Shows
We're Only HumanUnpacking Talent Acquisition Strategy with Kelly Burlage of LineageIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks talks with Kelly Burlage, Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at Lineage. They discuss strategies for improving the recruitment process, creating better impacts for candidates, and the challenges faced by TA leaders today. Kelly shares insights on the role of artificial intelligence in recruitment, the importance of focusing on people, and the value of internal mobility. They also explore practical advice for leaders receiving pressure to adopt AI and the significance of building strong business partnerships within HR. Additionally, Kelly highlights the achievements of her team in transforming their...2025-05-0528 minWe're Only HumanKey Strategies for Mastering the HR Business Partner Role with Alicia JonesIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks engages in a detailed conversation with Alicia Jones, a senior HR business partner for a global medical company. They delve into the complex role of an HR business partner, discussing essential skills like understanding the business context, influencing, and synthesizing data insights. Alicia shares her career experiences, the importance of integrity and resiliency, and the challenges HR teams face today. The discussion provides valuable advice for current and aspiring HR business partners keen on making a significant impact in their organizations.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:41...2025-04-2429 minWe're Only HumanAI in Talent Acquisition: How Mastercard and Leonardo Screen for SuccessIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks chats with Matt Leitzman, VP of Talent Acquisition at MasterCard, and Craig Drysdale, VP of Talent and Engagement at Leonardo. The discussion delves into the role of AI in hiring, effective candidate screening techniques, and the evolving landscape of talent acquisition. Both guests highlight their organizations' experiences with AI-driven tools for screening, such as automated interview scheduling and video assessments, and emphasize the importance of testing, human connection, and strategic alignment with hiring managers. The episode provides valuable insights for improving candidate experience, recruiter efficiency, and making data-driven hiring...2025-04-1041 minWe're Only HumanWorkplace Transformation Thrives with Performance, Recognition, and TrustIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks connects in an insightful discussion with Debra Squyres from Bonusly and Hope Weatherford from Fountain. They delve into strategies to improve workplace performance and the evolving nature of performance management. The conversation covers the significance of real-time feedback, building trust between managers and employees, leveraging recognition platforms, and the importance of addressing the human element in work environments. Both guests share practical tips for managers to enhance employee engagement, foster personal growth, and create meaningful relationships within teams.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:45 Hope Weatherford's Background and...2025-03-1734 minWe're Only HumanNavigating HR Classification Compliance with Michael Cleavely of CoComplyIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks sits down with Michael Cleavely, founder of CoComply, to discuss the complexities of compliance in contingent workforce management. Michael shares the journey of CoComply, a platform that assists organizations in classifying, managing, and discovering their contingent and non-permanent workforce. The conversation delves into the challenges companies face with worker classification, common compliance risks, and the two-fold benefits of leveraging AI in compliance tools for both risk mitigation and strategic workforce optimization. They also explore the broader implications of having a total workforce view, encompassing all talent acquisition channels. Michael...2025-03-1025 minWe're Only HumanBuilding a Sweet Culture of People-First Leadership at Milo's Tea Companyn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks engages in a dynamic conversation with Ryan Faught, HR leader at Milo's Tea Company. Ryan shares insights into Milo's unique culture, emphasizing values like safety, responsibility, and integrity, along with their 'HAT' values: Hungry, Agile, and Together. The discussion delves into how Milo's fosters cross-departmental collaboration, continuous improvement, and leadership development through authentic leadership pillars and comprehensive feedback mechanisms. Ryan highlights the importance of having a 'teachable spirit,' celebrating wins, and maintaining humility while growing both personally and professionally within the company. Whether discussing the joy of...2025-02-1739 minWe're Only HumanBuilding a Sweet Culture of People-First Leadership at Milo's Tea CompanyIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks engages in a dynamic conversation with Ryan Faught, HR leader at Milo's Tea Company. Ryan shares insights into Milo's unique culture, emphasizing values like safety, responsibility, and integrity, along with their 'HAT' values: Hungry, Agile, and Together. The