Human Resources For Small Business

Today, August 29th marks the 200th episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast and it also happens to be Brandon's 34th birthday. In this episode, Angela Perkins, VP of Sales & Marketing at Xenium HR, join Brandon while he's wrapping up his month-long sabbatical to talk about how the sabbatical is going, learnings from the sabbatical, and how employers might think about using this unique benefit in their workplace.  What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

You’re super busy at work — your phone's blowing up from the overflowing inbox of notifications, reminders, and chats. There’s so much interruption that you’ve got no time to think. And when you do, you have to stay stuck at the office, working more than 40-hours a week or force yourself to pull an all-nighter to meet unrealistic deadlines.  You don’t even have time to sleep because of your packed schedules and endless meeting.  When weekends come, instead of spending your precious me-time relaxing and having fun, you have those Sunday-afternoon emails to worry about, waiting to be read and dealt with. It’s just crazy!!! But hey, work doesn’t have to be crazy.  It’s true. We can still deliver a fantastic job without making ourselves miserable and insanely working like crazy to meet those so-called “goals.” We can have a productive work environment that lets people do their work in the best way possible. Basecamp is setting a great example of what it’s like to have a calm and productive workplace! How can we a

Juggling workplace stress with the daily pressures of family, friends, hobbies, self, and life in general, is a tough feat for employees to achieve. We’re getting busier than ever and it causes heavy damage to both work and personal lives. Today, Anna Mieners from Cascade Centers, a company that provides counseling services and organizational consultations, joins us again to talk about work-life balance, employee’s wellbeing and preventive programs that benefit both the employer, employee, and the business. Last time we talked about the book - Dying For A Paycheck and how we not die from a paycheck, now we’ll be digging deeper into the work that she does to transform workplaces into an environment where people are happier and healthier. Help your company by helping your employees achieve control and balance in their work and life. In this episode, you will learn about: The nature of Anna’s work and how EAPs provide health and crisis services to organizations Helping people have good work-life balance Trainin

There are people working at different locations and at different times. With the advancement in technology, communication tools also have greatly upgraded. Unlike before, we’re constrained to finding talent locally, but now we can look for them all across the globe. With this, more and more organizations are adopting the “remote workplace”. This meant working from a place where you’re focused and comfortable.  But wait, wouldn’t that result in a decrease in productivity?  Well, you’ll be surprised to know that the answer is quite the opposite according to Kevin Eikenberry the co-author of the book “Long-Distance Leader”. Whether you’re leading a remote team or not, I urge you to listen to this episode as Kevin and I discuss the changes in leadership when you adopt a remote workplace, the challenges, and perks of leading from a distance, how to lead your team remotely, and why working remotely increases productivity and focus!   In this episode, you will learn about: How to lead people who are working remotel

 “I’ve never been happier than I am ever since I embraced change.” ⁠— John Johnson Many of us prefer the easy path. We find comfort in things that we already understand. When things change too quickly, we tend to go back to the way things were. Change doesn't always feel good. It makes us uncomfortable, but it's essential because the world around us is ever-changing. Our fear of trying something new from what we're used to prevents us from growing and reaching our full potential. You can't always stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to reach you. You have to go out and take the initiative sometimes. But how do you get comfortable with change? How do you get okay with being uncomfortable? Here's the thing, we'll never feel comfortable at all times. That's why we need to push our boundaries a little bit. John Johnson, an Employee Benefits Consultant at USI, is here to help you shift yourself into that discomfort zone. Today's episode focuses on helping you help yourself be more comfortable with

Having the right data results in better health outcomes. - Springbuk What if you could identify how many of your employees are at risk of suffering from a disease like stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other health conditions through a software that provides intelligent health data? Sounds great right? It's not very often that we highlight a product within the podcast but this product is just too amazing not to share! In today's episode, I get to talk with Rod Reasen, the guy who founded The Healthiest Employer Award program where Xenium has participated and won every year since its start back in 2008.  He and his team started a software company called Springbuk to address the growing concerns of employers over the rising cost of health and wellness programs. The health intelligence software utilizes employee health data to lessen the cost, prevent diseases, and figure out where to allocate funds to create a healthier workforce. Rod is going to simplify everything on how their software works and why you need to i

