving that with the right approach, HR’s influence can extend across the entire organization.

Key takeaways:

How to frame HR work in terms of business value and impact
Why storytelling is a powerful tool for influencing executives
How to practice before stepping into high-stakes conversations

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Sara Jones

(02:54) Finding your voice

(05:51) Evolving into a strategic partner

(08:07) How to speak the executives’ language

(09:35) Telling stories that highlight your accomplishments

(15:27) Turning data into a memorable message

(19:59) How to build confidence for public speaking

(23:13) Easy tips for giving better presentations

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Analyze Data That Measures HR Impact: Free HR Report Checklist”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/analyze-data-hr-report-template

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Get Over Fear of Public Speaking”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/fear-of-public-speaking

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradansiejones/

Are your employees just working, or are they growing, too?

Many people feel stuck at work because no one’s ever asked them about their dreams. But what if you made space for that conversation?

Kate Volman, CEO of Floyd Consulting and author of Do What You Love, joins host Vanessa Brulotte to talk about what it means to support employees as whole people with their own dreams. Kate shares why personal dreams belong in the workplace and how they can be a secret weapon for retention, culture, and performance. She also discusses how leaders can ask questions that boost engagement, build trust, and create a culture where people feel seen.

Key takeaways:

Why conversations about dreams help reduce turnover
What it means to be a great coach in the workplace
What HR teams can do today to support both personal and professional development

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Kate Volman

(02:38) The link between disengagement and purpose

(05:17) How leaders can support personal growth

(07:09) Real stories from The Dream Manager program

(10:46) Coaching vs. managing: what’s the difference?

(14:28) Helping employees hit personal milestones

(22:29) How to introduce dream conversations at work

(31:24) A powerful story about trust and belonging

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Leadership vs. Management: 5 Tips to Become a Better Leader”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/leadership-vs-authority

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Transparency in Leadership: How Open Communication Builds Trust in the Workplace”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/importance-of-transparency-in-leadership

Read BambooHR’s blog, “10 Management Styles, Ranked from Best to Worst”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/learn-management-style

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevolman/

What makes a workplace truly stand out to job seekers?

It’s not just the perks or the pay. It’s the story you tell and the experience you deliver.

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Nancy Boyce, Senior Employer Brand Manager at BambooHR. They discuss what it takes to create an authentic employer brand that connects with the right candidates and reflects the real employee experience.

You’ll learn the difference between corporate and employer branding, the role of employee reviews, and why alignment between brand and experience matters more than ever. Plus, Nancy shares actionable tips for tracking brand impact and creating a solid brand even with an HR team of one.

Key takeaways:

How to align your employer brand with real employee experiences
Why employee reviews matter more than you think
Simple ways to build an employer brand without a big budget

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Nancy Boyce

(02:09) What employer branding means

(03:30) The shift in candidate expectations post-pandemic

(07:22) Why recruiting and marketing must work together

(11:49) How Glassdoor reviews shape first impressions

(13:02) Brands that are innovating in employer branding

(18:19) Metrics that show if your brand is working

(25:07) Inside BambooHR’s new employer value proposition

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Why Customers Care About Your Employer Brand (And Why You Should, Too)”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/why-employer-brand-matters

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Create Great Candidate Experiences”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-to-create-great-candidate-experiences

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Want to Improve Employee Experience? Follow These 4 Steps”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-to-define-measure-and-improve-your-employee-experience

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series:

https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community:

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage:

https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-boyce616/

What does “No Tax on Overtime” mean for your employees?

With the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s changing. Colleen Rynne, Senior Manager of Payroll Services Compliance at BambooHR, joins Vanessa Brulotte to help us make sense of the new provisions on tax deductions on overtime pay and tips. This is a must-listen for those in HR and payroll, or for anyone who wants to understand their tax returns going forward.

You'll learn how to prep for year-end reporting, what qualifies for deductions, and how to talk to employees about what’s changing.

Key takeaways:

What “No Tax on Overtime” and “No Tax on Tips” really mean
Why state taxes aren’t changing
How to prepare for year-end reporting under OB3

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Colleen Rynne

(03:30) Who qualifies for deductions under OB3

(06:47) Why overtime deductions are more complex

(09:57) What counts as a qualified tip

(15:24) Year-end reporting and IRS guidance tips

(21:50) FSA changes and permanent tax credits

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “What Are Payroll Taxes? A Guide to State and Federal Tax Withholding”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/payroll-taxes-guide

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Manage Employee W-2 Forms (And Go Paperless)”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/manage-employee-w2

Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Tax Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/tax-mistakes-to-avoid

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Compliance Corner: Payroll Updates from Q2 2025”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/payroll-compliance-june-2025

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rynne-2978b332/

AI is shaking up industries everywhere, including HR. But how much influence should technology have over the hiring process?

Nancy Boyce, Senior Employer Brand Manager at BambooHR, joins host Vanessa Brulotte to explore how companies are using AI in recruiting today. With 15 years of hiring expertise, Nancy reveals when AI can help recruiters work smarter and where the human touch is still essential. She also shares practical tips for using AI tools, spotting misuse, and creating a transparent AI hiring policy.

Key takeaways:

Common misconceptions about AI in recruiting
How to spot AI-generated responses in interviews
Balancing efficiency and humanity in recruiting

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Nancy Boyce

(02:43) AI tools and processes that help recruiters

(08:51) Transparency of AI use in hiring

(11:57) Can AI conduct culture fit assessments?

(14:29) BambooHR's guide to ethical AI use for candidates

(18:57) Crafting your AI hiring policy

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Guide to HR Automation: Benefits, Examples, and How to Get Started”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/hr-automation

Read BambooHR’s blog, “HR Spotlight: What a Recruiter Really Thinks about AI, Talent Strategy, and More”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/hr-spotlight-recruiter

Read BambooHR’s blog, “AI in HR: Using Technology to Focus on People”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/ai-hr

Read BambooHR’s blog, “15+ Innovative Ways to Use AI in HR”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-hr

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-boyce616

HR was always meant to be a strategic partner to businesses, but it’s not always recognized that way.

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte speaks with Amy Mencarelli, Senior Director of People and Culture at Bloomerang, about how HR professionals can position themselves as key decision-makers by using data in meaningful, business-focused ways. Amy shares practical advice on how to track metrics and tell stories that spark action, presenting HR insights in a way leaders can use.

Key takeaways:

Tips for storytelling with data, not just reporting it
Why partnering with finance and IT elevates HR’s impact
Free and creative ways to build influence without a budget

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Amy Mencarelli

(03:01) The mindset shift HR leadership needs

(09:28) Volunteering and networking for career growth

(15:02) Leveraging data and metrics in HR

(18:37) Working with a limited budget in HR

(22:00) Collaboration with AI, IT, and finance for HR analytics

(27:06) How to refine your storytelling and presentation skills

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “7 of the Most Useful HR Reports, According to HR Pros”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/most-useful-hr-reports-new-users

Read BambooHR’s blog, “The 29 Most Important HR Metrics You Need to Track”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/key-hr-metrics

Download BambooHR’s guide, “How to Analyze Data That Measures HR Impact: Free HR Report Checklist”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/analyze-data-hr-report-template

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymencarelli/

Perks and benefits are nice, but they aren’t enough to retain the best talent. According to Jon Franko, co-founder of Gorilla 76, employees want transparency, growth opportunities, and a culture that supports their lives outside of work.

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte speaks with Jon about how building a culture based on core values and empathy can drive stronger employee retention. Jon shares how his Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis shaped his approach to supporting his team.

Key takeaways:

How to create a workplace people don’t want to leave
Strategies for building high-trust environments at work
Why HR can steer the organization in the right direction

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Jon Franko

(03:13) The MS diagnosis that changed Jon’s leadership perspective

(05:00) Hire people better than you

(08:41) How Gorilla 76 encourages people to give back

(13:53) Transparency that attracts top talent

(17:00) Evaluating the impact of your benefits package

(21:59) Retention and engagement metrics to track

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Powerful Benefits of Transparency in Business”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creating-transparency-in-workplace

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Perks At Work: What Benefits Make Your Employees Happy?”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creative-benefit-ideas

Download BambooHR’s guide, “Learn How to Retain Top Talent in 2025”: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/definitive-guide-to-employee-retention

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfranko/

Learn more about Gorilla 76: https://www.gorilla76.com/

Building a sense of belonging at work starts with intentional effort. It’s shaped through consistent moments of connection, shared ownership, and a clear focus on community.

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Lee Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO of Confetti. They explore practical ways HR leaders can move beyond surface-level engagement and create a stronger culture. Lee shares how to simplify employee participation, support managers in leading culture, and use feedback to show real impact.

Key takeaways:

How to design engagement that feels personal
Why culture should be owned beyond HR
Ways to show the business value of connection

Key topics:

(01:12) Introducing Lee Rubin

(02:41) Common mistakes in engagement strategy

(05:03) Rebranding engagement as true belonging

(10:26) Revamping engagement ideas for established companies

(13:25) Virtual events that build connection

(17:19) Connecting burnout to a lack of engagement

(21:00) Securing leadership buy-in for engagement

(25:08) How better engagement drives business success

(29:49) Redefining success for employee programs

(32:21) Advice for building a more connected workplace

Key links:

Download BambooHR’s guide, “Discover the 10 Best Ways to Measure Employee Engagement”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/how-to-measure-employee-engagement

Download BambooHR’s guide, “Are You Experiencing HR Burnout? Know the Signs”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/hr-burnout

Download BambooHR’s guide, “HR Company Culture Checklist”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/pl-pages/company-culture-checklist

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community:

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage:

https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubinl/

Learn more about Confetti:

https://www.withconfetti.com/

Words carry weight, and genuine appreciation goes a long way in making people feel valued and motivated.

In this replay episode, BambooHR’s Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte chat with Trevor Larson, CEO at Nectar. They discuss how thoughtful recognition fuels employee engagement and helps retain your best talent. Together, they share simple ways to start a recognition program and how to make recognition a natural part of an organization’s culture.