discussion delves into how Milo's fosters cross-departmental collaboration, continuous improvement, and leadership development through authentic leadership pillars and comprehensive feedback mechanisms. Ryan highlights the importance of having a 'teachable spirit,' celebrating wins, and maintaining humility while growing both personally and professionally within the company. Whether discussing the joy of...2025-02-1039 minWe're Only HumanNavigating HR and Business Challenges: Insights from Insperity’s HR ExpertsIn this episode of ‘We’re Only Human,’ host Ben Eubanks sits down with Jen McCann and Maria Jugin from Insperity to discuss the evolving landscape of human resources. The conversation covers a range of topics including the increasing interest and uncertainty surrounding AI, strategies for recruiting and retaining top talent, and the differences in priorities between business and HR leaders. Jen and Maria also highlight the importance of aligning company vision with HR practices and the challenges companies face as they expand and adapt. The episode offers actionable insights for HR leaders looking to move from administrative tasks to str...2025-02-0332 minWe're Only HumanFostering Growth Mindsets and Embracing AI in Learning with the CEO of TalentLMSIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks welcomes Nikhil Arora, CEO of Epignosis, the parent company of TalentLMS. They explore various facets of learning and development, focusing on mindsets, supporting employee growth, and the impact of AI. Nikhil shares insights from TalentLMS's data, revealing that over 50% of employees prioritize growth opportunities and discusses the importance of transitioning from fixed to growth mindsets. Additionally, they discuss strategies for incorporating soft skills training, leveraging AI ethically, and maintaining employee mental wellness in a hybrid work environment. The episode offers practical advice for leaders aiming to enhance their...2025-01-2021 minWe're Only HumanBuilding Trust and Community in HR with Jason LawsonIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks engages in an enlightening conversation with Jason Lawson, an HR veteran with over 30 years of experience. They delve into the importance of building strong relationships with leaders, the critical role of trust in the workplace, and the evolving views on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Jason shares profound insights on making HR policies more humane and treating employees as individuals. He highlights the significance of moving beyond administrative tasks to become a strategic partner in the business. Jason also stresses the role of creating a community at work, even...2025-01-1334 minWe're Only HumanNavigating HR Challenges and Building Connections with Jeff PalkowskiIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks sits down with Jeff Palkowski, an HR leader with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an active volunteer with SHRM. They discuss the unique challenges of public sector HR, the importance of mental health and employee well-being, and how to support managers in addressing these issues. Jeff also shares insights from his role as the incoming state director for Wisconsin SHRM, emphasizing the value of creating connections at HR events. Additionally, he offers advice on being proactive in HR rather than just a 'fire extinguisher,' drawing from his...2025-01-0629 minWe're Only HumanBuilding Better Leaders: Lessons from The Mayo ClinicWith so many employers thinking about the coming year and how to create a positive workplace, we have to consider leadership and manager selection since that is a crucial part of the big picture. In this illuminating rebroadcast episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks delves into effective leadership selection with Ji Yun Kang, Senior Advisor for Leader Assessment and Development at Mayo Clinic. The discussion covers Mayo Clinic's specific criteria for assessing leadership qualities, the importance of values alignment, and the substantial impact of good leadership on employee well-being and retention. Kang also explores the onboarding...2024-12-0925 minWe're Only HumanUnlocking Customer Eminence: The Power of Personal StoriesIn this episode of 'We're Only Human', host Ben Eubanks welcomes Patrika Hardnett, the Customer Eminence Leader at Kyndryl, to discuss the innovative concept of customer eminence. Patrika shares how companies can use this approach to create deeper connections and build powerful, lasting relationships with their customers. