The HR Room Podcast

HR professionals are often the people organisations turn to during their most difficult moments. Whether managing restructures, navigating conflict, supporting employee wellbeing or leading organisational change, HR is expected to remain calm, objective and resilient. Yet, the emotional toll of the profession itself is rarely discussed. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joi...

For decades, a contractual retirement age of 65 was a standard feature of employment in Ireland. However, from 29 June 2026, that position has fundamentally changed. New legislation now gives many employees the right to request to remain in employment beyond their contractual retirement age and continue working until they reach the State Pension age of 66. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, D...

Workplace culture is shaped by far more than policies and procedures. It reflects societal values, leadership behaviours, attitudes to work-life balance, and what organisations choose to reward and recognise. As debates around remote working, flexible working and employee wellbeing continue, many employers are looking beyond their own borders for inspiration. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast...

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our workplaces, communication, leadership and even creativity are changing rapidly. AI can now help us write presentations, craft speeches, prepare for interviews and produce polished content in seconds. But while technology can enhance how we communicate, it cannot replace the human qualities that create genuine trust, influence and conn...

Mental health continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing workplaces today. While awareness around employee wellbeing has grown considerably in recent years, many organisations still struggle to translate good intentions into meaningful, practical support for employees. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we explore how organisations can move beyond surface-level wellbeing in...

What does it really mean to build a people-first culture? And how can organisations ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded into the systems, processes and leadership behaviours that shape everyday employee experiences? In this episode of The HR Room, we explore how Heineken have developed a culture where people, performance and business success work hand-in-hand. With our special...

Despite significant progress around gender equality in the workplace, many women still face internal and external barriers that can impact their confidence, visibility, and career progression. From self-doubt and imposter syndrome to difficulties promoting achievements and building influence, certain workplace habits can quietly hold talented professionals back from reaching their full potential....

Back in 2006, The Devil Wears Prada introduced audiences to one of cinema’s most iconic workplace bosses: Miranda Priestly. At the time, her leadership style -demanding, authoritarian and often toxic - felt strangely familiar to many people working in corporate environments. But nearly twenty years later, workplace culture has changed dramatically, and we see that play out in cinemas at the moment...

The EU Pay Transparency Directive is fast approaching and despite widespread confusion, it has not been delayed in Ireland. While there may be some leniency around enforcement in the early stages, organisations are still expected to take meaningful steps towards compliance before June 2026. One of the most important (and often overlooked) elements of preparation is the implementation of a robust j...

When we talk about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, it’s easy to focus on metrics, reporting, and representation targets. But what happens when the data improves — and yet employees from underrepresented groups still don’t feel fully included at work? In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we explore the latest findings from Elevate, the Inclusive Workplace Pledge led by Business...

Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues — from back pain to joint and muscle injuries — are one of the most widespread and costly health challenges affecting today’s workforce. While often overlooked or accepted as inevitable, these conditions are having a significant impact on employee wellbeing, absenteeism, and organisational performance. In fact, research suggests that up to 64% of desk-based employees m...

Rising geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflict between Iran and the US are continuing to create volatility in global energy markets — and while recent government measures have brought some reduction in fuel prices, uncertainty remains in Ireland. In recent weeks, there have been reports of fuel shortages at pumps, alongside rising costs that are placing real pressure on both employees and emplo...

As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in everyday work, a new concern is emerging: are we becoming overly reliant on it? In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Dr. Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessments, to explore the concept of the “AI zombie” — and what it could mean for the future of work. The conversation examines how increasing depend...

Organisational strategy often looks clear on paper — but translating that strategy into a structure that actually works in practice is where many organisations struggle. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by returning guest John Kennedy, Head of HR Organisational Development at Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), to explore how HR leaders can move from high-level strategy t...

Gen Z are rapidly becoming the most influential generation in the workplace — and by 2035, they are expected to be the largest cohort in the workplace globally. Raised in a fully digital world and shaped by economic uncertainty, global crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, they bring distinct expectations around work, wellbeing and career development. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and M...

Playfulness at work is often misunderstood as being unprofessional or distracting — yet growing research shows that adopting a more playful mindset can enhance psychological safety, boost creativity and improve team performance. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Kelsey Kates, founder of Playfully Works and former Global Head of Learning Experiences at Google. Kels...

Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised as a natural and valuable part of workforce diversity — but many organisations are still unsure how to translate awareness into meaningful workplace change. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave is joined by returning guest Stacey Machesney, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Irish Life, and Joe Redmond, HR Consultant at Insight HR. Both guests share...

Pay transparency is about to transform how organisations manage compensation, communicate pay decisions, and demonstrate fairness in the workplace. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave is joined by Pat Gurren, Managing Director of Gurren Compensation Consultancy, to unpack the EU Pay Transparency Directive and what it means for employers ahead of its implementation in June 2026. With over...

Immigration and employment law continues to evolve — and for HR professionals in Ireland, staying compliant while attracting global talent has never been more important. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave is joined by Alice Heron, Manager at Fragomen, one of the world’s leading immigration services firms, to break down everything HR leaders need to know about Irish immigration law in 202...

If you worked somewhere that went through 10 managers in 12 years, made hundreds of redundancies, removed long-standing employee benefits, and had leaders publicly criticise their own team - would you consider it a toxic workplace? In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Joe Thompson, Head of HR Services at Insight HR, to examine one of the most talked-about organisatio...

Gender stereotypes continue to shape how work is valued, how talent is assessed, and how people progress in organisations, often in ways that operate beneath the surface of conscious awareness. Despite decades of progress on gender equality, deeply embedded assumptions about leadership, competence and commitment continue to influence workplace decisions. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dav...

Embedding workplace wellbeing takes more than good intentions and one-off initiatives. It requires people across the organisation who are willing to champion it every day. In this episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave Corkery and Laura Barry, Head of People Development at Insight HR, are joined by special guest Brian Crooke, Founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland a...

Workplace investigations sit at the heart of fairness, trust and accountability in organisations. But when investigations involve high-profile individuals, external parties, or allegations of serious misconduct, the scrutiny can be intense and the risks for employers multiply rapidly if fair procedures are not followed. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Rebecca Bo...

Workplace wellbeing is often talked about as an HR initiative – but without leadership ownership, even the best programmes struggle to succeed. In this second episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Laura are joined by special guest Stacey Machesney, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Irish Life, to explore why leadership is the true foundation of sustainable work...

Redundancies are one of the most sensitive and high-risk moments in the life of any organisation. When they are mishandled, the consequences can be profound - from reputational damage and industrial action to long-term impacts on trust, morale and employer brand. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by employment law specialist Adrian Twomey, Partner at Jacob & Twom...