In this episode of Human Solutions, Pete Wright sits down with two seasoned HR professionals—Lucille Ward from Package Steel Systems and Terry Cook from AIM HR Solutions—to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in human resources for the manufacturing industry. As manufacturing faces a shortage of skilled workers, companies are struggling to find the right talent to fill positions like machinists, welders, electricians, and maintenance personnel. Lucille and Terry dive into the...

How much money do you make? If just hearing that question makes all the little hairs stand up on the back of your neck, you might be a Gen X HR manager.  This week on the show we’re talking all about Pay Equity and and the proposed legislation on Pay Transparency that might just have an impact on the way we talk about pay at work. Joining us are our own industry experts Kyle Pardo and Sarah Piscatelli to help you plan for the coming changes — and challenges — in recruitment and...

Are you making use of all the development resources available to your organization? Based on the questions we get from our members, the answer is probably “no.” Today, we’re going to give you a new direction for workforce training just for our local Massachusetts member companies. Rob Duncan is the Director of the Workforce Training Fund Programs at Commonwealth Corporation, and Jen Moff is Vice President of Learning and Development at AIM HR Solutions. They join Pete Wright this week to help...

This week, Pete Wright digs into the complex and sometimes contradictory world of workplace wellness programs with guest Jen Moff, VP of Learning Development at AIM HR Solutions. Pete and Jen examine a controversial study from an Oxford researcher who found that, with the exception of volunteer work, most workplace wellness initiatives provide little to no benefit for employees' wellbeing. The study suggests companies should instead focus on core practices like schedules, pay, and performance...

What do you know about coaching? If you’ve never taken part in a coaching relationship, you just might be carrying around some assumptions based more on myth than reality, and today, we’re going to help you see the light. It’s an often-misunderstood practice that can help high-potential employees mature in your organization and seasoned pros through big career transitions. To help us better understand the real power of coaching, Pete Wright is sitting down with Jen Moff VP, Learning and...

Ever wonder what the most common questions HR professionals grapple with are? In this episode Pete sits down with AIM HR Solutions team members, Tom Jones and Terry Cook, who bring their expertise to the forefront on pressing HR issues. The discussion is centered around the popular topics we often hear about on our helpline.  We navigate topics like understanding Massachusetts's PFMLA and its implications for employers, including how to handle leave requests and navigate adverse actions....

In the rich tapestry of today's workforce, the threads of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are not just woven in; they're becoming the very fabric of organizational culture. It's a bold experiment that promises to reshape the corporate landscape, but what does it really take to dye these threads into the cloth of our companies?  Imagine a workplace where the mosaic of its people's backgrounds isn't just celebrated on special occasions but is the cornerstone of every policy, every team,...

What should HR professionals be thinking about from a compliance/best practice standpoint for 2024?  In the fast-paced world of HR, juggling today's challenges while anticipating tomorrow's trends is crucial.  This week, we cut through the noise, offering a blend of expert predictions and actionable insights. Kyle Pardo and Tom Jones join Pete Wright to tackle everything from the intricacies of current compliance issues, such as FLSA and leave laws, to the emerging trends of AI, skills-based...

Turn on those podcast notifications beacuse Human Solutions is about ready to launch Season 5!

This week, we aim to explore the legal implications of AI in human resources. Our guest is employment lawyer Bryn Goodman, partner at Fox Rothschild, and she brings our focus to recent regulations and what HR teams need to know as our industries enter the AI era. Pete and Bryn dive into the key laws and guidance around AI that HR teams need to follow. The EEOC, FTC, and other federal agencies released a joint statement putting companies on notice about their AI use. States like New York,...

One year ago, as we recorded this conversation, a chatbot named ChatGPT debuted and shook our technological assumptions. Developed by OpenAI, the artificial intelligence tool ignited debate on the future of work, creativity, and what it means to be human. But the story of AI stretches far beyond any single innovation. As companies race to harness AI, what legal realities must they confront? How do these powerful tools reshape the employer-employee relationship? And in automating tasks once...

In this week's episode of Human Solutions, host Pete Wright explores the pressing issue of financial wellness in the workplace with Kirsten Hunter Peterson from AIM partner Fidelity Investments. "Finances can be really stressful," she says, "We want you to feel good about your money." With inflation on the rise and record levels of household debt, financial challenges weigh heavily on employees' minds. This stress can take a toll on productivity, focus, happiness, and retention at work. As...