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the customer's journey, passion, and personal story rather than just the outcomes of a project. Patrika also provides insights into creating a culture that keeps the customer's voice at the forefront and offers her expertise on implementing customer eminence in organizational practices. Tune in to l...2024-11-2518 minWe're Only HumanLeveraging Labor Market Analytics for EVP Analysis, Strategic Workforce Planning, and MoreIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks engages in an illuminating discussion with David Wilkins, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Talent Neuron. They explore the use of data to drive insights into strategic workforce planning and talent acquisition. David delves into Talent Neuron's innovative practices, including their proprietary EVP sentiment analysis framework, which helps companies understand and compete more effectively in the labor market. They touch on various real-world applications, including skill evolution, location planning, and diversity hiring tactics. The conversation underscores the importance of aligning employer value propositions with brand consistency and sentiment...2024-11-1819 minWe're Only HumanThrow Out the PowerPoint Deck and Do This Instead Says Former Pfizer Head of HRIn this engaging episode of 'We Are Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks converses with Larry Kelly, an experienced HR leader and storyteller. Larry shares his journey from leading HR at Intel and Pfizer to founding his own consulting business, Attract Wonder, which focuses on integrating awe and curiosity into organizations through storytelling. The discussion covers the significance of storytelling in leadership, the emotional impact of sharing personal and organizational stories, and the innovative methods Larry employs in his workshops, including the transformative power of unscripted narratives. Highlights include Larry’s experiments with blank jigsaws and puppets in team-building ex...2024-11-1130 minWe're Only HumanProximity and Approachability Enable a People-Centric Workplace CultureIn this episode of We’re Only Human, host Ben Eubanks converses with Louise Willoughby, Chief People Officer at Beekeeper, to explore the groundbreaking strategies Beekeeper has employed to enhance employee retention. The discussion underscores the importance of aligning company and employee values, and introduces impactful initiatives such as 'frontline days', mental health support platforms, and flexible learning budgets. Louise highlights programs like paid sabbaticals for personal learning projects, proactive business continuity planning, and fostering a people-centric culture through regular check-ins and manager involvement in comprehensive career conversations. These insights offer actionable advice for HR professionals aiming to cultivate su...2024-10-3122 minWe're Only HumanEmpowering Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia's Managers in Compensation TransparencyBuilding Trust in HR: Kathy White on Compensation and CommunicationIn this episode of 'We're Only Human', host Ben Eubanks talks with Kathy White, VP of HR for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, about the critical aspects of compensation and communication in the workforce. Kathy shares her experiences from the World at Work conference and her role in developing a transparent compensation strategy at her organization. The conversation covers the importance of making HR work tangible, the necessity of clear communication and building trust, and discusses methods for enabling managers to effectively handle compensation discussions. Kathy also highlights the...2024-10-2121 minWe're Only HumanAccelerating Business Agility with Poornima Farrar of RivalIn this episode of We Are Only Human, host Ben Eubanks is joined by Poornima, Chief Product Officer at Rival. Together, they discuss the latest research in Talent Acquisition, focusing on the importance of flexibility and agility within organizations. They delve into the challenges employers face in forecasting hiring needs, the necessity of personalized onboarding processes, and the evolving role of AI in talent acquisition. The conversation highlights the significance of having integrated systems to maintain data accuracy and compliance. They also touch on the evolving landscape of ATS and the critical role of skill development in maintaining an...2024-10-0728 minWe're Only HumanCentralizing the Recruiting Function and Building Global CredibilityIn this episode of We're Only Human, Ben Eubanks interviews Marcus Thorpe, Global Head of Talent Acquisition (TA) at ThoughtWorks, during the Starcircle Supernova Conference in Cork, Ireland. Marcus shares his experiences and strategies for scaling TA functions across 20 countries, centralizing recruiting processes, and leveraging data to make informed hiring decisions. Key topics include the importance of calibration, data-driven decisions, and building a cohesive global TA strategy. Marcus also provides actionable advice for TA leaders facing similar challenges in alignment and data utilization.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:03 Overview of the Conference 00:57 Conversation with Marcus Stuart Begins2024-10-0217 minWe're Only HumanFrom Burnout to Breakthrough: Redesigning Work for Human FlourishingIn this episode of We're Only Human, Ben Eubanks discusses with Jessica Teitjen about her journey from law to executive leadership in HR and IT. Jessica shares her personal experience of burnout and her subsequent deep dive into the neuroscience of human performance. They explore the disconnect between current workplace practices and positive human outcomes, emphasizing the need for practices that balance both business and human results. Jessica outlines practical steps for HR professionals to align and optimize the nervous system for better performance, advocating for balanced