HR Confessions

In this engaging episode of "HR Confessions," hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer welcome Rhona Barnett-Pearse, founder of Workfluencer Media, to unravel a fascinating HR mystery. Discover how a consultant, Melissa, seamlessly integrated into a company without formal onboarding, sparking a discussion on the intricacies of HR operations and the importance of vigilance. Key takeaways include: the ne...

When Shayla returns from six months of parental leave, she's ready to re-engage with the job she loved. Instead, she faces complete silence, discriminatory treatment, and a systematic dismantling of her role. In this episode, Rebecca and Kim are joined by Jessica D. Winder, Chief People Officer and founder of Hidden Gem Career Coaching, to dissect one of HR's most infuriating failures: the botched...

What happens when revenge porn meets the workplace? In this episode, Rebecca and Kim are joined by Stacey Nordwall (host of Toot or Boot and VP of People Strategy at PIN) to discuss a case that blurs every line between personal and professional. An HR executive's Saturday morning email check reveals an anonymous complaint against a senior leader, complete with explicit photos and blackmail accusat...

When three teenage employees at a pizza restaurant decide to investigate a rumored hole in the ceiling above the women's restroom, what starts as reckless curiosity ends with one of them crashing through the ceiling onto their assistant manager. Hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer are joined by Claire Schmidt, founder of All Voices, to dissect this early 2000s workplace disaster. This episode expl...

Join Rebecca, Kim, and special guest Mita Mallick (author of "The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses") for a wild ride through workplace dysfunction that'll make you question everything you know about good employees and bad managers. When an office manager's dedication to recycling leads to a written warning for "theft of company time," you know you're in for a s...

Join Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer with special guest co-host Hebba Youssef (Chief People Officer at WorkWeek) as they return to Vegas for another wild leadership retreat story. When a charismatic regional director goes missing on day two of a company offsite, his concerned colleagues stage an impromptu search mission that leads to a shocking discovery. What starts as a wellness check quickly beco...

When sales incentives go wrong, they can go REALLY wrong. Join HR veterans Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rower as they share a jaw-dropping confession from an IT manager who stumbled upon a secret sales team ritual that would make any compliance officer's head spin. This episode explores the dark side of SPIFFs, workplace favoritism, and what happens when leadership turns a blind eye to frat-house behavi...

In another jaw-dropping episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca and Kim tackle a Vegas offsite gone wildly wrong. When a general manager decides to "enhance" a sales training with an unexpected performance artist, HR is left to navigate the fallout. Join us for a masterclass in what NOT to do at company retreats, plus actionable advice on vendor vetting, protecting your team, and standing your ground w...

When an employee's volunteer presentation takes an unexpected turn, HR must navigate the aftermath of an all-hands meeting no one will forget. Join Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer as they break down a masterclass in empathetic crisis management, discuss the realities of accidental oversharing in the age of Zoom, and explore how to balance "no harm done" with "never again." Plus, learn why controllin...

In this jaw-dropping episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca and Kim unpack a story that will make every HR professional immediately change their passwords. When a meticulous HR manager discovers someone has been redirecting her paycheck, she uncovers a web of identity theft, pharmaceutical side hustles, and company devices being used for... let's say "extracurricular activities." Join us for a wild ri...

Fair warning: This episode contains nsfw content that may be offensive or uncomfortable to some listeners. But here's why it matters: When crisis strikes, you won't have time to build a plan. You need one ready NOW. In this jaw-dropping episode of HR Confessions, hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer welcome special guest Gianna Scorsone to discuss one of the most shocking workplace crises they've e...

Welcome back to HR Confessions Season 2! In our premiere episode, Rebecca and Kim dive into a wild story from the world of higher education featuring Chloe, a leadership team member at a closing nursing school. When a farewell party combines an open bar, glass doors, and a lapse in workers' compensation policy, things get complicated quickly. Join us for a cautionary tale about risk management, wo...

What you'll learn in this episode: Practical strategies for maintaining professional boundaries when employees overshare The importance of establishing clear communication protocols for personal matters How to handle persistent third parties without breaching confidentiality When and how to escalate sensitive situations to leadership Building your external HR support network (because you can't pro...

Join hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer as they dive into the complexities of company values, particularly transparency. In this eye-opening episode, they explore a mid-2010s startup where the value of "transparency" led to an unexpected and awkward situation for a cavalier CEO. Through this humorous yet insightful story, Rebecca and Kim discuss the importance of properly defining company values,...

In this eye-opening episode of HR Confessions, hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer explore the all-too-familiar tale of an HR professional caught in the challenging position of identifying organizational problems without having the authority to fix them. They explore the story of Megan, a Director of People at a tech startup who finds herself playing the role of Cassandra—the Greek prophet cursed...

In this eye-opening episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca and Kim explore a compelling case study that sits at the intersection of performance management, technology misuse, and organizational resilience. When a medical specialist crosses professional boundaries using patient portal technology, HR manager Ellen must navigate a complex crisis that tests the practice's policies, procedures, and culture...

In this episode of HR Confessions, hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer dig into the concept of "HR debt" - those redundant tools, unnecessary platforms, and excess perks that don't actually improve employee experience. They share the story of Daniela, an HR VP who inherited a toxic sales culture with 6-month average tenures and transformed it by eliminating flashy perks to fund meaningful growth o...

In this episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca and Kim explore an unforgettable story about what happens when a routine review of customer feedback spirals into a viral sensation that tests HR policies, management skills, and career futures. The episode features a candid discussion about middle management challenges and navigating workplace incidents in the age of social media. Lessons Learned: Import...

Join HR veterans Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer as they dive into a wild tale from the golden age of Silicon Valley startups. When a company attempts to rein in their party culture by transitioning from weekly happy hours to quarterly celebrations, what could go wrong? Follow along as they unpack a story of privilege, power dynamics, and why sometimes bringing order to chaos is harder than it seems...

Join HR professionals Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer for a cringe-worthy tale of when professional and personal lives collide in the most unexpected way. In this episode, they share the story of Grace, an HR executive whose perfect Friday evening turns into an awkward nightmare when work follows her to a friend's birthday party. Through this entertaining story, they explore the unique challenges HR...

In this episode of HR Confessions, hosts Rebecca and Kim dive into a holiday party nightmare that puts a whole new spin on "bringing a plus one." When a VP of HR gets caught between a crying employee and a vendor with an unexpected connection, what starts as a typical corporate celebration spirals into a web of workplace drama, secret relationships, and uncomfortable revelations. Plus, hear incred...

In this episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca and Kim dive into a jaw-dropping story about a company offsite gone awkwardly awry. When a well-meaning executive assistant books what seems like the perfect beach resort for the company's first-ever all-hands retreat, no one bothers to Google past the first page of search results. What follows is a tale of cultural differences, workplace boundaries, and...

SummaryIn this episode of HR Confessions, Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer discuss a layoff gone wrong, focusing on the story of Madison, a recruiter who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of delivering layoff news without any HR support. The conversation explores the complexities and emotional challenges of layoffs, the lack of preparation, and the impact on both the employees being let go and the...

As always, our sponsor, SkillCycle, wants to talk to our audience — progressive people leaders that GET IT. Let's chat over coffee, on us, to give us some feedback on the episode and about the challenges you're facing today. You may just be the topic of our next episode! Email us today at hrconfessions@skillcycle.com Today's episode, hosts Rebecca Taylor and Kim Rohrer dive into the world of HR wi...