The HR Room Podcast

Workplace wellbeing is a phrase we hear all the time - but what does it actually mean in practice? For some, it’s fruit bowls and yoga mats. For others, it’s leadership, culture, and how work is really experienced day to day. In reality, true workplace wellbeing goes far deeper than perks and initiatives. In this first episode of a new four-part wellbeing mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave i...

As Irish organisations head into 2026, HR leaders are facing a complex mix of challenges - from attracting and retaining talent in an increasingly competitive market, to navigating cost pressures, culture change, and new regulatory demands like the EU Pay Transparency Directive. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of optimism across the profession, with many organisations investing in leaders...

This episode of The HR Room, we’re looking back at a great year of conversations with some of Ireland’s best HR leaders. We’ve pulled together a little selection box episode for you collating our ten key learnings from these conversations in 2025. Each insight has a supporting clip to it, but if you’d like to go back and listen to the full conversation on any of the topics, you’ll find the episode...

In a world of hybrid working, constant connectivity and rising pressure, employee wellbeing is no longer a “nice to have” - it’s a business imperative. Yet many organisations still approach wellbeing through surface-level perks rather than addressing the deeper cultural, structural and leadership factors that truly impact how people feel at work. In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Ma...

Migrant and refugee women in Ireland face significant and overlapping barriers when trying to access employment — from qualification recognition issues and childcare responsibilities to language barriers, rural isolation, unconscious bias, and confusion around immigration permissions. At a time when employers are struggling to find skilled talent, these barriers represent not just an equality issu...

The Christmas party season should be a time for joy and celebration — but for HR teams, it’s often the exact opposite. Misconduct, blurred boundaries, alcohol, drugs, safety concerns, dignity-at-work issues, employer liability… every December, HR braces for what can become the messiest time of the year. In this episode, Dave and Mary are joined by Adrian Twomey, Employment Law Expert & Partner...

We've reached a milestone - 250 episodes of The HR Room Podcast! To mark the occasion, we’re taking a step back to look at how dramatically the world of HR has transformed since Episode 1… and what the next era of HR might look like. Dave and Mary are joined by Liam Barton, Commercial Director at Insight HR, to reflect on where HR has been, where it is now, and where it’s heading. Together they un...

Ireland has ranked 33rd out of 35 in the latest Hays Global Talent Tracker - but what does that really mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for you and your business? In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we dive into the realities of Ireland’s current talent market, the challenges highlighted by the Global Talent Tracker, and what HR and business leaders can start doing today to prepar...

Performance management has been a cornerstone of HR for decades - but is it still doing what it’s meant to do? In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we’re diving deep into the world of performance management - the processes, the pain points, and the possibilities for change. Are traditional appraisal systems still fit for purpose in today’s workplaces? What’s working, what’s not, and how do both...

With the EU Pay Transparency Directive on the horizon and gender pay gap reporting obligations expanding to more Irish employers, how can organisations prepare for the changes - and ensure they’re creating fair, equitable workplaces for all? In this episode, Dave and Mary are joined by Anita Whyte Moran, founder and host of The Femcast podcast, to explore the evolving landscape of gender equality...

When artificial intelligence speaks with confidence - but gets the facts wrong - what happens next? And how do you reduce the risk and spot fake facts? In this episode, Dave and Mary explore the growing “AI authority problem”: our tendency to believe confidently delivered misinformation. Prompted by a recent case where AI-generated legal papers by a Ryanair employee derailed a €170,000 WRC claim,...

In this episode of The HR Room, we uncover the hidden cost of bullying at work - from its devastating impact on mental health and morale to the massive financial and reputational losses organizations often overlook. Hosts Mary Cullen (Founder, Managing Director – Insight HR) and Dave Corkery (Content & Social Media Lead – Insight HR) are joined by Catherine Jane O’Rourke (Employment Law Senior...

In this episode of The HR Room, hosts Mary Cullen (Founder, MD - Insight HR) and Dave Corkery (Content & Social Media Lead - Insight HR) discuss the rising trend of quiet redundancies, particularly in the context of recent layoffs at TikTok. They're joined by Adrian Twomey (Partner - Jacob and Twomey Solicitors) to explore the implications of these practices on employees and the role of trade...

