Good Morning, HR

In episode 135, Coffey talks with David Aspinall about embracing neurodiversity in the workplace. They discuss how auticon is a demonstration that neurodiverse individuals bring unique value propositions to employers; underemployment in the neurodivergent workforce; how employers can prepare their team to engage with neurodiverse peers; the benefits of having a diverse organization in terms of wor...

In episode 134, Coffey talks with Suzanne Brown about the importance of embracing a balance-friendly workplace. They discuss the meaning of work-life balance; the distinction between balance and integration; the impact of individuals’ priorities in defining work-life balance; the impact of the pandemic on employees’ expectations; employers’ role in creating a balance-friendly environment; evaluati...

In episode 133, Coffey talks with Peter Cappelli about the consequences of employees experiencing too much psychological safety. They discuss the difference between the popular and the academic definitions of psychological safety; how psychological safety is measured; the correlation between psychological safety and job performance; why an above-average sense of psychological safety might damage p...

In episode 132, Coffey talks with Patrick Richter about HR news from January, including the Department of Labor’s new contractor rule and discrimination settlements. They discuss the Department of Labor’s final regulation concerning classification of independent contractors, which takes effect on March 11th and whether it will really impact employers; Perdue Foods’ settlement of a lawsuit regardin...

In episode 131, Coffey talks with Dr. Stevie Dawn about the impact of emotional intelligence on organizations. They discuss the definition of emotional intelligence; the difference between EI and EQ; how to measure emotional quotient and whether it is reliable; the correlation of EI and empathy; how to identify lack of EI in the workplace; approaching emotional intelligence as a learned ability; h...

In episode 130, Coffey talks with Shani Dellimore Barrax about the state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging programs and who should be accountable for those programs. They discuss the definition of DEIB; understanding that each person’s various experiences “intersect” to create a unique individuals; “diversity” as a means rather than an end; equity through the four P's: policies, progr...

In episode 129, Coffey talks with Corinne Spencer about the latest changes in California employment law. They discuss California’s Fair Chance Act regulations; who qualifies as an employer or employee under the FCA; the criminal history inquiry rules under the FCA; what employers are allowed to consider regarding criminal records; the challenge with individualized assessments; steps employers in C...

In episode 128, Coffey talks with Julia Gannaway about recent regulatory and legal items that all employers can learn from. They discuss Whole Foods’ wins in federal court and before a National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge related to dress code enforcement and Black Lives Matter paraphernalia; a business owner who was alleged to have interfered with a Department of Labor wage and...

In episode 127, Coffey talks with Caroline Harrison about the challenges of being a multistate employer. They discuss the post-Covid growth in remote out-of-state employees; legal considerations for multistate employers; responding to the phenomenon of nomad employees; when companies are required to register and pay taxes as business in another state; noncompetes and other employment-related agree...

In episode 126, Coffey talks with Matt Williams about building a strategic HR operation. They discuss the spectrum between transactional and strategic HR; how AI will continue to make HR more efficient; the future of transactional HR roles; the impact of outsourcing transactional HR tasks; the importance of understanding the business; the importance of being involved with company peers outside of...

In episode 125, Coffey talks with Dr. Robyn Short about workplace mediation as a constructive approach to resolving conflicts. They discuss workplace mediation as conflict resolution tool; the cost of mediation vs. the cost of ignoring conflict; the role of HR in internal mediations; key aspects of a mediation program; what a mediation process looks like; preserving confidentiality in mediation; d...

In episode 124, Coffey talks with Holly Novak about lessons to be learned from OpenAI’s firing of Sam Altman, politics in the workplace, and whether four-day workweeks are gaining traction. They discuss transparency and succession planning in preparing for an executive exit; responding to workplace conflict arising from different political opinions; employee’s expectations that leaders take a stan...

In episode 123, Coffey talks with Corinne Spencer about the latest changes in California employment law. They discuss the complexities of California law in contrast to the rest of the country; California’s upcoming protections for off-work cannabis use and their impact on drug-free workplaces; California’s modified but ongoing COVID prevention regulations; the increase in wage and hour litigation;...