Key takeaways:

How recognition influences productivity and performance
Why executive buy-in drives recognition program success
What your employee recognition program should include

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Trevor Larson

(02:34) The power of employee recognition

(07:57) How recognition reduces turnover

(13:28) Common challenges in implementing recognition programs

(18:23) Recognition 1.0 vs. 2.0

(22:05) Getting the executive team to prioritize recognition

(27:08) How to show appreciation for remote teams

(30:23) Making recognition a consistent habit

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Simple Ways to Make Employee Recognition More Meaningful”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/meaningful-employee-recognition

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Celebrate Success: 20+ Creative Employee Recognition Ideas”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/employee-recognition-ideas

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevordegnlarson/

Hiring the right people isn’t about luck or gut feelings. It starts with a clear, consistent process and a solid understanding of what success looks like in each role.

In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte talks with Jonathan D. Reynolds, CEO of Titus Talent Strategies. They discuss why most hiring efforts fall short and how to define measurable outcomes before bringing someone on board. Jonathan also explains why accountability after the hire matters.

Key takeaways:

Why your hiring strategies might not be working
The importance of an objective hiring process
How to address underperformance promptly and fairly

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Jonathan Reynolds

(04:03) Common hiring mistakes companies make

(09:45) The head, heart, and briefcase approach

(16:23) Who should be accountable for the success of new hires?

(21:45) Importance of onboarding and integration in helping employees become successful

(27:56) Setting clear expectations for success

(32:00) Handling underperformance and difficult decisions

(34:25) Define and quantify every role

(36:45) Embracing AI while maintaining human connection

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Build Candidate Profiles for Better Job Descriptions”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/candidate-profiles

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Recruit Better Candidates with These Outside-the-Box Ideas”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creative-recruitment-ideas

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanreynolds/

Read Jonathan’s Book, Right Seats, Right People: A Leader's Guide to Hiring and Developing Top Performers: https://www.amazon.com/Right-Seats-People-Developing-Performers/dp/1642256404

Learn more about Titus Talent Strategies: https://www.titustalent.com/

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Many of us fall into our roles without actively planning our career paths. But just because you’re in a role today doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, host Vanessa Brulotte is joined by returning guest Kelsey Tarp, Director of HR Business Partners at BambooHR, and executive coach Maria Kyriakos. Together, they discuss how HR professionals can take control of their career growth and mindfully plan their next steps.

They share valuable insights on how to spot when you’re off track, the importance of experimenting in your career, and how to make bold moves even if you’re unsure of the next step. It’s never too late to pivot, and this episode will help you take the reins of your growth.

Key takeaways:

How to align career growth with personal and professional goals
Tips for pivoting your career at any stage
Ways to build a diverse skill set

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Kelsey Tarp & Maria Kyriakos

(05:18) Reflecting on what excites you at work

(09:51) One-way or two-way door decisions

(12:48) Growing faster through actionable feedback

(17:30) Self-leadership and limiting beliefs

(21:33) How to advocate for yourself at work

(28:48) Assessing your goals and current situation

(34:16) Spotting opportunities for growth

(37:57) Benefits of lateral career transitions

(41:12) Using reflection to move forward with purpose

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “4 Simple Steps for Better Employee Development Plans”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/employee-development-plans

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://www.bamboohr.com/about-bamboohr/customers/hr-community/

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Kelsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseytarp/

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-kyriakos/

Read Maria’s Book, Work it!: How to Rock Your Career Intentionally: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Rock-Your-Career-Intentionally/dp/B0DRHTXSKZ

Visit the Leader Assist website and sign up for their newsletter: https://leader-assist.com/

Are you leading your team or just managing them?

The difference between a manager and a mentor can make all the difference. It shapes your team’s performance and longevity in the organization.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, host Vanessa Brulotte talks with Clint Pulver, speaker, author, and President of The Center for Retention, to explore the deep connection between mentorship and employee performance. Clint shares insights from his groundbreaking undercover research across 400+ organizations and 11,000 employee interviews, revealing what makes people say “I love it here”—and mean it.

Key takeaways:

What employees want from their leaders
Why emotional safety drives performance
A practical approach leaders can use to check in effectively

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Clint Pulver

(03:28) Why mentorship matters more than management

(06:44) Lasting change is about being consistent over time

(10:07) High performance comes when there's a connection

(15:09) Be the mentor you were lucky enough to have

(17:50) How to conduct a status interview

(23:25) Four leadership styles and their impact

(27:18) Mentorship happens through trust and choice

(33:14) Building connections in a remote environment

(35:07) A reminder for leaders: You’re doing great

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s research, “The Hostile, the Unfair, and the Toxic: Bad Boss Index 2025”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/assets/ebooks/bad-boss-index.pdf

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community:

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Clint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintpulver/

Read Clint’s Book, I Love It Here: How Great Leaders Create Organizations that People Never Wanted to Leave.:

https://clintpulver.com/book/

Read Great Place to Work’s blog, “How Much Leaders Care Drives Employee Performance at Best Small and Medium Workplaces”:

https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/how-much-leaders-care-drives-employee-performance-at-best-small-and-medium-workplaces

HR is a strategic function, and one of the best ways to prove it is by bringing data to the table.

In this episode, host Vanessa Brulotte chats with Dr. Mallory Vachon, Chief Economist at LaborIQ, about how HR professionals can use labor market insights to influence hiring, pay, and retention strategies.

With broad headlines often missing the full story, Mallory shares why labor data shouldn’t be taken at face value. She explains how to focus on what’s most relevant to your organization and where to find reliable sources. She also offers simple ways for both new and experienced HR pros to start using data more confidently.

Whether you’re a team of one or leading a department, learning how to interpret labor data can help you become the trusted advisor your company needs.

Key takeaways:

How to interpret labor data and apply it to your org
Where to find trustworthy data sources
Why headline statistics can be misleading

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Mallory Vachon

(02:48) Becoming a trusted advisor in your org

(05:41) Recommended sources for news and trends

(10:22) When headlines feel different from reality

(14:18) Interpreting 4% wage growth and what it means for compensation

(17:23) How to practice thought leadership in your org

(19:07) Being cautious in the face of disruption

(22:52) Why generational shifts matter for employers

(24:10) Sharing actionable insights on labor market data

Key links:

Download BambooHR’s “2025 Compensation Benchmarking Report”: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/compensation-benchmarking-2025

Subscribe to the HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join the HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-vachon-phd/

Follow LaborIQ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laboriq

Learn more about LaborIQ Pay Band Manager™: https://laboriq.co/pay-band-manager/

A new hire’s first few months can make or break their long-term success at a company. This crucial period shapes their understanding of company culture, their role, and ultimately, whether they decide to stay or go.

In this replay episode of HR Unplugged, former host Anita Grantham is joined by Megan Galloway, Founder of Everleader, to discuss how onboarding can make all the difference.

Megan shares insights from her work with BambooHR to improve their onboarding process, highlighting the importance of leadership buy-in, manager involvement, and creating an experiential onboarding experience. Megan and Anita explore how values can be integrated from day one and why it’s essential for onboarding to go beyond orientation to engage new hires.

Key takeaways:

Why onboarding should be immersive and experiential
The critical role of managers in onboarding new hires
How to measure the success of your onboarding process

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Megan Galloway

(01:29) How onboarding affects employee engagement and retention

(03:56) The importance of communicating company values

(06:41) Creating experiential onboarding for new hires

(14:07) Metrics to measure onboarding success

(18:10) Common onboarding mistakes

(24:12) How to ensure values are lived throughout the organization

(30:01) Company values should constantly evolve

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Why Is the Onboarding Process So Important? 5 Key Purposes”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/the-many-purposes-of-the-onboarding-process

Read BambooHR’s blog, “The 5 Most Common Onboarding Mistakes to Avoid”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/most-common-onboarding-mistakes

Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Strategies for Building Company Culture with Your New Hires”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/onboard-company-culture

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megalloway/

Today's workplaces are more diverse than ever. With employees spanning five generations, each with unique expectations, how can companies create a culture that works for everyone?

In this episode, host Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Tara Martell, Chief Customer Officer at BambooHR, and Kate Noel, SVP Head of People Operations at Morning Brew, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing a multigenerational workforce.

They explore how generational differences shape communication, technology use, and career expectations—and why it’s crucial to move beyond stereotypes to focus on individual needs. Plus, they share practical ways to adapt leadership, training, and benefits to better support employees at every stage of their careers.

Key takeaways:

How to better understand the changing needs of each generation
Strategies for adapting leadership and training to different age groups
Practical ways to design benefits that appeal to all employees

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Tara Martell and Kate Noel

(03:13) How generational needs vary in today’s workforce

(07:22) The rise of work-life flexibility and mental health awareness

(10:15) Learning about your employees’ needs

(15:51) Compensation and benefits for different generations

(20:30) Addressing unique needs through support and training

(24:50) The importance of adapting to a multigenerational workforce

(26:51) Setting expectations for career growth

(32:53) Resources on building inclusive workspaces

(34:58) How to screen applicants for authenticity

Key links:

Read BambooHR’s blog, “4 Tips for Managing a Multigenerational Workforce, From Boomers to Gen Z”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/manage-multigenerational-workforce

Read BambooHR’s blog, “How Different Generations Want To Be Recognized at Work”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-different-generations-want-to-be-recognized

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series:

https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community:

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage:

https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Tara on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-martell-b5600b4b

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-noel-2b895242/

Sign up for Morning Brew’s Newsletter:

https://www.morningbrew.com/issues/latest

People spend a huge portion of their lives at work, so it’s no surprise that workplace relationships happen. But without clear policies, they can lead to conflicts of interest, unprofessional behavior, and even legal risks.

When should employees disclose a relationship? How can HR set expectations without overstepping? What role does HR play in preventing harassment at work? A good workplace dating policy answers these questions while keeping things fair, professional, and easy to understand.

Join us as Vanessa Brulotte, Employee Relations Partner at BambooHR, interviews Kelsey Tarp, Director of HR Business Partners at BambooHR, about creating proper dating policies to protect employees and the company.

Kelsey shares real examples of how unclear policies can create workplace tension and why disclosure matters for preventing favoritism and bias. Most importantly, Vanessa and Kelsey explore how to ensure workplace relationships—whether they begin or end—don’t disrupt team dynamics.

Key takeaways:

Why every workplace needs a dating policy
How to create a policy that employees understand
Navigating tricky situations with discretion

Key topics:

(00:00) Introducing Kelsey Tarp

(02:20) Craft a workplace dating policy

(05:55) Ensure employees understand your dating policy

(12:37) Which relationships need disclosure?

