The HR Hub

HR is failing when we look at problems narrowly: accepting a manager's convenient opinion that the employee is the problem. This episode looks at how human resources professionals can properly diagnose whether a team issue stems from the employee, the manager, or the system they both work within. Debbie Pearmain and I look at what actually works to improve the performance of a manager. I meant mos...

Research reveals a worrying trend regarding the wellness of HR. While HR professionals are tasked with managing company culture and supporting workforce wellness, the vast majority of us lack adequate support. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jo Burrell shares insights from three years of research to highlight how organizational systems can better HR from chronic stress. Here are some of what she had to...

Building a positive work environment requires more than just corporate perks or collaboration values on a wall. Josh Block, President of Block Imaging, joins the show to discuss how focusing on "Together, Thoughtful, and Transparent" transforms company culture and employee ownership. How the "Together" principle improves major business decisions. Moving from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule Wh...

Constructive dismissal is an often-discussed but rarely-realized part of employment law where fundamental changes to a role can lead to significant employer liability. This episode breaks down what counts as a unilateral change and how employers can navigate restructuring without triggering valid legal claims. Defining the "unilateral and fundamental" test for dismissal. Why salary reductions and...

Implementing AI is different than other types of software. Globalization Partners (G-P) Head of HR Laura Maffucci shares her lessons from navigating an AI mandate, handling employee fear, and building a cross-functional AI governance council. Listen to hear how we transition from informal employee experimentation to structured, agentic workflows that enhance productivity without removing the human...

Implementing a clear progressive discipline policy ensures that your organization handles employee performance issues fairly and legally. This episode covers this essential HR topic which I have avoided for over 5 years. 😬 The purpose of discipline, though, is to address workplace conduct AND provide the individual with a genuine opportunity to improve. Key Takeaways - The True Intent: Progressiv...

Calculating severance pay in Canada requires understanding the difference between statutory minimums and common law reasonable notice. In this episode, employment lawyer Brady Farmer explains how age, position, and length of service determine what an employee is truly owed. Key Takeaways: - The difference between the "floor" of statutory law and the "ceiling" of common law. - Why the "one month pe...

Many professionals wonder why others with less technical skill seem to get further in their careers. The answer often lies in their ability to build influence and trust through emotional intelligence rather than relying on formal authority. In this conversation, Jen Shirkani explains how to use the "Three Rs" of EQ—recognizing, reading, and responding—to connect your goals with what your stakehold...

Workplace friendships are pretty important: they are a primary driver of employee engagement and retention. And, of course, just a nice workplace where people actually want to be. In this episode, Ryan Jenkins explains how modern technology is leading us us to prioritize convenience over connection, inadvertently increasing professional isolation. Which we can't ignore because it undermines organi...

When an employee responds to a performance improvement plan with a formal complaint, it can feel like a calculated move to avoid accountability. This video explains why these counter-complaints happen and how small business owners can manage the investigation without derailing their performance management process. You will learn how to protect yourself from liability while ensuring that legitimate...

Conducting a workplace investigation is about much more than finding someone guilty. To protect your organization, you need a defensible, neutral process that can withstand the scrutiny of a courtroom or an arbitrator. In this episode, Bob Stenhouse from Veritas Solutions joins me to break down the six essential components of a high-standard workplace investigation. We explore how to handle initia...

Pay transparency is no longer just a "nice to have" feature for job postings: in many provinces and states, it is now a legal requirement. It's not enough to add the numbers to a posting - consider what your other employees will think when it shows up on a posting for a job similar to theirs and - wow! - it's more than they are paid! This shift will force an overhaul of internal compensation struc...

Company culture is ignored too often as a focused activity of HR. And it's rare to find someone who has a system for intentionally shaping culture. Nadia Uberoi, Head of People at Garner Health, is that person. She argues that shaping culture is one of, if not the most important activity we do in HR. In this episode, we break down: 🤷🏻‍♀️The difference between organic and intentional company cult...

Managing employee complaints in a small business can quickly become a demanding role that drains your decision-making energy. If you find yourself frustrated by constant venting about co-workers or office lighting, it is a signal that you may need to shift how you respond to complaints. In this episode, I break down how to differentiate between complaints that require your intervention and those t...

Stop hiring for the wrong things. When you hire, are you actually screening for success, or just a polished resume and a good interview that ticks the experience and credentials boxes? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nita Chhinzer (University of Guelph) who challenged my perspective on recruitment. And as a bonus, what's happening in the market. It turns out, most of us are looking at the wro...

Emotional labour is the unwritten work of managing your feelings and the emotions of others to be effective in the workplace. HR professionals and leaders often act as "toxin handlers," absorbing organizational frustrations and conflicts without a formal strategy for recovery. In this episode, executive coach and author Dina Denham Smith breaks down why emotional labour feels like pushing a beach...

Complaints from employees can be intimidating for any leader, but especially in an SMB where you don't have HR or anyone in HR with this kind of depth. This episode breaks down the immediate steps you must take when an employee brings forward an alarming complaint to avoid legal issues and protect your organization. You need to know which kinds of complaints come with legal obligations and which d...

Building a people first culture is an aspiration for many in HR and leadership. But we struggle to close the gap between our good intentions and the actual impact on people. In this conversation, Josh Block, President of Block Imaging and author of People Matter at Work, explains why caring is a legitimate business strategy that drives ownership and long term performance. So that our people FEEL t...

There is trepidation in the learning and development community right now. With AI shifting the landscape daily, many are asking: What will the role of an L&D professional be in the future? What will the role of the function be?? I sat down with Josh Cardoz, Chief Creative & Learning Officer at Sponge Learning, to get a pulse on 2026. Josh is mostly excited - tempered with a warning for those wishi...

We’ve all seen the 'Brilliant Jerk'—the executive who delivers high-impact results but leaves a trail of cultural destruction and turnover in their wake. In today’s episode, I tackled emotional intelligence (EQ) in organizational behaviour. My guest, Jen Shirkani, has spent 25 years coaching the C-suite on how to bridge the gap between technical brilliance and relational leadership. She breaks EQ...

~ 30% of your new hires will leave before the 90-day mark. Unless you onboard properly. You’ve already done a lot: you spent thousands on recruitment, vetting, and interviewing. You will pay for them and their training. But without a solid onboarding process, there is a high chance that your investment will walk out the door. Onboarding is quite possibly the easiest and most cost-effective retenti...

The lack of connection within workplaces is more than a sad fact —it’s a serious business issue impacting performance. It's dollars left on the table. In this episode, Ryan Jenkins (WSJ Bestselling Author of Connectable) explains why workplace loneliness is increasing and how HR leaders can build a culture of belonging to combat employee isolation. Loneliness was a recurring theme on this channel...

Most wellness programs weren't built with parents in mind. Gym memberships and meditation apps don't help much when you're managing work deadlines while your kid is home sick. Or when you know your toddler can't wait for you to pick them up from daycare. Dr. Rosina McAlpine is back to talk about what actually works when organizations want to support working parents—not with token gestures, but wit...

Wellness at work is easy to talk about, but the actual data is a disaster. These are the groundbreaking findings from clinical psychologist Dr. Jo Burrell’s 2025 survey into the mental health and wellbeing of HR professionals. If we look at the state of HR as a whole, we are facing a crisis. The research reveals staggering rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout across the profession. Perhaps th...

HR probably deals with more emotional situations than any other department. Angry employees storming into your office sure about what we are supposed to do, leaders who are frustrated, workplace conflicts that we are supposed to solve. And then we also need to read any room we are in. Emotions. A lot of emotions. Dina Denham Smith is an executive coach who works with senior leaders at companies li...