In episode 122, Coffey talks with John Bernatovicz about how leaders can stay engaged, avoid burnout, and deliver amazingly awesome HR. They discuss what an ownership mindset in HR looks like; the importance of relationships in business success; why purpose-driven HR is beneficial for emerging HR leaders; the gift of caring for people; how great HR professionals can move a company forward; the "HR...

In episode 121, Coffey talks with Sally Loftis about changing perspectives regarding compensation practices. They discuss the differences between pay transparency, pay equity, and pay justice; why some states recently passed laws requiring salary ranges in job postings; the difference between pay equity and pay parity; what organizations can do to measure and improve pay equity; building the inter...

In episode 120, Coffey talks with Wendy Williams about the importance of empathy in the workplace. They discuss the difference between compassion, sympathy, empathy, and pity; the role of compassion in empathy; how empathy can help to navigate organizational conflict; the Gen Z experience and expectations in the workplace; the correlation between empathy and DEI efforts; and what practical skills...

In episode 119, Coffey talks with Rose Ann Garza about October HR-related news that relate to the impact of AI in HR, mental health at work, and new hires getting cold feet. They discuss which jobs will be most affected by artificial intelligence; AI’s use in HR; why 50% of candidates are changing their minds after accepting a job; the importance of an onboarding process to engage new hires; the i...

In episode 118 Coffey talks with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey about how “evidence-based inclusion” strategies differ from traditional DEI approaches. They discuss the concept of inclusion outside of the notion of DEI; the difference between equality and equity in a business environment; the meaning of "evidence-based inclusion" and how it differs from traditional DEI narratives; where to find that...

In episode 117, Coffey talks with Howie Zales about optimizing virtual environments. They discuss considerations to maximize personal effectiveness on camera; the importance of background, lighting, and sound quality; internet speed concerns for virtual meetings; the technical aspects of planning hybrid and virtual events; and how to evaluate virtual platforms. Good Morning, HR is brought to you b...

In episode 116, Coffey talks with Jeppe Vilstrup Hansgaard about the importance of informal networks in successful change management. They discuss the importance of including front-line employees in the change management process; helping employees make sense of change; using the 3% rule to identify the employees most able to influence acceptance of change; utilizing formal and informal communicati...

In episode 115, Coffey talks with Kara Kelley about September's HR news items related to pay transparency; productivity, grind culture, and work-life balance; and a horrendous allegation of sexual harassment against a fast food franchise. They discuss different perspectives on the new pay transparency in job postings; the gender pay gap; internal pay equity concerns as the labor market cools down;...

In episode 114, Coffey talks with Jess Marble about how employers can help employees meet their caregiving responsibilities. They discuss the key findings of Care.com’s Cost of Care Report;  caregivers’ primary challenges and their impact on employers; where working families find their caregivers; the need for backup care when primary care falls through; caregiver benefits that employers can offer...

In episode 113 Coffey talks with Brad Howard about the unemployment compensation system and how employers can mitigate the risk of litigation arising from unemployment claims. They discuss the purpose of the unemployment compensation system; the ways employers can avoid common headaches caused by unemployment comp claims; determining when to oppose unemployment comp claims; the importance of accur...

In episode 112, Coffey talks with Monica Guzman about how organizations can promote healthy dialogue about social and political issues. They discuss the current perceived and actual US social and political divide impacts workplaces; employees’ changing expectations of employers; “pernicious assumptions in our politics”; certainty vs. curiosity; using curiosity as a tool to mitigate conflict; the i...

In episode 111, Coffey talks with Steve Peglar about August’s HR-related news items related to Title VII, diversity, abortion, and pay transparency. They discuss the reason they were surprised by the Fifth Circuit’s recent Title VII decision; the anti-DEI lawsuit against Starbucks and why DEI efforts are shifting to a more systematic approach; the impact of job postings that lead with abortion-rel...