(18:44) Code of conduct for professional behavior and anti-harassment

(23:03) Build psychological safety through transparency

(30:24) Encourage respectful relationships and accountability

(34:35) Situational judgment for out-of-the-box situations

(37:49) When in doubt, always disclose

Key links:

Download a free, customizable template for creating your own workplace dating policy:

https://www.bamboohr.com/pl-pages/employee-dating-policy

Read BambooHR’s blog, “Workplace Romance 101”:

https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/workplace-romance

Read BambooHR’s blog, “8 Workplace Romance Facts You Need to Know”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/8-workplace-romance-facts-need-know-right-now

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join HR Heroes Slack Community:

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

BambooHR Homepage:

https://www.bamboohr.com/

Connect with Kelsey on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseytarp/

AI has been one of the biggest talking points in HR for the past five years and it has already transformed the way HR operates. Whether you are already using it in your processes or are keen to experiment, this episode offers plenty of actionable tips on the best practices and use cases for AI.

Joining the episode are Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research and Advisory and BambooHR’s Head of AI, Alan Whitaker, to share their experiences and advice for using AI the right way.

Ethical considerations around bias are a conundrum for HR pros, but did you know that AI could actually help you stamp out those biases in the recruitment process? Alan and Ben share their tips on how you can use what you know about bias and train AIs to help rather than hinder the process. We hear how to best use AI across different levels of HR, including recruitment, retention, employee satisfaction, and learning and development.

Key moments:

Ben explains what’s new in his recent book edition of Artificial Intelligence for HR
The problems with recruiters and candidates using AI
The upside of using AI in recruitment
How AI can help to improve employee retention
Use cases for AI in HR
How AI can help in L&D
Tips for ensuring you use AI ethically

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beneubanks/
Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digiduke/

In between ongoing technological developments, new expectations from leaders, and lurking challenges, 2025 is promising to be a big year for HR teams. But how will the average HR leadership role change in the year ahead?

For this episode, we grab the crystal ball and share our top predictions on how roles like Chief People Officer and more are changing as expectations broaden and tech makes new things possible. Vanessa Brulotte speaks with Brandon Welch, Head of Talent Acquisition at BambooHR, and Brad Warga, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, to hear their takes on the top challenges facing HR professionals this year.

We look at what CEOs want from CPOs today, the current state of AI implementation in HR, how HR teams can plan out a training roadmap for leaders, and much more.

Key moments:

Why shortage of HR talent remains a top challenge
How the average role of Chief People Officer has changed
Why a good balance of hard and soft skills are needed more than ever
The current state of AI implementation in HR
How HR teams of one can get ahead in 2025
The biggest challenge facing HR leaders today
Attributes that companies need from HR professionals
Advice for HR professionals in 2025
Why training remains the biggest asset to a team like HR
Why employee wellness initiatives are still a major focus for companies in 2025

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/

What were the hottest HR topics of 2024? From navigating tricky hiring challenges to setting employees up for success, join Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte as they break down the ten most popular conversations from HR Unplugged in 2024!

We discuss everything from how the "cake” framework connects to HR strategy to attracting bilingual candidates, and why recruiters shouldn’t feel subordinate to hiring managers.

You’ll also hear about some of the guests we’ve had on the show, including Tim Sackett and Casey Bailey, along with tips on how HR professionals can earn credibility as new hires. Plus, we discuss the importance of deciding on milestones and metrics to ensure transparency in the hiring and onboarding process, as well as how to make the most of performance reviews.

Key moments:

Why job onboarding is often overlooked compared to paperwork and company onboarding
The importance of tone and approach when dealing with sensitive topics, such as firing
Why developing a scorecard for hiring is essential
How to set employees up for success by demonstrating what winning looks like
Why performance in a role should be tied back to performance management
How to maximize the impact of performance improvement plans
How to structure the first forty-four days of employee success

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/

From writing job descriptions to scheduling interviews, selecting applicants to assessing candidate quality, the hiring process is time-consuming and difficult. And after all that, the person who gets the job may not be the right fit! However, hiring well is vital to the ongoing success of any organization. In short, hiring needs to be done right.

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Sackett, President of HRU Technical Resources and a best-selling HR author, to discuss how to make the hiring process as smooth as possible. We discuss measuring quality of hire, the reality of selecting bad candidates, and some common TA pitfalls.

Tim also recounts some of his most memorable HR experiences and discusses how generative AI is impacting the work that hiring teams do.

Key moments:

Why a job sample is the best way of assessing candidate quality
Why it’s important not to blame one another for bad candidates
How to use data to judge quality of hire
Why TA and HR are not a cost center, but an essential business function
The importance of well-thought-out job descriptions and why hiring managers often ‘skate’ on writing these
Why quality of hire is industry-specific
The ways in which the idea of ‘quality of hire’ can be problematic

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsackett/

Compensation is the reason people turn up for work. A great company culture helps, and the value of the work itself can make a difference, but realistically, money is what keeps people coming in each day. Indeed, compensation is one of the key factors in employee wellbeing, performance, and retention. However, as revealed in BambooHR's Compensation Trends for 2025 report, things are looking somewhat bleak in this area across the United States.

In this episode, we chew over the report, talk about some of the key findings, and explain what’s going right and what’s going wrong for the employees surveyed. We discuss the data at length, talk about the divide between generations and genders, and explain how current economic conditions play into all this.

While many are pessimistic about work and compensation, fear not: there are still positives to draw on and many actionable steps that businesses can take to improve employee satisfaction and engagement.

Key moments:

How the uptick in dissatisfaction with pay from employees is linked to current economic conditions
The value of salary tools such as MIT’s Living Wage Calculator
Why transparent negotiation may be the reason Gen Z is seeing higher salary increases than other generations
The optimum time to send out employee surveys
Why total pay transparency is not always optimal
How to develop a compensation philosophy
Why leaders are seen as out-of-touch by their employees – and how leaders can prevent this
Using data to see whether pay has been mapped right and coaching leaders in trends

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Compensation Trends for 2025 Report: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/data-at-work/data-stories/2025-compensation-trends#:~:text=Average%20Salary%20Increase%20YoY&text=6.2%25-,For%20the%20second%20year%20in%20a%20row%2C%202%20in%205,42%25%20decrease%20over%20two%20years.

Done right, 360 feedback is a great way of promoting growth in an organization, providing a more well-rounded view of individual and team performance, and strengthening collaboration. Done wrong, it can contribute to a culture of fear, lead to resentment, and be too focused on weakness rather than strength.

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Burton, Co-Founder of Talgo.io, to explore the ins and outs of 360 feedback. We discuss the challenges, the risks, and how to put in place a review system that leaves all parties satisfied.

Jordan also offers some examples from his own professional life, suggests the times when a business is ready to implement a 360, and talks about why this process shouldn’t be remedial – that is to say, with the aim of ‘fixing’ somebody.

Key moments:

The ‘three levels’ of 360 feedback
The importance of trust in the process
Why 360 feedback risks being overly evaluative
How to prepare employees
The value of including a third-party
Why the ‘no attribution’ aspect of 360 feedback is so essential
How employees can provide feedback on the feedback they have received

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanwburton/

Dopamine is one of the most important chemicals in the body, playing a role in controlling memory, mood, sleep, learning, concentration, and movement. However, the modern world is challenging for dopamine levels because of the way our environment and habits overstimulate the brain's 'reward center' while also reducing opportunities for deep, sustained satisfaction.

We sit down with Scott Byrd, Co-Founder of Pathways Global, for a discussion about how brain chemistry affects workplace performance, exploring the role of dopamine in motivation, the importance of understanding your brain's patterns to calm your nervous system, and how to improve workplace interactions, especially when giving feedback.

We also discuss ways to increase dopamine, and explore the impact of ADHD on performance.

Key moments:

The effect of blue light on dopamine levels
Why being ‘up, light, and direct’ is key for workplace interactions
The importance of orienting yourself around the ways your brain works
Strategies for helping employees stay engaged in this dopamine-addicted environment and society
ADHD and modern work challenges
Why how-tos and checklists are less useful than a simple commitment to conversation and learning

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-byrd-4a2081a/

From lack of budget to overbearing CEOs, there are a host of problems that HR professionals deal with every day. So, what are the red flags to look out for, and how can issues be resolved before they develop?

In this episode, we sit down with Julie Turney, Founder and Chief Impact Architect at HR@Heart Consulting, for a conversation about memorable HR experiences (both good and bad!), and how to create a great company culture.

We also cover how to set boundaries at work, how HR differs from place to place, and why companies and organizations should never be described as “a family.”

Key moments:

Whether an employee’s happiness depends on their personal life or professional life
How to avoid “compassion fatigue”
How a difficult CEO experience spurred Julie to start HR@Heart Consulting
Why happiness at work is a journey, not a destination
Why HR professionals need to be given access to the strategy of the organization
The importance of picking battles and not “dying on every hill”

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjulieturney/

No employee is the same. The evolving needs of employees demand a shift toward holistic support that spans all of life's challenges, from caregiving, to illness, to childcare. This is key to building a healthier, more resilient workforce.

In this episode, we sit down with Derek Lundsten, President and Chief Culture Officer at LifeGuides, for a conversation about the different ways organizations can support their workforce, and what’s missing in their efforts.

We cover the importance of work-life balance, and how important it is for employees to get genuine downtime. Derek also shares how LifeGuides helps people who are going through challenges in their lives, and explains how more and more organizations are proactively addressing the needs of their teams.

Finally, we discuss how to strike the balance between what is good for the business and what is good for the employee, and personal versus employer responsibility when it comes to ensuring wellbeing.

Key moments:

How LifeGuides matches people who are going through life challenges with someone who has faced a similar problem
What methods employers can use to support their employees outside the workforce as well as inside
Why jobs need to be matched with job descriptions
Why employees need to be able to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’
The importance of having a learning budget
The issues with employers providing benefits that their consultants are selling rather than asking their employees what they want
Strategies to improve peer-to-peer support, from better listening to enshrining values and mission

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dereklundsten/

What’s your worst bad boss story? It seems like everyone’s got one. We expect leaders to provide guidance and make sound decisions, but that’s not always the case, and it can put employees and HR in a tricky position.

In this episode (our first live show!), we sit down with Amy Butler, VP of People Operations at Awardco, and Jared Olsen, VP of People Experience at JobNimbus for a candid discussion about the challenges of poor leadership.

