Workplace Romances: The Good, The Bad, and The Restraining Orders

Is AI going to replace your entire workforce or transform how we perform talent management. To some degree? The answer is more nuanced than the extreme hype would suggest.Dr. Reece Akhtar, organizational psychologist and CEO of Deeper Signals, cut through the hype to talk about what's actually happening in talent management. As someone who teaches at NYU and writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review, Reece brings both academic rigor and practical experience.In this episode, we talked how AI will impact virtually every stage of the employee journey - from recruitment to development to succession planning. But instead of the usual "AI will change everything" narrative we typically hear , Reece explained why he thinks it will be somewere in between and why soft skills are so important.What we cover:Why AI adoption will follow two parallel paths one of which is replacing as many people as possible with AIThe three lasting skills that will always matter in any workplaceHow to evaluate AI tools Why you should plan for AIReal examples of AI making talent insights more accessible for someone without a phDKey takeaway: The future isn't about humans vs. machines - it's about humans WITH machines doing better work together.Connect with Reece on LinkedIn or visit deepersignals.comFind me [email protected] or via LinkedIn#TalentManagement #AIinHR #FutureOfWork #EmployeeEngagement #HRStrategy

60% of people have been in a workplace romance - and 43% of those apparently end in marriage! So maybe we shouldn't be trying so hard to prevent them? But we should take precautions.Management-side attorney Leah Stiegler from Woods Rogers joined me to discuss the messiest workplace romance situations she's encountered (think: affairs, stalking, and executives caught on video with prostitutes). More importantly, we cover what HR should actually be doing about workplace relationships.In this episode:Why prevention might be the wrong strategyThe three policies that can save your sanity (including "love contracts")When awkwardness becomes harassmentReal stories that'll make you cringePractical advice for navigating romance drama at workGuest: Leah Stiegler, Partner at Woods Rogers law firm and creator of "What's the Tea in L&E" video seriesDo you have a workplace romance horror story? Please comment! Preferably keeping it safe for work - even if things happened at work! LOL

I always wondered if my workaholic dad's habits were healthy. Or if he was driven by the urge to be a dedicated provider? Turns out there's a big difference between working hard and being a workaholic - and workaholics could be costing organizations.Dr. Catherine Connelly from McMaster University is shared more eye-opening research on an HR topics - this time workaholism and the connection to workplace ethics. We talked about why your most dedicated employees might actually be the ones cutting ethical corners.In this episode:The real difference between being busy and being a workaholic Why workaholics are more likely to morally disengage at workThe surprising connection between dedication and tunnel vision"Idiosyncrasy credits" - how high performers build up goodwill to get away with bad behavior laterRed flags to watch for when hiring (and managing) potential workaholicsBuilding systems that keep even your best employees ethically groundedCatherine's research challenges what we think we know about workplace dedication. Sometimes the people most invested in "organizational success" are the ones who'll justify anything to achieve it.This is a must-listen for any HR professional managing high performers or trying to build truly healthy cultures. Plus, Catherine's research is open source, so you can dive deeper after listening.Connect with Dr. Catherine Connelly on LinkedIn or at : connellyresearch.com . What's your experience with workaholism in your workplace? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

So I just learned about PEOs (Professional Employer Organizations) and these are so well established in the USA but news to me! Paul Aemisegeo from Payroll Mart gave me the straight talk on what PEOs actually do versus what they promise to do. If you're a smaller organization dealing with expensive health insurance, multi-state compliance headaches, or just trying to offer competitive benefits without the enterprise budget, this one's for you.The key insight? PEOs can solve your benefits and compliance backend, but don't expect them to handle your day-to-day HR tasks. That performance conversation? Still yours. That tricky leave situation? Also, still yours.We dive into who should consider a PEO (spoiler: if you're in New York with under 100 employees, definitely listen), how to evaluate them, and why so many companies end up switching PEOs multiple times.Plus Paul shares the real considerations if you're thinking about leaving a PEO - because apparently that's a whole thing too.Perfect listen if you're evaluating HR vendors or wondering if there's a better way to handle benefits and compliance.Find Paul on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaemisegeo/ or at Payroll Marthttps://payrollmart.com/As usual you can find me on Linkedin or through my website https://thehrhub.ca/

