It's SHRM Trial Week...

It’s SHRM’s trial week, Besties. The trial for the racial discrimination suit Mohamed v. Society for Human Resource Management, D. Colo. No. 1:22-cv-01625-GPG-KAS is underway in Denver, and we’re all eyes on what unfolds and what it means for workplaces everywhere.

Takeaways from the SHRM Trial (and Everything That Led Up to It)

If you want the latest updates, follow @hrbestiespod (we’re giving daily updates on our Instagram stories) and one of our Besties contributed to a Business Insider article that’s making the rounds. We talk about it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRh_0HmD86a/

And if you want a deeper breakdown, Ashley pulled together a full video on what happened with tips from the team (organization even used it as training for their managers!): https://youtu.be/iWt_VmFnx1M?si=-Q7gaUu-6dK4q9kZ

Best Of (or Maybe Worst Of??)

While the trial is happening, our wonderful producer Carlay rounded up some of the most-loved water cooler stories for this week’s episode. If you’re knee deep in open enrollment, planning holiday parties or just trying to hang on until PTO, these stories will make you feel a little less alone. We’ve even got some listener submissions in there too.

What the Besties Are Up to (And How to Support Us If You’d Like)

And the Besties have been busy. We spoke together in Vegas a few weeks ago and had the best time. We’re working away here!

• Jamie is working on new speaking gigs, collabs and her own merch, and is available for HR work (she brings the humor and also an HR girlie at heart!): https://humorousmiserymedia.site/

• Leigh is writing her new book coming out in early 2027. Get on her list for preorder updates and grab her free Work Rescue Checklist: https://www.hrmanifesto.com/workrescue

• Ashley has her book The Manager Method coming out this February. You can preorder here (audiobook options in some stores!):
  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/809064/the-manager-method-by-ashley-herd/ and for bulk orders:
  https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/manager-method-ashley-herd-9798318601057

Discussion Guide (for Your Team Meeting or Podcast Club)

• What’s one takeaway from the SHRM trial that might matter for other workplaces - even for those outside HR?

• How can we use year-end as a chance to reflect back the impact we’ve seen teammates have, especially the things they might not know were so valuable?

• What’s your favorite HR Besties watercooler intro story?

ChatGPT Prompts of the Week

Professional

• Give me three simple ways to explain what the SHRM racial discrimination trial is about - without legal jargon.

• Help me draft talking points for leaders on how to show transparency and empathy and why it matters to our teams and even business performance.

Personal(ish)

• Write an HR Besties intro story with me as the main character based on what you know about me.

Another episode is coming next week and we’ll be watching the SHRM trial closely for takeaways that matter for you, your HR team and your workplace. Because while this one is especially wild - because it’s SHRM (the “trust authority on all things work”), and also because there are real takeaways for everyone else’s workplace, too.

And also, it’s SHRM.

XOXO,
Jamie, Leigh & Ashley

Click here to reach out to us with your questions and comments. We love anonymous intro stories!