Human Resources For Small Business

SHOW NOTES In our latest episode, HR expert Keri Ohlrich discusses the misconceptions surrounding the HR profession. Despite popular perception, Keri talks about the significant impact that a skilled HR team can have on staff and business development. People are complex, so the HR field isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s about finding a balance between fighting for employees and meeting the needs of the business, all while prioritizing healthy company culture.    TAKEAWAYS HR is often seen as a necessary evil for compliance purposes and not as a valuable department that can accelerate business growth.  The HR profession is complex because people aren’t like machines, as arising personal and professional circumstances are impossible to predict. Pursuing a career in HR solely out of love for people can cause HR professionals to become jaded due to the excessive time spent with the “rule-breakers.”  There are so many things that HR professionals can do to fight for employees while, at the same time, bala

In this special 400th episode of the transform your workplace podcast, host Brandon Laws and guest Angela Perkins, VP of Sales and Marketing at Xenium HR, reflect on key moments throughout the last 400 episodes of the podcast. The two discuss past predictions about the future of work, leading with vulnerability, and more! Don't miss this milestone episode! A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with workplace culture strategist Jessica Kriegel. The two discuss tech burnout, the downside of employee engagement initiatives, and the struggle to create authentic culture. Listen in and discover how to align on purpose and foster employee fulfillment in the world of remote work.   TAKEAWAYS “Collaboration overload” was the first instinct of most organizations that were moving into a remote environment in the early pandemic.”  Leaders’ attempts to “intentionally create culture” led to overwhelming tech burnout and increased levels of stress, both of which contributed in part to the Great Resignation. The Anti-Work Movement isn’t made up of people who don't want to work but rather people who want to work with intention and purpose. Replace the idea of employee engagement with employee fulfillment, which is the extent to which your character and abilities are being fully developed at work.  Every leader needs to be the Chief R

Are traditional business practices hindering your team from maximizing productivity in this changing world of work? Sit down with Art Mazor, Global Human Capital Practice Leader at Deloitte, and get fresh insights from the company’s 2023 Global Human Capital Trends Report. Learn best practices for shedding boundaries and sparking innovation in the emerging workplace ecosystem.     TAKEAWAYS Constructs “interwoven into the fabric of work as we know it” are falling away, and a new world of work is emerging. Deloitte’s latest report found that more than 70% of workers are already performing work outside of their stated job responsibilities, and only 24% are doing the same work as others with the same job title.  Workers have more choices and influence than they've ever had before, and leaders must harness that passion to create benefits for all. Many businesses recognize the importance of these shifts, but there is also a significant gap between desire and readiness to take these changes on.  The eleva

Guest host Al Nodarse interviews Kendall Miller, owner and president of Interlaken, a premier excavator in Portland, Oregon. The two talk about how Miller got into the construction world, her industry's trials in the pandemic and beyond, and how to get more young people interested in the field.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Erica Scott to learn how to transform the workplace environment, relationships, and productivity with best practices for fostering honest communication. Make the shift from “taboo” to “transparent” when it comes to saying “no” and asking for what you want.    TAKEAWAYS Consent culture fosters feelings of safety and freedom that are not only possible but critical for a healthy culture at work. Consent is involved in every interaction between ourselves and others. Learning and practicing consent skills helps us create an environment where interactions are mutually agreeable for everyone involved.  It’s normal for us to struggle with saying “no” or asking for what we want. Healthy communication cannot abound if one set of people is taught that the most important thing is to avoid conflict while another set is taught to pursue their desires and needs.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Brandon Laws is joined by David Rizzo, Principal of Talent Strategy and Operations at Deloitte US, and deep dive into talent retention and development strategies. In this episode, you’ll learn what makes Gen Z and Millennial employees tick, how to retain top talent, and what it means to develop capabilities in your people for an impact far beyond the here and now.   TAKEAWAYS Gen Z and Millennials have very real concerns about how the rising cost of living will impact their daily lives. Employers must invest in employee growth and development, specifically in capabilities that will be portable and useful in the future. Employers should not be fearful of developing employees only for them to leave; instead, they should embrace growth initiatives as an opportunity to attract talent and retain talent. Creating in-demand and portable capabilities in employees has real benefits for the communities in which we live and work.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with HR consultants Toni Reynolds and Lacey Partipilo to discuss burnout in the HR profession. With the pandemic affecting many aspects of work and life, the HR industry has seen widespread fatigue and exhaustion. The guests share some industry statistics and personal experiences with burnout and delve into the concept of compassion fatigue - the exhaustion from constantly taking care of those around us. They discuss the signs and symptoms of burnout and offer tips on taking care of oneself during these trying times. Don't miss this critical discussion on combatting burnout in the HR industry!   Watch the Youtube version of this podcast

Struggling to measure the success of your projects or initiatives? Listen in to this conversation with Dr. Jack J. Phillips, Chairman of ROI Institute and consultant in accountability, measurement, and evaluation. Host Brandon Laws asks all about how to help your team gain traction and make an impact on current or future projects.   TAKEAWAYS   Every project or initiative must have measurable value.  Impact is what people can see and really want, so start with that end in mind and clearly define measures to make sure you get there. Today’s HR contributes significantly to the business and is less about the traditional administrative, legalistic, and compliance aspects of the past. Be proactive about collecting data instead of waiting until the project’s completion to measure success.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

