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...

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....

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...