HR & Cocktails

Guest: Cheryl Brown, Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport and Skalny Join us as we dive into the evolving world of employment laws and their impact on small businesses. We explore recent changes, such as minimum wage adjustments, cannabis, and paid leave policies, and how they affect hiring, compliance, and growth strategies for small business owners. Learn how to navigate these shifts and stay ahea...

Guest: Karen Falkler, CEO of Falkler Wellness & Advisory In this episode, we delve into the connection between employee wellness and its impact on a company's bottom line. Join us as we explore strategies and insights highlighting how prioritizing employee well-being leads to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and ultimately, enhanced business success. Discover the tangible benefits...

Guest Valerie Dzbynski, Vice President of Operations - Prescott HR This episode explores the essence of Human Resources (HR) and its indispensable role within organizations. Our guest will discuss HR's primary function which revolves around managing and optimizing the potential of an organization's people. From talent acquisition and employee development to fostering a positive work cultu...

Guest- Michael Cammarata, Partner and Certified Financial Planner Professional at Tidecreek Financial Group Employers are very focused on health and wellness and mental health, but what about financial wellness?  Our guest will discuss how employee financial wellness can have a positive impact on productivity, engagement and retention.  He will also give some strategies for implementing...

Guest: Chris Cocca, President - Strategic Sales Solutions, LLC In today's marketplace, employers are competing for talent more than ever; and compensation plays a big role. In this episode we discuss incentive compensation and how it can be used, not just for the sales team, but for all employees.  In order to have a successful compensation program, you must have the right infrastructure to s...

Guest:  Galen Bingham, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kiln Global Coaching and Consulting The last few years have been fraught with challenges, from a pandemic to civil unrest.  This has brought the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion to the fore. Many organizations created DEI statements and started DEI initiatives.  But what does it really mean to have a DEI initiativ...

Guest – Jimmy Iannuzzi, Vice President & General Manager at nTech Workforce During the Great Resignation, many organizations are struggling to find talent. Our guest discusses how staffing agencies can help and dispels some common misconceptions about temporary employees. Is it too expensive to use temporary employees? Are temporary employees less reliable or skilled than other employees? We d...

Guest- Rod Bourn, Owner/Lead Ninja at Down Set Lead When most people think of mentoring, they think of the up and coming manager.  But what about the business owner and other leaders, do they need a mentor?  What does mentoring look like at that level?  What is a mastermind group?  And, our guest gives the audience a challenge...will you take it?   We discuss these topics…...

Guest:  Cheryl Brown, Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rappaport and Skalny There are so many questions about the COVID vaccine mandate.  Does it apply to me?  Is it legal?  Will the Supreme Court uphold it?  In this episode, my guest and I will discuss the mandate and the various requirements for healthcare facilities, Federal Contractors and private employers with more than 100...

Guest:  Sarah Sawyer, Attorney at Offit Kurman Just as businesses were preparing to return to work, the Delta variant reared its head. What options do employers have? In this episode, we discuss options for employers, including, mask requirements, vaccine requirements, mandatory COVID testing and other considerations.  There are no cut and dry, blanket answers; but this episode will help...

Guest:  Paul Younkins, Chief Innovation Officer at TriBridge Partners, LLC. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or affinity groups have been around for decades.  But since the pandemic, they have taken on a more strategic role in many organizations as leaders grapple with hybrid and remote work.  My guest and I will discuss ERGs, their origin,  and how businesses of any size can us...

Guest:  Maureen Desmond, Founder of Navigating Through Loss Mental Health has been top of mind for employers since the start of the pandemic.  But many times we don't associate change with grief.  And certainly not how all of the change we have experienced over the last 15 months, can show itself as grief.  My guest and I will discuss the fact that grief is not just the loss of...

Guest:  Tara Pellet, Managing Advisor at AHT Insurance Employee benefits is a topic that is on the mind of every employer, even if you don't offer benefits.  The world of employee benefits can be overwhelming.  What is a broker?  Are all benefits plans the same?  How do you design a plan that works for you? What about small employer versus large employer groups?  Self...

Guest:  Shavon Smith, Attorney and Principal at SJS Law Firm Business ethics.  This can mean different things.  However, the recent political landscape has required employers to take another look at their ethics policies.  Can an employee's behavior outside of work become an issue in the workplace?  What can employers do?  What should employers do?  What are the...

Guest - Cheryl Brown, Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rappaport and Skalny 2021 is here!  Along with it comes changes to legislation and questions (more questions than answers candidly).  With the complexity that COVID has brought into the workplace,  my guest discusses the questions and challenges facing many employers.  We discuss this and more…and of course, we talk about cocktail...

Guest: Dean Iacovetti, President of VANTA Partners Recruitment has come a long way from posting your jobs in the Want Ads of the local newspaper.  But, what does recruitment look like in the 2020's?   Is it posting on a job board and hoping that your dream employee will apply?  And how do you tap into that pool of talent that is already working?  How do we find the illusiv...

Guest:  Sonja Der, President of Bridge Performance Coaching Some of the most critical roles in the organization sit at the executive level.  Businesses, especially small to mid-sized businesses, must pay special attention to ensuring they make the right decision about the executives they hire for their team.  Primarily, ensuring that they are strategic thinkers and operate like an e...

Guests:   Tom Herb , Area Sales VP at Paycor, Jeff Martin , CEO at University Recruiters and Frank B. Mengert , Founder and Creative Visionary at ebm Businesses thrive on information.  But what about Human Resources?  How do digital resources affect the employee experience? In this episode we discuss how technology impacts recruitment, onboarding, payroll, HR management and benefits...

Guest - Cheryl Brown, Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rapport and Skalny The pandemic was the catalyst for new laws, particularly leave laws. With the passing of these laws, employers were left with many questions. Some of these questions include: What is the interplay between the previous leave laws and accommodation requirements with the new regulations? How do employers comply with the laws and not c...

Guest - Kashonna Holland, President and CEO of Simply Kashonna In recent weeks, the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion has been the headline. But many employers are not sure how to tackle the issue in their workplace. In this episode we discuss our experiences working in corporate America, the challenges we faced and how employers can make adjustments to create a better workplace for th...

Guest: Cailey Locklair, President, Maryland Retailers Association As states begin a phased reopening of business, particularly retail, what do businesses need to know.  While most businesses are focused (rightfully) on reopening from a financial perspective, they are also employers.  New social distancing and face covering requirements are proving to be a challenge for business and their...

Guest:  Christine Ross, President and CEO, Maryland Chamber of Commerce During this pandemic, businesses are looking for a variety of resources to provide answers and support.  In this episode, we discuss the role of Chambers of Commerce and how the Maryland Chamber of Commerce is supporting businesses in the state of Maryland and the resources that are available.  Additionally...

Guest:  Ayesha Adams, PHR, SHRM-CP - Sr. Human Resources Professional *NOTE:  At the time of the recording, there was no legislative guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.  Since then, guidance has been provided and can be found on our website. Laws are changing and new laws are passing. The Coronavirus crisis is causing employers to ask questio...

Guest: Ayesha Adams, PHR, SHRM-CP - Sr. Human Resources Professional The Coronavirus crisis has caused many businesses to make quick and difficult decisions.  How do leaders manage this new landscape?  How do organizations shift to remote work and set reasonable goals and expectations?   What role does HR play in the business continuity planning and communication with empl...

Guest:  Dana Baughns, Vice President and General Counsel of Aerotek When working with temporary employees, many organizations have questions.  What is co-employment?  How can I avoid it?  Do all employment requirements apply to temps?  Ughh!  Using a temp agency should be easy.  In this episode, we tackle these questions and others as we explore how business...