Most retention strategies are just expensive band-aids.This week I spoke with Dr. Roger Gerard, who spent 23 years as Chief Learning Officer in healthcare and has a refreshingly simple perspective on how to keep people around.Roger breaks it down to five promises that leaders need to make - and more importantly, keep. Those promises have to do with listening with respect, helping people grow, helping them be successful, competitive compensation, and having their back when things go wrong.But we also talked about the tension within the promises. For example, we're not going have someone's back when they've done something deeply unethical. We also dig into why so many organizations have created a loyalty problem. Employers expect it from employees but don't appear to it back. If you're dealing with retention issues and tired of surface-level solutions, this conversation will give you some ideas. Find Roger at rogergerard.com and check out his book "Lead with Purpose." Find me at thehrhub.ca

How does HR impact a company's sale price? Lindsay Osmond, former VP of HR and current business optimization expert, discusses the role HR plays in making companies 'sellable'.From employment contract liabilities to cultural red flags that derail deals, Lindsay explains what buyers really look at when they are making a decision. The information she shares can help position you as a strategic business partner in the process.Key takeaways include the specific metrics buyers care about, why people are your only true competitive advantage, and how to navigate the complex post-merger integration process.Find Lindsay at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-osmond-ba-bmgmt-cphr-a399064/Find Andrea at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-adams1/ or https://thehrhub.ca/

You've invested in coaching training for your managers. You've rolled out the initiative company-wide. So why does it still feel like you're pushing a boulder uphill?HR consultant Debbie Pearmain has spent 25 years watching organizations struggle with this exact problem. In this episode, she reveals the uncomfortable truth: most coaching cultures fail because companies are only training half the relationship.Debbie shares research showing that 82% of employees feel stuck "below the line of accountability" and explains how coaching becomes the vehicle for moving people above that line. But here's the kicker - it only works when both managers AND employees understand their role in the coaching partnership.What you'll learn:• Why the accountability crisis is costing your organization more than you think• The performance equation that determines when to coach vs. when to train vs. when to mentor• How to build the trust and psychological safety that makes coaching actually stick• The strategic implementation approach that gets buy-in from everyone• Why your high performers might be getting the wrong type of supportIf you've ever wondered why some managers excel at coaching while others struggle, this conversation will give you perspectiveGuest: Debbie Pearmain - HR Consultant with 25+ years experience in leadership development and employee engagement. Find her at onestophr.caHost: Andrea Adams - Follow the HR Hub on LinkedIn and subscribe for more episodes that tackle the real challenges facing HR professionals today.

Is your organization ready for the impact of AI? In this both reassuring and alarming episode I spoke with Ross Sparkman, Senior Director of Workforce Strategy at Walmart and author of "Strategic Workforce Planning," to address one of the biggest concerns facing HR at the moment.Ross brings his wealth of experience from roles at Meta and Nike to shed light on how AI will transform the workplace—not by eliminating jobs wholesale, but by fundamentally changing how work gets done. Contrary to alarming headlines, Ross reveals that most CEOs aren't planning mass layoffs but instead are looking to redirect human talent toward higher-value work.Find out why HR must take the lead in preparing organizations for this shift through strategic job redesign, skills forecasting, and change management. Learn how AI can actually help HR professionals assess which tasks are prime for automation and how entry-level positions will evolve as tactical work becomes automated.This is something that keeps me up at night. All HR should be thinking about this! #HR #AIinHR #WorkforcePlanning #FutureofWork #HRtechnologyFind Ross' new book on Amazon! Strategic Workforce Planning: Developing optimized talent strategies for future growthYou can find Ross on LinkedIn   / ross-sparkman  You can find me https://thehrhub.ca/or on Linkedin   / andrea-adams1  