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we’re joined by Brian Murphy, Lead Partner for Ireland’s Best Managed Companies Awards Programme at Deloitte, to unpack the findings from their latest research in collaboration with UCD Smurfit. We explore how Irish businesses are embracing AI to boost productivity and support employees, how rising costs are shaping strategy, and why talent acquisition and r...

In this episode, hosts Dave Corkery (Content & Social Media Lead – Insight HR) and Mary Cullen (Founder, Managing Director - Insight HR) are joined by Insight HR’s Commercial Director Liam Barton to discuss the evolving landscape of work in Ireland, particularly focusing on the shift towards remote and hybrid work arrangements post-pandemic. They explore the reasons behind Ireland's high rate...

This week, we're talking about AI – in particular, its transformative immediate and potential impact on HR. Hosts Dave Corkery (Content & Social Media Lead – Insight HR) & Mary Cullen (Founder, Managing Director – Insight HR) are joined by Stephanie Prenderville (Founder – SP Consulting), a HR leader and consultant who has undergone change and transformation projects at Aer Lingus, AIB, Di...

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave Corkery is joined by Mary Cullen, founder of Insight HR, and Ed Brzychcy, executive coach and leadership consultant, to explore the power of coaching for HR leaders. From the misconceptions around AI-driven coaching to the transformative impact of real human coaching conversations, this discussion dives into why coaching is a critical tool for HR leader...

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we explore the crucial role of mediation in resolving workplace conflict. Our Head of Strategy & Growth Barry Casserly hands over the podcast hosting reigns to Dave Corkery, Insight HR’s new Content & Social Media Lead. They’re joined by Joe Thompson, Head of Support Services at Insight HR, an accredited mediator who brings a wealth of experience on...

How to Mitigate the Risks of Workplace Investigations ⚖️ In our latest episode of The HR Room Podcast, we’re joined by Liam Barton, Commercial Director at Insight HR, and workplace investigator Susie Lowe, to explore one of the most complex and high-stakes areas in HR – workplace investigations. From grievances and disciplinary issues to dignity at work complaints, investigations are becoming more...

What’s really holding culture – and performance – back in today’s organisations? 🤔 In our latest episode of The HR Room Podcast, we’re joined by Scott McInnes of Inspiring Change to discuss insights from the brand-new Mind the Gap CPO research report. Alongside our own Megan Power, Head of Change & Transformation at Insight HR, we explore the five biggest challenges that CPOs say are holding...

We've got big news! After 200 episodes and 3 and a half years, our beloved host, Eoin , is moving on to pastures new, and will be leaving the HR Room Podcast in fresh new hands! So this week, in a different and special conversation, Eoin, Mary & Liam take look back at some of the best bits and stories behind the scenes from the hundreds of episodes we've been delighted to be a part of so far....

Unfortunately, in the business we’re in, the team here at Insight HR, similar to other HR consultants and employment law experts, are well aware that serious issues like harassment, sexual harassment and bullying, are still happening regularly in Irish workplaces. Despite training, despite policies, despite reporting channels, and despite the hopefully common sense approach to these things being u...

We’re back again with another episode of Liam’s Law, where Liam will be joining us to discuss a high profile case every month, and share his advice, guidance and key takeaways for you as employers and HR teams. So this week, of course, we’re joined by Liam Barton, Commercial Director here at Insight HR, this time, to discuss a curious case of redundancy!   In this episode we cover... 00:44 Details...

It’s a HR person’s worst nightmare isn’t it – a WRC inspector knocking in the door, right before you were about to tick all those HR admin jobs off your to-do list, that may now land you in trouble. But as we know, WRC audits and inspections do serve a real purpose, and whether we like to admit it or not, are necessary, as they lift the standards across the employment world here in Ireland, and ta...

As we’ve seen in the headlines and in our own experiences as HR people, disciplinaries and any subsequent dismissals can be tricky business – and can end up being very very tricky if mistakes are made and a process is found to be unfair. So how do we handle this tricky area of HR, and do right by both our people and our own sanity? Well to talk us through this today, we’re delighted to be joined b...