We kick the conversation off by swapping our worst bad boss stories, including a shocking tale of fraud and an unexpected firing during maternity leave. But more importantly, Amy and Jared share the best lessons learned from bad past experiences and how they feed into their approach to people management today.

We cover the importance of good coaching, transparent communication, setting expectations, and much more in this episode. It’s a must-listen for anyone looking to improve leadership at their organization!

Key moments:

Our worst bad boss stories and lessons learned
How a poor onboarding experience inspired Jared’s thorough approach to onboarding today
Strategies to help employees dealing with poor management
Why you should build a coaching culture
Why Amy uses AMAs alongside engagement surveys
How poor people leaders can repair relationships with employees
Why transparency and difficult conversations are important
How responsible is HR for dealing with poor management?

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-poll-butler-b13b5291/
Connect with Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredolsen/

Do you feel safe to express ideas and opinions at work without the fear of judgment or even punishment?

In today's workplaces, we have a greater understanding of just how important mental wellbeing is to our teams, to us individually, and to our performance. And part of that is driven by our ability to feel safe and supported in the workplace.

In this episode, we explore the important topic of psychological safety with Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, Head of Operations and Emotional Fitness at Coa. Vaneeta breaks down what psychological safety looks like on an individual, team, and company-wide level, and what organizations can do to improve it. We explore the business case for prioritizing psychological safety and how demonstrating the positive impact on retention, job satisfaction, innovation, and productivity can help you get leadership buy-in to make it a priority.

Key moments:

What is psychological safety?
Tips for effective feedback delivery and the importance of the 5:1 positive to negative feedback ratio
What organizations can do to boost psychological safety
The business case for psychological safety and how to get buy-in from leadership
What leaders get wrong about psychological safety

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Vaneeta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaneetasandhu/

Imagine stepping into a new job and feeling instantly connected to your company's culture, values, and mission. That's the power of a well-designed onboarding program!

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we dive back into BambooHR's journey to revolutionize our onboarding experience, with insights from Megan Galloway of Everleader, who’s back on the show for a catch-up. As Megan has been helping us revamp the onboarding process at BambooHR, we look at the results in this episode and answer common questions about the challenges of remote onboarding, how to integrate company values, and how to help new hires feel welcome.

We talk about building on company values and how empowered leaders can help new hires hit the ground running and foster stronger connections in the company from day one. There’s plenty of great advice in this episode for improving your own process, so don’t miss it!

Key moments:

A recap from our previous conversation in episode 51
Why BambooHR decided to upgrade its onboarding experience
How to integrate company values into onboarding
A framework for a comprehensive onboarding process
The results from our onboarding changes
What to do after the formal onboarding process
Advice for upgrading your own process to make new hires feel welcome and get up to speed quickly

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Tune in to part one of our onboarding discussion with Megan in episode 51: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Read the blog, The Definitive Guide to Onboarding: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/the-definitive-guide-to-onboarding
Download the ebook, The Definitive Guide to Onboarding: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/guide-to-onboarding

What does effective leadership look like when it feels like there’s never enough time to do all the things that HR leaders need to do?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, host Anita Grantham sits down with Johnny C. Taylor Jr., President and CEO of SHRM, to explore the critical elements of leadership. We investigate some of the overlooked traits that make good leaders great, like empathy and courage, and how the expectations of modern leaders have changed.

We tackle key topics like how leaders can balance celebrating the diversity of opinion in the workplace with managing conflict. Johnny brings some great insights to the table on the importance of civility in the face of disagreements and how leaders can take an active approach to make sure people are culturally aligned on what matters most. We hear some of Johnny’s methods for dealing with conflicting opinions, how he screens candidates during talent acquisition, and what he believes are the top three Cs of successful HR leadership.

Key moments:

Why empathy is an overlooked but core skill for leaders
How to create a culture of civility
How to ensure cultural alignment during the hiring process
The importance of establishing boundaries and company culture
Johnny’s framework for dealing with conflicting opinions

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

With job interviews, we’re always on the lookout for that gold star candidate. But how do you spot them in a sea of applications? Nailing your interviewing process and asking the right questions are key, but there’s an art (and some science) to getting it right.

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Welch, Head of Recruiting at BambooHR, to get his take on what makes a great interview and how to plan discussions with candidates that help you get to know who you’re potentially hiring.

Brandon, Anita, and Vanessa share their favorite questions to ask at an interview and how to get candidates to paint a picture of their experience, skills, and on-the-spot thinking. We look at how interviewing processes differ for different types of roles, how long interviews should take, and why giving candid feedback is a must (especially for internal hires!). Brandon also shares his thoughts on personality tests and how to use scorecard data to assess candidate suitability.

Key moments:

How to balance consistency in interviews with leaving space for hiring managers to add their own style
The top things people get wrong in the interview process
Why job titles alone don’t tell us enough about a person’s experience
The best interview questions to pinpoint top talent
How to use personality tests the right way
How hiring managers can prep candidates for interviews
Why giving feedback and being intentional about the candidate's experience is so important
How to determine the right amount of time for an interview

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

How effective is a personal improvement plan (PIP) really?

PIPs have a bad rap, with some people seeing them as a formality before the inevitable firing. But they can be an invaluable tool in helping to raise and nurture performance across an organization if you get them right. 58% of people on average see an improvement after getting a PIP. But with such a huge percentage of people seeing poor results, how do you make sure your PIP approach is successful?

Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte dive into the tricky world of PIPs and performance management in this episode. They explore how we can reframe the purpose and perception of PIPs in an organization, how to manage performance effectively, and the common pitfalls to avoid. We hear why context and communication are key and why PIPs should be a two-way street, with clear expectations of leaders and a more collaborative approach to working toward goals.

Key moments:

Why PIPs sometimes fail
Different approaches to performance improvement
How to set the right expectations for both teammates and leaders
Ways to maintain momentum in personal development
What leaders can do to make sure improvement plans are a success
Alternatives and things you should do before using a PIP
How to deal with leaders who don’t want to improve performance

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Did you know that 45% of employees say they’re more likely to stay in a role if they get training opportunities? And yet, training and development for employees isn’t always a priority for managers. Sometimes it’s seen as unnecessary, low-priority, or simply too costly. So what can HR leaders do to help managers prioritize a culture of learning?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we explore the vital role of training in not only enhancing skills and job satisfaction, but also improving retention and hiring across the organization. Throughout the episode, Anita and Vanessa explore ways HR can collaborate with leaders to create impactful training programs and how to identify the most worthwhile opportunities for training.

We also cover how to foster a culture of continuous learning, training opportunities for HR leaders, and how to implement training with a low budget.

Key moments:

Why learning and development is so important for businesses and employees
How HR can help managers identify training opportunities
Balancing individual career goals with business goals
How to encourage a culture of continuous learning
Ideas for training with a low budget
Training opportunities for HR leaders
How to build a talent development program

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

How can HR deal with workplace conflict without turning the office into a mini battleground? Conflict is a natural part of the human experience, naturally spilling into our working lives. In this episode of HR Unplugged, we hear why the solution isn’t to avoid conflict but to deal with it in a healthy, professional way.

Joining the episode is John Barrand, Chief HR Officer of the Utah Division of Human Resource Management, who introduces us to Utah’s innovative “Disagree Better” campaign from Governor Spencer Cox, which offers a great framework for handling conflict in the workplace.

This episode explores the delicate balance between too little and too much conflict, with John noting that a little tension can illuminate important issues within an organization. Throughout the conversation, John, Anita, and Vanessa discuss practical strategies for addressing different types of disagreements.

Whether you're managing a team of 22,000 like John or leading a smaller group, this episode offers actionable advice on creating a culture of healthy disagreement and open communication.

Key moments:

What the “Disagree Better” initiative involves
How to tie company mission and values into conflict resolution
Why organizations should give back to employees and help them grow
Why cynicism leads to burnout and how to solve it
Why service and gratitude are important to encourage

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpeterbarrand/

Have you ever wondered how a single bad hire can ripple through an organization, costing it not just money but also time and morale? The true cost of a bad hire has implications that stretch beyond that job role. So what can recruiters and HR leaders do to counteract that?

In this episode, we welcome BambooHR’s Head of Recruiting, Brandon Welch, who helps us get to the bottom of the top mistakes that recruiters make during the hiring process. The conversation emphasizes the importance of a well-structured hiring process, highlighting that hiring mistakes can also cause tensions between different departments and erode trust in those responsible for hiring.

Brandon shares how inefficiencies in recruitment can lead to lost opportunities and explains that a smooth process not only attracts top talent but also reflects the company’s operational efficiency to candidates. Brandon, Anita, and Vanessa also discuss practical strategies to enhance the hiring process, including clear communication, pre-work before even posting a job, and aligning everyone on job descriptions.

Key moments:

The true costs of a bad hire
Unseen issues that crop up as a result of poor hiring strategies
The biggest mistakes recruiters make
How teams can get aligned on the hiring mission
The debatable value of reference checks
How to do the “pre-work” before you even post a job ad
Strategies for hiring and interviewing candidates

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbwelch/

As the conversation around different work modes continues, the trend toward returning to the office has been met with very different reactions.

We recently published a report that looks at what employers and employees think about returning to the office, productivity, and remote work. In this episode, Anita and Vanessa dive into the surprising insights and what HR leaders can learn from work mode preferences.

Anita explains why we need to elevate the conversation beyond simply deciding whether people should be in the office. She encourages a focus on the bigger picture to determine the best way forward to achieve our goals.

The report also signified a worrying trend – that both remote and in-office workers feel the need to demonstrate their productivity through actions like keeping the green ‘active’ status on at all times. But while people may look productive, it doesn’t mean they are. Vanessa and Anita explain that businesses need clear metrics and goals aligned with their mission no matter which side your organization takes in the RTO vs. remote debate.

Key moments:

Introducing BambooHR’s new report
Why we need to look at the bigger picture when it comes to returning to the office
The green status effect and the need to prove productivity
How to avoid focusing on the wrong things
Why employers need to make the work mode align with goals
How companies get intentional about in-office vs remote days
How hybrid working arrangements during COVID have affected flexibility and the work-life balance
Why the secret to perfecting this is in good leadership
Advice for businesses doing something new

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Visibility Beats Productivity for RTO & Remote Report: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/return-to-office

Did you know: 91% of mentored employees report higher job satisfaction? And 40% of those without mentor support at their workplace have even considered quitting!

