Talking DEI and HR Updates

Hey Besties!

Let’s set the scene: You’re dealing with a family emergency, sitting in a hospital room, and your phone pings. It’s not a “thinking of you” message. Nope - it’s a work request.

That’s exactly what happened to Jamie in this week’s intro story. And if you’ve ever had to juggle real life and work while dealing with something major, you know how frustrating (and frankly, unacceptable) this can be. So, this week, we’re talking about what happens when work forgets that we’re humans first.

Plus, we’re breaking down some of the big changes happening in the US - from shifts in DEI to federal agencies. We’re giving our thoughts on what’s happening and what it means for HR, managers and employees.

In This Episode:

• Intro Story: Jamie shares her very real experience of being asked to work while a family member was in the hospital. (Spoiler: Don’t do what this boss did)

• Corporate Cringe Speak: A very (not) calm and supportive phrase that gets us talking about Disney movies (Yes, including those wild VHS covers from the 1990s)

• Hot Topic: Big workplace changes are happening (to put it mildly). Whether it’s DEI shifts, or government regulations, we talk about the what we hear and what to look out for (and how workplaces are coping with change).

• Questions & Comments: We talk about how social media has been a wild ride lately, with people fully embracing their '“people-ing” tendencies. Hear some of the latest comments and the reactions from the HR Besties (don’t mess with Texas… or Georgia or Tennessee). Also, Leigh defines PPE in a way you may not have heard before…

Discussion Guide – For Your Next Podcast Discussion Group or Team Meeting:

1. The Backup Plan: Does every team have a plan in place for unexpected absences, so team members can focus on their personal needs without feeling pressured to put work first?

2. Upward Feedback: Have you ever had to push back on leadership when they placed unrealistic expectations on someone going through a personal crisis? How did it go? And if it didn’t go well, what could make it better next time?

3. Talk About It: Between shifts in DEI, job security concerns and evolving federal policies, what can leaders realistically promise their teams? How do we provide a sense of stability when things are up in the air?

Thanks for listening this week, Besties. We know this topic is especially hot right now, so we’re glad to have you join us to break it down. And as a special note, this is our 100th episode! We’re excited to celebrate - and if you like listening, we’d love you to click below and give us a rating and review on Apple and Spotify. That helps us keep going for another 100 - or 1,000!

And as always, remember: No job should ever make you feel like you have to choose between your actual life and your work life. It takes communication and planning by leaders to make sure that can happen.

See you next week - let us know how you liked this episode.
Your HR Besties

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