Should you abandon DEI? A research-based perspective on navigating current pressures.Companies are being told to cancel DEI programs, wipe them from websites, and pretend structural barriers don't exist. But what if you believe these initiatives are important for your hiring market and your values?Dr. Catherine Connelly, HR professor and researcher, joins me to discuss the real-world pressures HR professionals are facing around DEI - especially when your head office says "stop" but you know it's the right thing to do.We dig into what's actually happening legally vs. politically, what the research says about which DEI practices actually work (spoiler: mandatory training isn't the magic bullet), and practical strategies for continuing this work even when you can't call it "DEI" anymore.This isn't about politics - it's about smart HR practices that help you attract and retain the best talent while protecting your organization legally.In this episode, we cover:What's really driving the shift away from DEI in North America and why Canadian companies are reacting proactivelyThe crucial difference between political pressure and actual legal requirementsWhy "don't obey in advance" is essential advice for HR professionals right nowWhich DEI practices research shows actually work - and the surprising truth about mandatory trainingHow to continue meaningful inclusion work without using the DEI labelLegal risks Canadian organizations face if they abandon diversity initiativesThe business case for fair processes and procedural justicePractical advice for HR consultants still writing DEI policies during uncertain timesBuilding community and inclusion when everything feels unsettledAbout Dr. Catherine Connelly:HR professor and researcher focused on workplace behavior, employee well-being, and diversity. Find her research at connellyresearch.com or connect at [email protected] mentioned:Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" | McMaster Center for Research on Employment and Work (Mcrew)Find Andrea at https://thehrhub.ca/

We've been thinking about motivation all wrong in HR. After 23 years as a Chief Learning Officer in healthcare, Dr. Roger Gerard reveals why traditional motivation tactics actually backfire - and shares what leaders should do instead.If you've ever wondered why your recognition programs aren't working, why throwing money at retention problems doesn't stick, or how to actually engage your team without gimmicky incentives, this episode is for you.In this conversation, we explore:Why it's NOT a leader's job to motivate people (and what their real job is)The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation - and why it mattersHow compensation works as a "message of value" rather than a motivatorWhy most salary surveys are useless by the time you implement themThe real relationship between money and engagement (hint: it's not what you think)How to build the deep relationships that actually drive performanceWhy top-down goal setting creates cynics and disengagementA fascinating case study of co-creating organizational vision with 5,000 employeesWhen and how to set boundaries with chronic complainersWhy most incentive programs are "downright dumb" and create manipulation instead of motivationKey Quote: "I don't get up on Monday morning waiting for somebody to motivate me. I know what I want to do with my day, with my time, with my life. Nobody has to motivate me for any of that. I motivate myself, and I believe that's true of most professionals. What leaders do is we mess it up."This episode will challenge how you think about motivation, compensation, and employee engagement. Roger's insights are based on decades of real-world experience and research, not just theory.About Dr. Roger Gerard:Roger Gerard is a speaker, author, and executive coach who spent 23 years as Chief Learning Officer at a healthcare organization in Wisconsin. He's the author of "Lead with Purpose" and "Owning the Room" and has worked with thousands of employees across multiple industries to cultivate authentic engagement.Resources mentioned:"Lead with Purpose" by Roger Gerard"Owning the Room" by Roger GerardHerzberg's Two-Factor Theory (hygiene factors vs. motivators)Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in workplace contextConnect with Dr. Roger Gerard:Website: rogergerard.comPerfect for: HR professionals, people managers, executives, and anyone who wants to understand what actually drives human performance at work.Subscribe to HR Hub for weekly conversations with HR experts who share practical, evidence-based insights you can use immediately.Have a question about motivation, engagement, or consulting? Email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.