Having the right mentor can be invaluable for your career, but it’s also very beneficial for mentors themselves and the wider organization. That’s why in this episode of HR Unplugged, we dive into the importance of and benefits of building a great mentorship program.

Our special guest is Cara Baldwin, Chief Legal Officer at Torus, who brings her expertise on how to create a successful program. We hear why investing in mentorship is time well-spent, how it can help to develop new leaders, and ways it can benefit the wider business. Along with hosts Anita and Vanessa, they explore the worries that organization have about developing people who may leave soon after and why HR isn’t the only department that can work on a mentorship program.

Key moments:

The benefits of investing in a mentorship program
The positive impact on leaders who implement a mentor program
Why mentors need training to be mentors
Addressing the concern that people will leave after being trained
Tips on building a program from scratch
Advice for refreshing an existing program

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-baldwin-43388620/

Does your organization have a plan for succession? When high performers are looking for their next challenge, they have a choice. They find it elsewhere in another company and role or they move to the next stage of their career journey in your organization. But without a solid plan for succession from your leaders, it’s often the former option that people take.

In this episode, recorded live at a recent event, Anita and Vanessa sit down with Jessica Zwaan, the Chief Operating Officer at Talentful and author of the brilliant book, ‘Built for People: Transform Your Employee Experience Using Product Management Principles.’

Jessica shares her unique perspective on transforming employee experiences using product management principles. We dive deep into the differences between succession planning and growth planning, and Jessica offers valuable advice for HR leaders, especially those in small teams. She highlights the importance of understanding the business' economic outlook and how HR can directly contribute to making or saving money.

Jessica explains that when leaders help to develop their own successors, this is a far better investment than bringing new people in to replace those who leave. She explains how this ties into the Employee Customer Acquisition Cost (ECAC) and how factors like tenure and performance can be powerful levers in improving this metric.

Key moments:

Jessica explains the topics in her book
Advice on succession planning for teams of one
The differences between succession and growth planning
Why business leaders and HR need to know the business fundamentals
How we can incentivize leaders to grow their successors
Why succession planning is a better investment than acquiring new talent
Succession when tied to tenure and performance
Building a strategy around succession planning
How employees can learn and develop
Focusing on the bigger picture when asking for a tech solution
Why succession planning needs to happen from day one if you’re a growing company

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamayzwaan/
Learn more about Jessica and her book: https://www.jessicamayzwaan.com/

The big question in this episode of HR Unplugged is how do you define your business values?

Anita and Vanessa dive into the importance of not only defining, but also implementing business values, covering topics such as the pivotal role of company values in shaping organizational culture, using mission and vision statements as the foundation for defining these values, and the process of helping team members live those values daily.

They also discuss practical steps for startups and established organizations alike to identify and refine their values through team feedback and leadership guidance. The episode is packed with real-life examples from Bamboo's own journey, highlighting values such as 'Assume the Best,' 'Be Open,' and 'Do the Right Thing,' and offers insightful tips on how to incorporate these principles into the employee experience and recruitment process.

Key moments:

The importance of defining business values
Identifying and defining company values
Real-life examples and practical applications
Connecting values to your mission and vision
Impact of company values on business
Implementing and living company values

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

How do you align new hires with company values? On this episode of HR Unplugged, host Anita Grantham welcomes Megan Galloway, founder of Everleader, as a special guest to discuss this in detail and provide practical tips.

Megan shares insights from her collaboration with BambooHR in evolving their onboarding process. One of the key challenges discussed is the lack of time managers have to properly onboard new employees while under pressure to meet productivity goals. The conversation delves into the importance of leadership buy-in and the critical role managers play in the onboarding process – which should not solely be an HR responsibility!

They discuss the ways onboarding presents a valuable opportunity to instil company values and create a common language within an organization. Through practical examples, Megan illustrates how experiential learning can significantly enhance retention and integration of company values.

They also cover the need for onboarding programs to go beyond orientation by making the learning process interactive and relevant to new employees' day-to-day roles. Plus, Megan gives her suggestions for metrics to gauge onboarding effectiveness, such as time to productivity and employee satisfaction.

Key moments:

Challenges in onboarding programs
The importance of company values in onboarding
Marking onboarding experiential
Remote onboarding strategies
Measuring success
Common mistakes in onboarding
Immersive onboarding processes
Immediate tools for new hires
Defining and living company values
Balancing work and personal life

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Delivering feedback can be a daunting process (on both sides) but coming to it with a commitment to improvement will help you take the best steps forward.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Head of HR Anita Grantham sits down with Rebecca Port, the Chief People Officer at 10x Genomics. Together, they swap tips on the best approaches for delivering feedback – both positive and negative. They explore the benefits of continuous feedback, how role-playing can help you tackle difficult discussions, and why all feedback should be delivered with kindness, care, and compassion.

Rebecca also breaks down the SCARF framework (status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, fairness) to help you structure feedback sessions effectively and the research-backed benefits of positive feedback and recognition.

Key moments:

How to help managers deliver constructive feedback
The benefits of continuous feedback
How the SCARF method can help you deliver feedback
How to make managers comfortable with giving constructive criticism
Why managers need to be committed to an employee’s success
Why the intention of the feedback needs to be clear
How positive feedback impacts performance

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaport/

A clear compensation philosophy steers HR and recruitment teams onto the right path when it comes to setting pay according to job responsibilities, pay transparency, and tackling any pay equity issues that might be hiding under the surface.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Vanessa and Anita chat with John Baldino, President of Humareso, live from Transform 2024 in Vegas. With over 30 years of HR experience, John delves into the importance of having a compensation philosophy, sharing insights on using data, addressing pay equity, and setting crystal clear job expectations.

He shares top-tier advice for HR teams, including smaller teams and solo HR professionals, on common pitfalls to avoid within your compensation policies. We hear why clear, up-to-date job descriptions (not job titles) should be the key focus of your compensation philosophy, plus how to find and solve equal pay issues in the workplace.

Key moments:

Why a clear compensation philosophy is crucial
How to navigate compensation data
Why job descriptions are vital to get right
Descriptions and Compensation
Addressing pay equity issues
Understanding the value of work when setting compensation
Should you be transparent about pay?
Why you should avoid over-extending

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbaldinohr/

HR may not always swim in the same waters as finance, but there are plenty of benefits to building a good working relationship between the two teams.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we welcomed BambooHR’s Chief Financial Officer, Justin Judd, to share the perspective of a finance team leader working closely with HR. Justin is a big believer that HR and finance teaming up pays dividends to the wider business and individual team members.

Hear him explain the benefits, how a team partnership can help to minimize conflict and solve problems faster, and what to do if your teams aren’t aligned on the same goals.

Key moments:

Tips for building a relationship between finance and HR
How to prioritize it and what to do if some team leaders don’t want to
The benefits of HR and finance working together
Why communication between teams should be constant
How to deal with conflict between teams
How operations can get in alignment with HR and finance

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-judd-48b0a08/

Modern tech tools can make managing HR more efficient and solve common pain points for HR teams. But how do you decide what tech you really need?

Each HR team has different needs and priorities, but building an efficient tech stack is a game-changer for modern HR teams. With the right tools, you can save time and energy, leaving your team free to focus on the things you’re best at – building and maintaining relationships for the good of the wider business.

If you’re new to building a tech stack, you might be wondering where to start. Or, if you already have one in place but it’s not working as well as you’d hope, how to streamline things.

In this episode, BambooHR’s Head of HR, Anita Grantham sits down with Lauren Nathanson, VP of People Operations at Axios, to talk about what really needs to be in your tech stack. We discuss how you can get started, which tool types to prioritize, how to make decisions based on company goals and pain points, and how to refine an existing tech stack.

Key moments:

The biggest challenges to building a tech stack
The first step for building a tech stack
How to prioritize what problems to solve first
Aligning your tech stack to business strategies
Consolidating your existing tech stack
What every HR team needs
Metrics to measure with tech tools
How to get the timing right
How to manage your tech stack as a large vs. small HR team

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Is it time to scale your HR team? Deciding when and how to scale the HR department can be a delicate task. Who do you hire? What role should your second HR person play? How do you scale in a small or large company?

If these questions are on your mind, then this episode is for you. BambooHR’s Head of HR, Anita Grantham, and HR Business Partner, Vanessa Brulotte, sit down to explore the best practices for making your next HR hire.

They explain why you should always start with a solid strategy that reflects the company’s mission and values, how to decide what type of role to hire for next, and the best ways to scale your team effectively.

Key moments:

Why you need a solid strategy to scale your HR team
How to decide what type of role to hire for next
Why you should consider retention and employee experience in your strategy
Why scaling your HR team is good for the overall company
How teams should scale
Advice for small companies looking to grow their HR teams

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

When CEOs team up with their HR leaders, it can only mean good things for the wider business. It means a more strategic recruitment drive, better performance management, and more alignment on company goals.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Vanessa Brulotte and Anita Grantham sat down with Sam Devyver, the CEO of EasyLlama, live from Vegas at the Transform 2024 event to talk about how to make that all-important relationship happen.

Sam shares his take as a CEO who works closely with HR professionals on how to build that relationship, mistakes to avoid, and the benefits of integrating HR into other business functions.

Key moments:

Why a close working relationship between HR and CEOs is important
The benefits of HR being aligned on business initiatives
Sam explains his experience as a CEO working closely with HR
Advice for CEOs and HR leaders to build that relationship
Why trust is key
Sam’s advice on bringing HR into different areas of the business

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw/
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samueldevyver/

Firings and layoffs are never an enjoyable part of HR or leadership. But it’s important that there’s a robust process in place to manage the transition and it’s handled with compassion.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, our Head of HR, Anita Grantham and HR Business Partner, Vanessa Brulotte, discuss how to manage firings and layoffs in the right way. We discuss the best practices, do’s and don’ts, and how to build a process that protects the company and provides the best chance of the employee parting on good terms.

We dive into some of the common questions on how to handle a contract termination, who should be in that meeting, when to hold these meetings, and whether you should offer to be a reference for the person in question.

