HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

Expenses are rising everywhere, and employees and employers alike are feeling the strain. Recruiting and retention is becoming less about who can provide the top dollar, and rather who can provide the best benefits, and most safety. But many of the benefits that help the most, no one knows about. It’s up to HR and Benefits leaders to not only build a comprehensive benefits package, but to research and educate both their leaders and employees on how best to utilize what’s offered. It’s a tough ask, but with so much uncertainty in the world, HR leaders have the chance to make the biggest impact in their employee’s lives. On this week’s episode of the HR Works Podcast, we’ll be looking at part two of our latest benefits webinar, featuring Emma Soy, Founder and CEO of Gentle Shepherd Care, and Creator of Gentle Care Navigator, Matt Totsch, Vice President of Compensation & Benefits, Wabtec and Margaret Wortley, Executive Managing Director, Benefit Services and Payroll, Webster Bank, where we discussed how you can do your total rewards right, and supply your team with the best support available. Check out part two!

As HR professionals, and really as people, we opt to be nice and polite when dealing with anything in the workplace. But what happens when that blanket "agreeable"-ness produces a stagnant and stale environment instead of something productive? When the status quo becomes more harm than good, how can you break the mold? On today's episode of HR Works, here to help us answer these questions is Amira Barger, Professor, Global Comms Executive, and Author of the upcoming book "The Price of Nice." Listen in to part one of our conversation that breaks down what it means to be "nice" in the workplace, and what it means to be genuine, and effective.

Let’s be real: bad managers don’t just frustrate employees; they drive your best talent out the door. The difference between a manager people tolerate and a leader people love comes down to skills HR must develop right now. Thankfully, HR Daily Advisor sat down with some of the top leadership experts to discuss practical, actionable ways in which HR can turn their middling managers into effective, strong leaders. Want to turn your managers into magnetic leaders who inspire loyalty, performance, and trust? In today’s episode of HR Works, we’re taking a look at part two of our latest and greatest webinar, featuring Ricky Brown, CEO of Speak Life Inc., LeAnne Lagasse, SHRM-SCP Certified HR Consultant, Speaker, and Author, and Megan Leasher, Organizational Psychologist and Founder of Disruptive Journeys.

So much of HR today is talked about in terms of strategy. What's the best strategy for improving retention? How can I create an effective people strategy? But as effective as planning ahead can be, it all falls apart when you don't know how to follow through. So, the real question HR professionals need to be asking now is not "what's the best strategy?" but "how can I effectively implement my strategy?" On the week's episode of HR Works, we're joined by John Hadeed, US VP of People & Culture at Primark, and together we'll be tackling how to translate HR strategies from exciting theory to actionable commitments that create results and leave you with a healthy, growing business.

In recent months, we've seen weaker and weaker job reports, coupled with greater frustrations around talent, or lack thereof, available to employers. From AI advancements, growing dissonance between workplace expectations and reality, to economic uncertainty, it seems increasingly hard for good talent to find roles, and for companies to fill roles with good talent. So, how can HR professionals bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, and stay innovative and driven during these challenging times? In today's episode of HR Works, we’re joined by Travis Hunsicker, Leader of Talent Development at Kassouf, to talk about what HR is missing when it comes to meeting talent where they're at and filling those must-have positions.

Despite the constant hype of technology the past couple years, AI can’t do it all, despite companies trying to make it so. Technology can streamline some processes, but there are times when AI simply can’t replace human judgment and may even have their own unintentional biases. In today's episode, we break down when expert guidance is necessary and when relying on algorithms could put a company at risk. Vanessa Matsis-McCready, VP of HR services and associate general counsel for Engage PEO, joins to share her thoughts on where AI should be helping, but also where AI is hurting your business, and how to know the difference before it's too late.

During her session at SPARK Talent 2025, GE Healthcare’s Head of Talent Programs, Tabitha Wright, asked the audience, not only what they wanted to accomplish, but how. In a rapidly developing world, your business and people strategies are only as good as the quality of pieces they’re built from. HR Daily Advisor got a chance to sit down with Wright after her session and ask her all the burning questions we had left over. Interested in learning the leading expert’s thoughts on all things HR, people strategy, and onboarding? Check out our full conversation below!