"A bravespace workplace is one where people can show up as they are, both perfect and flawed, and do great things together. " — Moe Carrick  Most workplaces are unfit for human life. Many are still miserable at work. Despite the efforts of good leaders and managers in taking care of their people - investing and training them as well as creating an enjoyable workplace, they still fail. Why is that?  Something needs to change to create a win-win situation for both the employee and employer.  This motivated Moe Carrick to write Bravespace Workplace, where she puts everything into perspective. She explores how a lot of employers are treating their employees wrong. She recognizes that people are such a huge component in building a great company.  Our conversation is centered around her book - Bravespace Workspace. In the book, she talks about real-life stories about how companies and organizations are into bringing out the best in their people. We also discuss technology's role in the workplace, the definition of

According to the Department of Labor, 70% of mothers with children under the age of 18 participated in the workforce in 2018. In 1975, that number was just 47%. With more mothers in the workplace today, there are more and more families in which both parents are employed. As a result, many of today’s parents struggle to accomplish those household tasks that would have been completed during the day decades ago by a stay-at-home parent. So, to lure (and retain) working parents, many employers are finding creative ways to accommodate their busy schedules.  As working parents themselves, Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws can relate. In this episode, they discuss the demographic trends of parents in the workplace, the specific needs of working parents, and ways employers can make life a bit easier on them. Sign up for the What People Want from Work survey Enroll in Xenium's e-Learning Courses   Connect with Us: What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Law

⁠”The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”— Albert Einstein Do you ever hear people say “Sunday nights are the worst because Monday is coming up”? If you’re showing up to work but you’re not giving your 100%, that may be a sign that you’re not on the right path. If you don’t like who you’re becoming because you’re on the wrong path, then maybe it’s time to move on to the next chapter. Josh Schneider, the founder of Millennial & Employee Engagement Institute, joins us to discuss his book - 5 Days to Your Best Work Yet: A Human Like Approach to Better Work. In this book, he shares a 5-day guide to finding your path to unleash your best work. Becoming who you want to be is an iterative process, in order to achieve your desired result, you have to go through a cycle of trial and error. But as long as you take the initiative to do your best in the path that you choose then you’re all good! In this episode, you will learn about: Josh’s learnings

“Psychological safety is a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes.” ⁠— Amy Edmondson  Have you ever had a question you’ve been dying to ask in a meeting but couldn’t because when you look around, everyone is simply nodding their heads, agreeing to everything the boss says?  No one wants to look incompetent or ignorant, especially at work. We prefer to look smart, helpful, and that we go everything covered. To avoid being labeled as ignorant or incompetent, people choose not to ask questions or admit to their mistakes.  Sadly, innovations are delayed, and great ideas don’t come to light every time this happens.  In this episode, Amy Edmondson will be joining me to discuss her book, The Fearless Organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. We talk about how organizations go wrong because people lack psychological safety and never speak up due to the fear that they might never get that pr

Etiquette rules in the business world differ largely from standard social settings. And many people end up making fools of themselves because they don’t understand how things flow in such situations. Mindy Lockard, a Leadership and Etiquette expert who helps people feel confident in their skin and connect with other people, talks about business and workplace etiquette. She also teaches workshops on dining, personal branding, and networking to colleges and universities, government agencies and private companies. We’ll be touching on the topic of growth mindset and the importance of people skills to achieve success in any job and any business endeavor. Mindy also shares essential tips one must remember when going to formal/business dining. Live graciously as you learn more about etiquette in today’s episode of Transform your Workplace! In this episode, you will learn about: How Mindy got into the field of etiquette Misconceptions surrounding etiquette Etiquette, manners, and the growth mindset Proper and impro