Key moments:

Dos and don’ts of layoffs and firings
Why you should have a detailed process in place
How to break the news of firing or layoffs to employees
How to tie your process to your company mission
What to do in the event of a crisis
How to reassure remaining employees

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

How do you compensate team members fairly so that they’re happy and don’t start looking elsewhere?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we welcomed back Alex Bertin, BambooHR’s Head of Total Rewards, to talk more about compensation and benefits strategies. Alex sits down with our Head of HR, Anita Grantham, to discuss when leaders should talk to employees about compensation, how to build efficient pay processes, pay transparency, and more.

Alex and Anita also tackle the debate on whether on-site workers should be paid more than remote workers and how to assess compensation based on business impact.

Key moments:

What the data on compensation levels says
How often should leaders bring up compensation with their team
Why leaders need to build and understand the compensation process
The debate on pay transparency
Should on-site workers be paid more than remote employees?
How to assess the impact of a role/employee on the business

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Recruitment is always a tricky part of HR, but there are ways to be more strategic in your approach to ensure a high quality of hire.

In this episode, we welcomed Casey Bailey, Head of People at Deel, to talk about recruitment and interviewing strategies. Casey and Anita Grantham break down their favorite interview questions to ask, how to decide which questions to prioritize, and how to approach different types of interviews.

Casey explains how you don’t always need a formal applicant tracking system, but you probably need a scorecard to measure the suitability of candidates for a role. We also look at how interviews for internal and external candidates may differ.

Key moments:

How to decide what interview questions to ask
How many interviews should we conduct while recruiting?
Managing your applicant tracking system
How to hire internal vs. external candidates
Mistakes that hiring managers often make

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Casey on LinkedIn

A growing mental health crisis, particularly since 2020, has put HR professionals on the front line in many organizations. This, coupled with the difficulties of the job, such as dealing with redundancies, legal issues, employee emotional wellbeing, and even employee death, means that HR needs support more than ever.

Joining the podcast is Julie Turney, Founder and CEO of HR@Heart Consulting, who shares lots of brilliant ideas for people in HR to get the support they need to do their jobs effectively.

We hear about the importance of having coaches and mentors for your career, resources for support, how to set healthy boundaries, and much more.

Key moments:

The importance of HR for HR
Why there’s a greater need for trauma and response training for HR today
Why HR professionals need mentors
How to be intentional about networking
Why people in HR need to set healthy boundaries
Resources to get support

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/

Communities

https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
https://hrgirlfriends.com/
https://www.acas.org.uk/
https://www.raconteur.net/

Working together to support mental health and wellbeing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kRPRsl8d3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ULc-rjHbU

21 Best HR Resources

https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/top-websites-for-hr-professionals

Without a good performance review process, managers risk leaving employees unhappy, unproductive, and unaligned on goals that affect personal progress and the business.

So how do you fix a broken performance review process?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we welcomed special guest Adam Weber, Chief Evangelist at 15Five, to share his perspective and advice for leaders. Adam is the host of the HR Superstars podcast and leads the HR Superstars community alongside his main role. His book ‘Lead Like a Human’ also details how to lead and build high-performance teams but in a way that honors your authentic self.

Our conversation explores what the data says about performance reviews from the perspective of managers and employees, why there’s often a disconnect in the review process, and how leaders can build a culture of feedback. Tune in to hear the systems and questions he likes to use in his own performance reviews to improve relationships and outcomes.

Key moments:

What recent data says about performance reviews
Why there’s a disconnect in performance reviews
How to build a culture of feedback
Different ways to deliver feedback
The importance of goal alignment
Self-evaluation questions for employees to answer
Advice for managers to improve employee relationships
The importance of giving feedback directly
How to make performance management and reviews more effective
How to get employees on board with business goals

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series/https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
40+ questions you can add to your performance review
15Five’s Guide to Designing a Fair, Valuable, and Efficient Review Process
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn

Are you ready to put data front and center of your HR strategy? Data is a crucial tool to help you make decisions that will improve employee engagement, relations, retention, and more. Without it, HR teams are left guessing, without a clear direction to follow. But how do you begin to use data effectively?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Anita and Vanessa sit down with Will Clive, Chief People Officer at Pluralsight, to swap ideas, advice, and insights on using data within HR. They explore the use of storytelling to paint a picture with data to get that all-important leadership buy-in and to boost employee survey engagement. You’ll also hear some advice for getting started with data, the best practices for presenting data, and how to become a better data storyteller.

Key moments:

How to start using data
How to tell a story with your data
What to do when you don’t have buy-in from leadership
Tips for increasing survey engagement
How to get help with data from different departments
Best practices for using data
How to become a better data storyteller

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
HR Reporting Slides Template: Tools to analyze data
https://www.bamboohr.com/pl/hr-reporting-template?utm_campaign=BAMB-DG-DAR+hrunplugged+episode39+resource-202401&utm_medium=offline&utm_source=webinar&utm_content=blank&utm_term=Webinar
Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willclive/

Did you know 70% of new hires decide if their role is a good fit within just one month? This means leaders don’t have long to make a good impression on new employees.

So how can businesses ensure a good experience for new hires and prevent repeated staff turnover?

On this episode of HR Unplugged, our Head of HR, Anita Grantham, and HR Business Partner, Vanessa Brulotte explore why onboarding isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience – it should be tailored for the needs of the business and the employee.

Plus, they explain the importance of listening to feedback from new hires and break down the biggest mistakes businesses make in the early stages of employment.

Key moments:

The most common mistakes HR leaders make during onboarding
How leaders can deal with employees’ onboarding grievances
Why onboarding begins at the recruitment phase

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Our Definitive Guide to Onboarding in 2024: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/the-definitive-guide-to-onboarding

A clear, thought-out paid time off (PTO) system brings a plethora of benefits to your organization, including improved job satisfaction, staff retention and recruitment help.

Plus, it can encourage employees to be more loyal, motivated and productive.

So how can business leaders build a PTO strategy that truly benefits their team?

On this episode of HR Unplugged, our Head of HR and HR Business Partner, Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte, explore how leaders can instill a culture that empowers employees to take self-care seriously and make use of PTO, for the benefit of themselves, their bosses and the business.

Key moments:

Why employees not taking PTO can cause poor job satisfaction
How PTO benefits productivity and happiness
Why employees feel guilty taking PTO
Advice for taking PTO in a small business
How HR managers can align PTO policies with their teams
How PTO improves your recruitment

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heros Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/

If you don’t have a compensation philosophy tied to your mission, vision and values, it’s time to start building one. Carefully considering compensation allows you to gauge how transparent you will be with your employees as well as attract and retain top talent.

But what are the first steps towards building a philosophy that works for you?

Alex Bertin, Head of Total Rewards, is back on HR Unplugged to walk us through brand-new BambooHR data on compensation. He shares what lessons businesses can take to build stronger bonds with their employees, increase job satisfaction and improve retention rates.

Key moments:

How to create a better bond between employees and employers
Why it’s crucial employees understand your pay strategies
The equitable best practices to add to your hiring strategy
Advice for those who can’t see progression in their company
How to decide what pay transparency means in your workplace
Why HR should not be directly responsible for monitoring performance

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Total Compensation Calculator: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/total-compensation-calculator-measure-improve-your-comp[…]ffline&utm_source=webinar&utm_content=blank&utm_term=Webinar
Find Alex’s previous appearance on HR Unplugged: https://www.bamboohr.com/webinars/hr-unplugged-episode-31

Many companies want to improve their efforts when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). But progress doesn’t happen overnight. So what first steps can leaders take to ensure it becomes and remains a top priority?

Hiring isn’t easy, period…and adding DEI into the mix can often make it harder, especially when recruiting in industries that typically aren’t diverse. That’s why your DEI strategy needs to be long-term, so you can identify and nurture the people you want to hire.

Lauren Leader, co-founder and CEO of All In Together, joins this episode of HR Unplugged to discuss how to build a more diverse and welcoming team. We hear her takes on the biggest DEI challenges, what makes diverse teams thrive and how to improve hiring and promotion practices.

Key moments:

The biggest challenges companies face around diversity, equity and inclusion
What makes diverse talent thrive in the workplace
Why organizations need policies on personal social media
How to assess and track your DEI strategy
Why middle management need more support to prioritize DEI
The best ways to improve hiring and promotion practices

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Bamboo HR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenleaderchivee/

Every company wants the best talent out there, so it can be challenging to stay ahead of the competition. What worked for your recruitment process in the past may no longer be the best option, as recruitment and onboarding expectations change.

A great way to stay ahead of the recruitment game is to embrace network hiring. Network hiring means tapping into your network and connections to find talent. Part of that is building a great referral process to encourage current employees to refer people they know and trust.

Joining this episode of the podcast is Scott Sinatra, CEO and Co-Founder of Bountiful. With vast experience in companies such as Glint and Glassdoor, we wanted his take on what it takes to find and keep top talent in the workplace. He shares his thoughts on network hiring and tips on how to manage an employee referral program.

Key moments:

The top challenges in recruiting today
Why the recruitment process is broken
How to engage in network hiring
Advice for those who want to hire within their network
How to manage a referral program
Tips for finding the best talent

Key links:

Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heros Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sinatra-b399312/

Company culture sits at the heart of every organization, whether it’s been carefully defined or otherwise. But how can managers ensure they’re building a culture of collaboration, compassion and strong communication?

To foster a positive company culture, you must connect it to your mission, vision and values, establish clear goals and respond positively to employee feedback. Get the culture right and passionate employees, satisfied customers and improved business performance will follow.

On this episode, our Head of HR, Anita Grantham, and HR Business Partner, Vanessa Brulotte, explore how you can take your company culture from good to great. They discuss how to identify if your culture is working, develop culture in a fully remote team and promote teamwork and collaboration.

Key moments:

How to establish clear goals in your culture strategy
Making space for compassionate conversations
The best ways to improve your communication
How to connect your culture to your mission, vision and values
Identifying how to foster collaboration and teamwork
The best ways to measure employee feedback and adjust your culture strategy
How to communicate how you want your teams to focus on collaboration and culture

Key links:

Culture Checklist: 12 Ways to Improve Your Company Culture: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/whitepapers/culture-checklist?formSubmit=success
The Definitive Guide to Company Culture [eBook]: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/definitive-guide-company-culture?formSubmit=success
Your Guide to Creating Company Values [eBook]: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/guide-company-values?formSubmit=success
Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join HR Heros Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

As HR leaders, we’re in the business of people – and if your people aren’t happy, it can cause major roadblocks for a business, drive top talent away, and affect company culture.