On this bonus episode, return guest and Xenium employee Nicole Blevins talks about corporate jargon, how confusing it can be, and how it can leave your people feeling like they don't understand the messaging or are really isolated in their confusion.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this economy, is it really possible to balance your business’s bottom line while addressing employee financial wellness initiatives? According to Tate Hackert, President and Founder of ZayZoon, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Listen in to learn all about how business owners can retain employees during these trying times by providing Earned Wage Access, a solution for the cash flow crunch between paydays.   TAKEAWAYS Earned Wage Access, now growing in popularity, allows employees the flexibility to access the pay that they've already earned but have not yet been paid. Financial stress causes less productivity which increases the likelihood that a given employee would change jobs. Employers can help increase employee financial wherewithal — through a raise, better education, or other financial perks. Many small business owners already provide advances on employee paychecks, but that creates an administrative burden and an awkward relationship between the employer and employee.    A QUICK GLIMPSE

Times have changed. Whereas HR professionals used to find themselves sequestered to the back of the office filing paperwork, now Chief HR Officers find themselves on the path to company leadership roles. Listen in on this interview with Amy Spurling, Founder and CEO of Compt, and learn how HR leaders can maximize their “seat at the table” in an ever-changing business climate.   TAKEAWAYS Instead of filling out compliance paperwork behind-the-scenes, today’s CHROs are better positioned to take on the CEO role than ever before.  Today’s tight labor market ensures HR’s “seat at the table.” Companies must hire an HR person if they want to build a functional, viable company. The CHRO role should complement the CFO role as they are the only two positions that sit across every department in a business.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Every organization, at one time or another, will face a crisis. But it takes an intentional approach to get through it with grace. How do you organize your leaders, talk to your people, and move forward with empathy? Listen in on this episode of Transform Your Workplace, where host Brandon Laws sits down with Albrey Brown, VP of Strategy and GM of New York at Joonko.   TAKEAWAYS Since crises are inevitable, leaders must prepare for them before they arise. Dealing with a crisis means dealing with “the human side of things” and asking yourself how you can support employees through it. As a leader, your first instinct may be to act quickly, but taking time to reflect helps you to avoid critical mistakes. If you treat employees as you would your customers, crisis intervention plans tend to be much more authentic and effective. Leaders must be willing to spend time on empathy so that employees feel supported over the long term. While empathy is not scalable, the framework for teaching your managers, yo

On this bonus episode, return guest and Xenium employee Nicole Blevins joins us to discuss the labor shortage and "the new normal." The two talk about automation, hiring, retaining talent, and more.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Want your team to move forward as a united front? According to recent guest Michelle Johnston, we can’t lean on our old ways and expect teams to be productive in the new world of work. The hybrid workplace, with all of its advantages, hinders organic connection, so we must be intentional about setting aside time for meaningful conversations among our people. Don’t know where to start? Listen in to learn how.   TAKEAWAYS The hybrid workplace has introduced many challenges to meaningful connection. To boost connection in the workplace, leaders must relinquish control and get personal. When leaders seek to be perfect, they inadvertently foster disconnection in their workplace relationships. Owning and sharing your story builds trust in workplace relationships. Listening is imperative to meaningful connection.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In today’s workplace, filled with countless distractions, it's easy to leave learning and development initiatives on the back burner. But our most recent guest, Ted Blosser, reminds us that employees need learning, skill, and career development now more than ever. If you’re wondering whether you need to prioritize employee development, listen in on a discussion about learning management systems and how you can help your people do more with less.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Listen in on a recent conversation with Nick Sonnenberg, founder and CEO of Leverage, and the author of the book Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning at Work. He and host Brandon Laws discuss asynchronous and synchronous communication methods, planning and project management, and how companies can best use tools at their disposal to avoid having their employees feel like they're drowning at work.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Sit down with Scott Ballard, founder of Confidence Coach, to discuss the ever-present issue of employee engagement. Learn why a staggering 80% of employees are disengaged and how to partner with your people and invest in their dreams, visions, and goals. Ultimately, building your successful business starts with tapping into your greatest resource: your people.   TAKEAWAYS To boost engagement, leaders must address the root cause of the issue: the gap between the vision, goal, or dream for the company and the employee’s vision, goal, or dream for their life. Leaders must invest in helping employees build their lives while building the company. Happiness at work comes not when we reach our destination but as we progress toward the realization of a goal. When companies focus solely on business goals and neglect their people, they unknowingly cut themselves off from all the valuable energy, drive, and resilience of their employees. A business’s employees are its first customers — they have more knowledge of the

Listen in on a recent conversation with returning guest Mark Mohammadpour, owner and Chief Well-Being Officer at Chasing the Sun. He and host Brandon Laws discuss the role managers play in talent retention and overall well-being and how new managers can lead with self-awareness and empathy.   TAKEAWAYS A large determiner of attrition comes back to the immediate managers and whether they advocate for those they lead. The first step in taking on a management position is recognizing the role you have. People want to grow and evolve in their careers, and part of that is following those who lead you. Companies must take a broader holistic look at employee well-being. Data shows that companies are offering exceptional well-being benefits, but employees don’t take advantage of them due to a lack of communication.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Get a fresh take on developing and retaining talent in this eye-opening conversation with Natalie Miller, Regional Director of Apprenti. She and host Brandon Laws discuss a new perspective on the age-old concept of apprenticeships but with an unexpected twist. Listen in to learn how your business could take advantage of this innovative employee development initiative.   TAKEAWAYS When we think of apprenticeships, we often think of those for trade jobs, but apprenticeships can also be used for what we call “non-trades,” essentially career paths that we don’t commonly associate with apprenticeships. Among the current talent coming into the workplace, only 30% have four-year degrees. Apprentices allow employees to get on-the-job training — working with managers and a mentor, understanding what works and what doesn't, and eventually being hired into an entry-level role. Organizations that focus on career mobility tend to show increased employee retention. Think about the purpose and functionality of the four-yea