White-collar jobs are just as stressful as blue-collar jobs. Long work hours and work-life balance, to name a few are toxic to employees and destroys their health physically and emotionally. In this episode, we talk about the book - Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and Company Performance and What We Can Do About It with Anna Meiners. Learn about the infuriating truth about modern work-life balance, the systematic impact of the workplace on employees’ health and on how managers, employers, HRs and anyone who works can create a healthier and better workplace. In this episode, you will learn about: How employer decisions in the workplace actually affect human health The impact of working long hours Busyness as a status symbol Why people prefer to stay in harmful work environments What employers can do to really make the shift from a toxic work environment to a healthy and better one Resources Mentioned: Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and C

Here’s a stat for you: 65% of employees would forego a raise to see their leader fired. According to Adam Brantley, executive coach at Building Champions, those employees need leaders that coach their people—rather than just telling them what to do. Listen in as we discuss how coaching leadership can change companies for the better, how to bring coaching culture into your own company and the communication tactics that keep employees engaged. In this episode, you will learn about: How Adam became an executive coach Hierarchy in the workplace Building the coaching culture What makes an effective coaching atmosphere The four components that drive engagement What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com More about Adam: Adam's work history, along with experience as a father to young boys and husband to an accomplished leader, has made him highly effec

The workplace is always evolving and companies should think of ways to keep their employee benefits aligned with what their people really want. Benefits offered by companies are crucial for talent attraction and retention. How can companies keep up with the fast-paced, changing needs, and demands of their employees while staying competitive in today’s growing marketplace? In this episode with Paige Tamlyn, we’re going to discuss and debate about the 2018 AFLAC Workforce Report: 10 Trends Influencing the Future of Workplace Benefits.  This employer survey overview, reviews and examines the top 10 trends that fall into these areas:  Business growth and objectives The rising cost of health care Benefits selections and advisors Supplemental insurance Aligning your benefits to the workforce’s shifting attitude, interest, needs, and demands are essential for a company’s growth and profitability. In this episode, you will learn about: The 10 trends influencing the future of workplace benefits The ever-increasing

This episode features a crossover show with Jon Thurmond and Wendy Dailey of the HR Social Hour Half Hour Podcast. We discuss how they built such a collaborative HR community on Twitter, which HR conferences they love to attend, and trends they are paying attention to that are impacting workplaces all over. Resources Mentioned in the Show: HR Social Hour Half Hour Podcast Jon & Wendy talk to our international SHRM18 Blogger pals part 1 HR Social Hour Wonder Women  Episode 31 - Jon & Wendy talk to Mary Faulkner   What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com    

Where do you stand on mandatory paternity leave? What about publishing everyone’s salary at the office? For this special debate-style episode, Xenium’s Angela Perkins and Brandon Laws randomly selected hot button HR topics and then picked a side to debate the issue. Listen in as they argue for and against mandatory paid maternity and paternity leave, whether in-house HR or HR outsourcing is best, and the pros and cons of radical pay transparency. What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

What do baseball and business have in common? According to Mark Greenburg, author of Elevated Leadership - A Pitch by Pitch Guide to Business, Life and Baseball, the answer is...pretty much everything. Listen in as we discuss the parallels he finds in leadership, coaching, even risk-taking, and how that can translate to business. We’ll cover what makes a good leader, real-life examples and lessons you can bring to your own workplace. Resources mentioned: The Xenium Promise   What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

We go behind the scenes and inside Xenium in this episode. Brandon Laws shares the entire blueprint for starting a book group in your organization. You'll discover why you should start one, the benefits you can expect, and how to launch and run an effective book group. -- What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Paige Tamlyn joins the podcast to discuss the report from Glassdoor "50 HR and Recruiting Stats for 2019." Paige and Brandon discuss candidate experience, inclusivity, interviewing, and much more! Get the Glassdoor report: https://resources.glassdoor.com/50-hr-recruiting-stats-2019.html   How to Support this Show: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.) Review us on iTunes Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Let’s talk feedback. Though it’s become part of modern workplace culture, Carol Sanford, author of No More Feedback  - Cultivate Consciousness at Work, is on mission to change that. Listen in as she shares her take on feedback—why it’s not objective, why it’s not necessarily helpful and how it can obscure what needs to be done. We’ll discuss ways that employees can look within, own their self-development and ultimately grow in their roles without relying on feedback. How to Support this Show: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.) Review us on iTunes Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com