We invited Jennifer Decker, Director of HR and Senior Client Services Manager at Donaldson Capital Management, to join HR Unplugged and share her insights into what HR can do to boost employee happiness, wellbeing, and engagement.

Jennifer and BambooHR’s Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte explore the actions HR leaders can take, why employee happiness is decreasing across industries and the best practices for improving morale.

For more, don’t forget to subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/

Join the conversation with our HR Heros Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

Key Moments:

Why employee happiness is decreasing
How the economy is affecting employee satisfaction
Why HR leaders should focus on increasing employee engagement
Best practices for improving employee morale
Pro tips for boosting engagement
Actions HR leaders can take to enhance employee wellness

Key Links:

Connect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmdecker/

With employee retention remaining one of the biggest challenges for companies, it’s more important than ever that you build a great benefits package that keeps top talent on board. Building a comprehensive benefits package for employees can go a long way in helping them feel supported and valued – and it can do wonders for employee retention.

To build a total rewards package, you need to think beyond base pay. In fact, in a competitive talent market, competing on compensation alone is no longer enough. To help attract and retain top talent, companies need to go further and offer benefits that employees truly want and need.

In this episode, we welcomed Alex Bertin, Head of Total Rewards at BambooHR, to share his thoughts and advice on building a total rewards package that makes employees feel valued and happy in their roles.

Key Moments:

What is the employee value proposition?
Why you should connect rewards to your company mission
Defining total rewards strategy
Why you may need to “re-recruit” employees
How to decide which benefits to offer
How to make data-driven decisions about benefits
How we approach benefits at BambooHR

For more insights into becoming a great HR leader, subscribe to the HR Unplugged series or join our HR Heroes Slack community.

Competition for talent is at an all time high, and this trend extends to the HR industry as well. To optimize recruitment efforts, processes need to be rigorous. So what are the most effective best practices for identifying ideal candidates?

On this episode of HR Unplugged, Anita Grantham, Head of HR, and Vanessa Brulotte, Human Resources Business Partner, are joined by Mason Calaiaro, Leadership Talent Acquisition Manager at Greenhouse Software.

Mason shares expert tips on choosing the right hires, eliminating bias and implementing quiet hiring the right way. Plus, she provides advice on building a positive candidate experience and tells us why scorecards form the perfect foundation for a structured hiring process.

Key Links:

Connect with Mason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-calaiaro-10267634/
Subscribe to the HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join the HR Heros Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, leaders are absolutely crucial to the future of your business.

$366 million is spent globally on leadership development per year and around half of that is in the US alone. There’s also proof that this figure will grow, so what should businesses and HR teams be thinking about when it comes to fostering the next generation of leaders?

In this HR Unplugged episode, BambooHR’s Human Resources Business Partner, Vanessa Brulotte, joins Head of HR, Anita Grantham, to discuss how to best equip the next generation of leaders.

Plus, they explore how leadership is changing, the power of mentorship and why leadership strategy should be directly linked to company strategy.

Key Moments:

The importance of building tomorrow’s leaders
Why leadership development spend will continue to rise
How leaders can align with business strategies
What leaders should consider for their leadership development programs
Applying ‘radical candor’ to your system
The skills required of tomorrow’s leaders
Navigating the next generation of leaders through rapid change
Managing multi-generational teams
Should leadership development programs be led by founders of HR staff?

Key Links:

Subscribe to the HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/
Join the HR Heros Slack Community:
https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQw

The use of AI tools is growing in just about every industry right now, and HR is no exception. In fact, many HR leaders are using it as part of their day-to-day processes and are seeing great results.

However, AI is not a replacement for HR professionals, and it’s important to be aware of the shortcomings as well as the benefits. To get a well-rounded picture of the state of AI in HR, we welcomed the Head of AI at BambooHR, Alan Whitaker, to the podcast.

Alan explores the pros and cons of using AI, as well as some important elements to be aware of, such as security, bias, and compliance issues. He also explains a little about how we’re using AI at BambooHR and our plans for the future.

Key Moments:

Why we use AI at BambooHR
What AI tools are useful for in the workplace
The shortfalls of AI
The state of AI in HR today
Different use cases for AI in HR
How AI can benefit HR leaders
How to protect data while using AI tools
AI problems that we need to overcome in HR
BambooHR’s AI plans in the future

Key Links:

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digiduke/

Many companies have a small HR department, maybe even a couple of people, to handle HR for the entire business. It can be tricky to manage as a small team, but we’ve put together some best practices to help.

In this HR Unplugged episode, we welcomed Lisa Lindsey, Founder, Consultant & Coach of Peale Piper, to share her tips and tricks for small HR teams.

Key Moments:

What a small HR team looks like
When to hire another HR professional
Why you should think about company goals
How to deal with a lack of leadership support
Interview questions to ask before taking a new HR role
Why you need to speak the language of the business
How to walk away from a role
Challenges for small HR teams
Why HR teams should embrace technology

Key Links:

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/llindsey/

Brought on by an uncertain economic environment and augmented by the pandemic, ‘quiet hiring’ has become a phenomenon that is starting to reshape the workplace. But what is it and what does it mean for HR leaders?

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Head of HR Anita Grantham and HR Business Partner Vanessa Brulotte welcome Senior Manager & HR Business Partner Kelsey Tarp to the show to talk more about this.

They walk us through the three different kinds of quiet hiring, lay out the pros and cons and cover best practices, while also providing expert responses to some of the biggest questions HR leaders are asking.

Key points:

The three kinds of quiet hiring
Who is quiet hiring for?
Why it’s not for everyone
The pros of quiet hiring
The cons of quiet hiring
How to handle ‘no shows’
Quiet hiring best practices

Employee turnover and how to reduce it is often one of the biggest challenges we face in HR. However, it’s a fact of life that employees will leave one day, and it’s something that HR leaders need to deal with in the right way.

Whether employees are leaving by choice or through layoffs, it’s important to make the leaving process as positive an experience as possible. Not only will this help with the transition, but it’ll also help protect existing employees and the leavers themselves, who may even return to the company one day.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, Head of HR Anita Grantham, and Vanessa Brulotte, HR Business Partner, share insights and advice on how to make leaving a better experience, what to do about low performers, and how to handle layoffs the right way.

Key Moments:

Why you should set turnover targets by department
How to get ahead of turnover
Analyzing the reasons why people leave
Why you shouldn’t try to stop employees who want to leave
What you can do to reduce turnover
Why you should find a successor
How to approach layoffs

When the time comes for you to move on from a company, you set the tone for how you want to leave things. Being a good leaver means walking away on good terms and making the process a positive experience both for you and the company you’re moving on from.

To discuss this in more detail, we invited Jennifer Pomerantz, Director of People Operations at Zuva, to join BambooHR’s Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte on the podcast.

We discuss the things to consider before leaving a role, how to be your own advocate, SOPs, and how leaders can deal with people leaving.

Key Moments:

How leaders can handle job-hopping candidates
Red flags in a company or new hire to watch out for
What to consider before leaving a role
Why you need to advocate for yourself and your career
The problems with staying in a role that’s not right for you
How leaders can talk about employees leaving
How to implement SOPs and checklists around leavers
Why you should always aim to leave things better than you found them
Why you should try to speak positively about your time at an organization
Tips for conducting reference checks
How HR can support leaders and improve company culture

Everyone wants to be recognized for doing good work – and yet many leaders don’t make employee recognition a priority.

As a result, employees can feel undervalued and unrecognized for their hard work, and may even start looking for jobs elsewhere. In this episode of HR Unplugged, we welcomed special guest Trevor Larson, CEO of Nectar, to talk about how employee recognition can go a long way in making people feel valued at work.

Trevor joins Anita Grantham, Head of HR, and Vanessa Brulotte, HR Business Partner at BambooHR, to explore ways to build recognition into company culture and the benefits of doing so.

Key Moments:

The benefits of giving employee recognition
How recognition can improve employee retention
How recognition drives engagement
Why businesses struggle to give recognition
Two ways companies can start to give recognition
How to convince management to prioritize employee recognition

Key Links:

Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevordegnlarson/

Have you ever seen a valued employee surprise you out of nowhere by leaving for a new job? Watching team members come and go is normal for HR leaders, but sometimes those employees would have stayed if only things were a little different.

In fact, a Gallup survey in 2021 found that 52% of employees say their manager could have done something to prevent them from leaving. However, people aren’t always forthcoming about issues at work and so leaders are often surprised when good employees finally leave.

One thing you can do is hold stay interviews with employees to see where they’re at and if there’s any indication that they might leave. In this episode of HR Unplugged, Anita Grantham, our Head of HR, joins Vanessa Brulotte, our HR Business Partner, to discuss the benefits of holding constructive stay interviews and the best ways to conduct them.

Key Moments:

What is a stay conversation
The benefits of stay conversations for managers
How stay interviews benefit employees
How to choose who to have stay conversations with
Why stay conversations need to come from leaders
Questions and topics to cover in stay conversations
How Anita responded to Vanessa’s honesty in a stay conversation

Key Links:

5 Ways Managers Can Stop Employee Turnover by Gallup

Manual processes can slow us all down, which is why automation and AI are such big topics in the business world right now. But when you’re in the business of people like HR, it’s not always simple to optimize and automate.

In this episode of HR Unplugged, we sat down with TJ Davis, our Head of People Operations at BambooHR, to hear his perspective on improving manual processes. We hear his approach to continuous improvement, how to decide what to automate, and the best ways to use AI to become more efficient.

Key Moments:

The biggest challenge when optimizing HR processes
Examples of processes that could use automation
How to decide what to automate
How to use continuous improvement principles
Convincing leadership to move away from manual processes
Tools that can help you automate HR processes
What you need to know about AI

In the world of HR, it may seem like a lot of it is hard to quantify and measure. But by digging into “people analytics,” you can start to analyze and learn more about your workforce.

In this HR Unplugged session, BambooHR’s Head of HR, Anita Grantham, sits down with Vanessa Brulotte, Human Resources Business Partner, to talk about data – how we can gather it, what data to focus on, and what we can do with that information to become better business partners.