We’re talking all about reinventing employee evaluations in the aftershocks of a global shift to remote work thanks to COVID-19.  Forget what you thought you knew about performance reviews; we're tearing down the old blueprints and questioning everything from the role of corporate culture to the nitty-gritty of rating scales. Tune in to reshape and invigorate your approach to measuring performance in a workplace that's constantly in flux and the importance of keeping your employees in the...

“What a poorly done L&D strategy is, is reactionary. It is short term. It's not thinking about the big picture,” says Jen Moff, Vice President of Learning and Development at AIM HR Solutions, in this week’s episode of Human Solutions. Pete Wright sits down with Moff to discuss how HR professionals can design learning and development programs that strategically align with and achieve organizational goals. Developing a True Learning Culture An ideal learning and development strategy takes...

Why is recruiting the right candidates becoming an uphill battle for many companies today? This week, Pete Wright sits down with Jen Moff and Terry Cook to unpack the intricacies of modern recruitment. Together, we delve into the power of a purpose-driven mission and the importance of authentic branding.  With their combined expertise and insights from AIM HR, this episode is a must-listen for HR professionals seeking to navigate the challenges of today's talent landscape and align...

We’re jumping into the world of workers' compensation. We start with an introduction to the topic, emphasizing the role of businesses and HR professionals. As we navigate workers’ compensation, Pete Wright will be joined by Dan Ilnicky of A.I.M. Mutual, an expert in workers' comp, and our in-house HR specialist, Lori Bourgoin. Together, they will provide insights into the initial steps post-injury, the nuances of communicating with employees on workers' comp—including those with legal...

For HR professionals, navigating the intricacies of substance abuse in the workplace is both urgent and complex. With a significant number of workers believing in employer support for substance use management and widespread misconceptions about addiction treatments, HR faces the challenge of balancing employee well-being with organizational needs. This week, AIM’s own Lori Bourgoin and Tom Jones join Pete Wright to delve deep into this complex issue, highlighting the real-world scenarios HR...

Today, we're turning the pages on employee handbooks, those essential guides that can make or break workplace understanding. And who better to navigate this realm with us than experts from the forefront of HR Solutions? Kyle Pardo and Sarah Piscatelli join Pete Wright to analyze standout examples of practical handbooks and those that missed their mark.  Together, they explore the trend of handbooks moving away from dense legal terminology towards clear, accessible language, aiming for...

Office parties have always been a double-edged sword for employers. On one hand, they can boost morale, foster camaraderie, and reward workers for jobs well done. On the other, they come with their fair share of liabilities, especially when alcohol enters the mix.  This week on the show, Sarah Piscatelli and Stacey Wenczel join Pete Wright as they navigate the intricate world of corporate celebrations. From the role of HR in shaping these events to the unseen challenges that can arise, our...

This week, Tom Jones and Terry Cook join Pete Wright to talk about a topic that's making waves in the corporate world and setting Human Resources departments on their toes: an audacious, unapologetic, and strikingly public phenomenon known as "Loud Quitting." The trend sees employees actively cause issues and voice their dissatisfaction before leaving a job. This podcast explores the loud quitting phenomenon and its implications for organizations.  With remote and hybrid work models becoming...

The whole crew is back for a new of Human Solutions coming Next Week!

Attention Massachusetts employers! Get ready to uncover a world of grant opportunities that can revolutionize your business, and here’s the best part: it’s free money waiting for you! Grants don’t have to be complicated, and we’re here to simplify the process for you. Join our engaging and informative podcast episode where we delve deep into the realm of grants. Here’s a taste of what you can expect on this live podcast: 🔍 Navigating the grant landscape with expert insights.🌱 Hear inspiring...

We did some digging into some of the advertised benefits through the early 2000s into the early 2010s, and it’s a bizarre trip down memory lane. Here are a few of our favorite benefits: “free mechanical bull rides any time,” “onsite live workout classes and massage,” or “a personal assistant for every employee, free beer Fridays, housecleaning services every month, and the best homemade guacamole served in culver city and you can have as much as you want.”  This was an early expression of...

It is one of the hardest parts of the HR job: terminations. Having a disruptive employee working can have a negative impact on the productivity and efficiency of others. The manner in which a termination is handled can impact the morale of the entire workplace and must be handled carefully while being respectful of the outgoing employee’s experience. In this week’s rebroadcast, Terry Cook, our Senior Vice President of Employer Services, and Tom Jones, our very own attorney specializing in...