In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws welcomes back Jacob Morgan to explore ideas from his upcoming book, The Eight Laws of Employee Experience: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization, releasing in February 2026.
Drawing from more than 100 interviews with CHROs, Jacob shares why many organizations have lost direction since the pandemic and how well-intended employee experience efforts have sometimes drifted into entitlement, reactivity, and trend-chasing. The conversation unpacks why leaders often operate in "defense mode," how AI is being misunderstood and misused at work, and why employee experience is not an HR initiative but a shared responsibility across the organization.
Listeners will also hear practical frameworks for separating trends from truths, rethinking learning and development, understanding employees beyond survey data, and designing flexibility and culture in more intentional ways. This episode offers clear perspectives for leaders who want to stop reacting and start building the future of work they actually want.
00:00 – Introduction and episode overview
02:00 – Why organizations have lost their way post-pandemic
05:30 – Employee experience, entitlement culture, and unintended consequences
08:00 – Why leaders are stuck playing defense instead of offense
11:00 – Trends vs truths and the risks of chasing competitors
13:00 – AI at work and the rise of "work slop"
15:00 – A framework to adapt, pause, or push back on trends
17:00 – Overview of The Eight Laws of Employee Experience
19:00 – Decoding the human signal and knowing employees beyond data
24:30 – Surveys vs real conversations and the importance of human connection
27:00 – Rethinking learning, skill-building, and application on the job
31:00 – The limits of AI and why managers still matter
34:00 – The growth framework for development, readiness, and decision-making
37:00 – Designing flexibility and the idea of a career "command center"
40:00 – Using technology to amplify humanity, not replace it
43:00 – Choosing the future you want to build as an organization
45:00 – Final reflections and where to learn more
Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR
Host: Brandon Laws
In Brandon's own words:
"The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders."
Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience.
Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/
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