Key Moments:

What is people analytics?
What to do if you don’t have engaged employees
What HR data can help with
Why you should get clear on which problems you want to solve
Why stay interviews are so important
How to have unbiased conversations
How to pick a HR tool
Top takeaways and advice

Key Links:

The Definitive Guide to People Analytics: How to Make Better HR Decisions

Want to make sure your new hires hit the ground running?

On this episode of HR Unplugged, Vanessa Brulotte, BambooHR’s Talent Acquisition Manager, is back for an insightful discussion with Anita Grantham, Head of HR, on how we can make employee onboarding a top priority.

Anita and Vanessa discuss the importance of onboarding, why transparency is key and how to set up your new hires for success.

Key moments:

Why you should treat onboarding like dating
Making new hires feel like part of the tribe
Being transparent about the good and bad aspects of roles
Producing a message of stability
Time to determine what you’re hiring for
Do inside hires need onboarding?
Setting up new hires for success
Cadence and variation in your onboarding
Adapting your onboarding for different learning styles
How onboarding directly links to retention

So many factors shape our experiences as HR professionals. Some of them are controllable, some of them less so.

On this episode of HR Unplugged, BambooHR’s Head of HR, Anita Grantham, is joined by Head of Talent, Brandon Welch, to discuss how the HR landscape defines our career paths.

Brandon shares his views on the importance of education, finding reliable mentors and being a student of your business. Plus, he reminds us why face-to-face, real-life communication is so valuable and shares how long HR professionals should stay in a role.

Key moments:

Is education essential to success in HR?
What it means to be a student of the business
The first thing HR pros should do
The value of mentorship and community in HR
Adapting how we communicate post-COVID
The importance of in-person interactions
Working as an HR team of one
How to prioritize your tasks effectively
Why teamwork is vital to success
How long to stay in one HR role

Key links:

Brandon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbwelch/

Are you onboarding the right way? The right way for you and your company, that is…

On this episode of HR Unplugged, Clayton Binford, Chief of People and Development at Nomad Global Communication Solutions, joins Anita Grantham to explore how you can achieve onboarding success with five simple metrics.

He talks about the importance of performance reviews, why adaptable training approaches are win-win and how onboarding isn’t just for new starters.

Key moments:

Five simple metrics for onboarding success
The importance of performance reviews
Why not all performance reviews need to be formal meetings
Nomad’s orienting and onboarding processes
Why you shouldn’t have a one-size-fits-all training approach
How mission, vision and values play into onboarding
Why onboarding isn’t just for new starters
Why Clay involves direct managers from the interview process
When does your investment in someone “break-even”?
How onboarding impacts staff turnover

Key links:

The Definitive Guide to Onboarding: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/the-definitive-guide-to-onboarding
BambooHR makes onboarding easy and effective: https://www.bamboohr.com/hr-software/hiring-and-onboarding
Clayton’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-binford-1403a333/
Nomad Global Communication Solutions: https://www.nomadgcs.com/

Compassionate, authentic leadership has a ton of benefits – here, we explore just a few!

In this HR Unplugged episode, we delve into how engagement, wellbeing and culture have colossal parts to play in the smooth running of a happy, successful company.

These topics have been discussed in past episodes, but today we put them together and showcase how they work in harmony.

Anita Grantham, Head of HR, sits down with Cassie Whitlock, Director of HR at BambooHR, to discuss compassionate leadership, the benefits of a people-focused approach and how to link engagement, wellbeing and culture to your mission, vision and values.

Key moments:

Why does engagement matter?
Exploring what ‘company values’ really means
Dealing with burnout
How culture links to brand reputation
Why wellbeing should still be a priority post-COVID
Managing overwork
Managing and communicating with international team members
Why self-care is important
Being fabulous at failing
How culture impacts everything in the workplace

Key links:

Cassie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-whitlock/

What do HR professionals and business leaders need to know about HR in 2023?

The role of HR has changed a lot, especially with the integration of new software and the pandemic changing expectations and the nature of work for many.

In this HR Unplugged episode, we wanted to dig into what HR’s new role in the modern world is, how it’s changed, the value HR brings to a company, and how it can integrate more closely with the wider business.

Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, sits down with Laura Butler, CHRO and Chief People Officer at Entrata, to discuss HR’s role in 2023, what’s changed, and what HR professionals need to know in the future.

Key moments:

Laura’s biggest lesson since working in HR
The importance of knowing your superpower
Why HR attracts women as a career path
Why happy employees mean happy customers
How to know when to add HR to your business
How HR can make employees feel more at ease in their roles
Why companies are rebranding the term HR
How new technology is changing HR
How to break stereotypes
Why HR professionals should focus on problem-solving

Key links:

State of HR Leadership report: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/guides/human-resource-leadership-2023
Laura’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurabutler/

In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses how to focus your goals and priorities for the new year to create an even more refined strategy for 2023.

Join Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, as she talks about:

How do you measure the success of your goals?
Company KPIs that HR should be setting
Setting up relationship goals

Watch previous episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Have you decided how you will develop as a leader in 2023? In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses how to set leadership goals and find the inspiration to stay on track to achieve them.

Join Anita as she discusses:

What tools to use to create your vision for 2023
Ideas to overcome negative beliefs
How to help keep you accountable on your path of becoming a better leader
Next steps for helping you accomplish your leadership goals

Watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Recent statistics tell us that a majority of business leaders believe that developing leadership skills is important, but coaching the next generation remains a top challenge.

In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses:

Job shadowing and job rotation
How to develop stretch goals and assignments for employees
Why it’s important to keep HR at the table during economic downturns

Watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Improving employee retention is a popular topic as businesses combat turnover. But how can your HR department successfully source data on employees' sentiments towards growth, and then work to put a plan into action?

In this episode Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, and special guest host Amy Frampton, Head of Marketing at BambooHR, talk about developing meaningful growth opportunities to improve retention.

In this episode, Anita and Amy break down:

How to use data and talk about retention
Value-based and skill-based growth opportunities
How enroll promotions can incentivise growth during stagnant times

Watch other episodes of HR Unplugged and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Employee engagement is essential to drive performance for your organization. How can you provide a direction and vision that sustains and strengthens engagement?

Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses how to boost employee engagement and company performance by developing and communicating your company vision.

In this episode, Anita covers:

How to provide a clear vision to drive engagement and performance
How to measure employee engagement
How to keep tenured team members engaged

You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

In episode 9 of HR Unplugged, Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, dives into best practices for building a highly productive culture within the hybrid workplace.

In this episode, Anita discusses:

The questions leaders should ask themselves as they're trying to elevate a hybrid work culture
Defining why hybrid work should be important to you, and what a hybrid workplace looks like when it's successful
Changes you can make to your hybrid work culture to make the system work better, and how to make sure you evolve as you move forward

Watch other episodes of HR Unplugged and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

In our last episode of HR Unplugged we discussed the five pillars for building a positive work culture. This week we take a deep dive on that fifth and final element that can make, or break, your culture: leadership.

Leadership defines the culture- those behaviors that every organization relies on to drive performance. In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses how leadership defines culture.

In this episode, Anita discusses:

How you can define your values and then operationalizing them into your culture
Learning to leverage your workplace values to drive effective leadership and a high performing culture
Understanding leadership development and making it work for your workplace

View other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, discusses why building a positive culture at your organization is critical for HR leaders, and provides five strategic pillars to set you up for success.

Join us as we:

Define the five pillars of culture: mission, talent, compensation, benefits, and leadership
Determine how to measure company culture
Discuss actionable tips within each pillar that will enable you to create a positive work culture

To learn more, visit the companion blog post for this episode. You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Great talent philosophies address three key components: engagement, retention, and productivity of your workforce. A talent philosophy should support your leadership team’s preferences for managing talent and align with your company’s mission, vision, and values.

Join Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, to discuss:

Identifying roles that do (and don’t) need top talent
How DEI integrates naturally within a talent philosophy
Maintaining and preserving your talent philosophy during challenging times

To learn more, visit the companion blog post for this episode. You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Professional development might not be the first strategy that comes to mind for boosting recruiting and retention, but it’s growing in popularity.

In a recent LinkedIn Global Talent Trends Report, employees listed professional development as the number one way to improve company culture. And with a boost to company culture plus more career growth opportunities, employees are more likely to stay at the company.

Join us as we discuss:

Why professional development is important
Building an effective development strategy for each employee
What every business should include in their development strategy
How to start the learning journey

To learn more, visit the companion blog post for this episode. You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Learn why you need a total rewards strategy, and how organizations can help employees see the full picture when it comes to compensation. Join your host Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR, to rethink benefits for the modern workplace while safeguarding funds for an economic downturn.

Key points from the discussion include:

How to communicate compensation beyond pay
The four pillars of rewards packages: environment, development and recognition, benefits and compensation
What employee perks are part of the discussion today
How the pandemic and evolving economic situation have impacted conversations around benefits

Subscribe to the series at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged to sign up for future live sessions!

In order to attract and retain talent, HR professionals need to understand how compensation programs should be structured. Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, breaks down how to have hard conversations with current and potential employees to build the best possible teams.

Join us as we discuss:

How to have transparent conversations - understand what you’re offering (and what you can’t)
How to be a data hero - optimize choices for the business when it comes to salary
How to leverage career growth after the compensation foundation is built

Visit at BambooHR.com to watch the video version of this episode, read the recap blog post, and sign up for future live HR Unplugged sessions.

In this episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, leads a discussion on where HR leaders can go to get support in times of uncertainty.

Join us as we discuss:

Being the consumer of your own products
Setting the example for self-care
Staying on top of your business and personal goals
Running HR like a business within a business, with its own unique needs and challenges

Watch the video version of this episode here, or read the companion blog post. You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Human Resources is where everyone within an organization goes for answers. But where can HR professionals turn for support during times of uncertainty?

In today’s episode, Anita Grantham, Head of HR for BambooHR, leads a discussion on how to create resilience during uncertain times. This conversation happened during an interactive series designed to create a space where HR leaders can find community and resources to help them strengthen their workplace culture.

Join us as we discuss:

Helping your organization embrace change
Actionable steps to create a more resilient organization
Compensation, benefits, and creating incentive programs

To learn more, visit the recap blog post for this episode. You can also watch other episodes and sign up for future live sessions at BambooHR.com/HR-Unplugged.

Anita Grantham, Head of HR at BambooHR and host of the HR Unplugged podcast