breathing and a holistic approach to integrating creativity, compassion, and courage in...2024-09-1618 minWe're Only HumanCreating a Workplace People Love: Insights from isolved's Amy MosherIn this episode of 'We Are Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks is joined by Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer at isolved. They discuss the crucial elements of building a company culture where employees are eager to join and reluctant to leave. Amy shares insights from her experience transforming isolved's culture, emphasizing high trust, transparency, and a focus on diversity and inclusion. The conversation also covers practical advice for HR leaders on driving business success through culture and excellent leadership. Ben and Amy share laughs and personal stories, making for an engaging and insightful discussion.00:00 Introduction...2024-09-0221 minWe're Only HumanProactive vs Reactive Talent Acquisition: Insights on Hiring Friction, Quality of Hire, and MoreIn this episode of 'We're Only Human,' host Ben Eubanks converses with James Galvin, founder of Starcircle. They discuss key aspects of talent acquisition, including being data-driven, understanding market dynamics, and achieving internal alignment within organizations. James introduces Starcircle’s 12-component Hiring Friction Model, which addresses various elements such as demand alignment, candidate experience, and technology enablement. The discussion emphasizes proactive planning and continuous improvement in hiring practices to meet business objectives successfully.Connect with James on LinkedInSee the Starcircle Hiring Friction ModelSee the show archives and sign up...2024-08-1924 minWe're Only HumanHow to Forecast and Strategically Plan for Seasonal Hiring NeedsRebroadcast note: For the first time in We're Only Human's 8-year history, we're rebroadcasting some of our most popular episodes to share them with new listeners. That means sometimes the speakers will have moved to a new company in the interim, but the lessons they shared are still relevant, topical, and valuable. Enjoy!In this episode of We're Only Human, Ben Eubanks talks with Kristi Jones, a former Talent Acquisition leader at H&R Block, about their innovative approaches to seasonal recruitment and workforce planning. Kristi shares insights on building strong hiring manager relationships, the transition from...2024-08-1335 minWe're Only HumanHint: Nobody Likes Feedback. But Here's Why Two HR Leaders Say We Need ItThis episode of We're Only Human features a keynote panel discussion with Ben Eubanks, Broc Edwards, and Dana Ullom-Vucelich. The panel focuses on the importance of creating cultures centered around giving, seeking, and receiving feedback regularly. The discussion highlights how performance reviews should be routine and uneventful if feedback has been consistently shared throughout the year. The episode stresses the need for regular communication to avoid the pitfalls of ineffective performance reviews.Speakers:1. Ben Eubanks2. Broc Edwards, Director of Learning and Leadership at Baylor University3. Dana Ullom Vucelich, CHRO of Ohio Living2024-08-0527 minWe're Only HumanAI is Eating Our Jobs and Creating a Career CliffIn this episode of "We're Only Human," host Ben Eubanks welcomes Christopher Lind to discuss the impact of AI on jobs, skills development, and the future of work. They delve into topics such as the replacement of employees by AI at Klarna, the need to rethink skills development in the age of AI, and the importance of blending human expertise with AI capabilities. The discussion offers a deep dive into how organizations can better prepare their workforce for the evolving landscape while highlighting the roles that both human skills and AI play in this transition.See the show...2024-07-2239 minWe're Only HumanDesigning a Collaborative People Strategy that Drives Business ImpactIn this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks talks with Marjorie Williamson, the leader of Global Total Rewards and HR Operations at RTI International. They discuss the importance of connecting people strategy with business strategy, focusing on RTI's ambitious North Star goal to positively impact over 1 billion people by 2030. The conversation covers topics like the development of a holistic people strategy, creating a culture and organizational health dashboard, and using total reward surveys to inform compensation strategies. Marjorie also shares insights on leadership involvement, the importance of flexibility, and the challenges and progress in implementing these strategies...2024-07-1527 minWe're Only HumanDeveloping a Frontline Workforce? Here are Critical Elements to ConsiderIn this episode of We're Only Human, Ben Eubanks hosts David Wentworth, talent platform evangelist at Schoox, to discuss the importance of developing frontline workers. They discuss the challenges frontline workers face, such as time constraints and lack of practice opportunities, and emphasize the value of mobile solutions for training and communication. David also shares examples of companies like Hooters of America and Sonesta Hotels that have successfully invested in their frontline employees, demonstrating the long-term benefits of supportive development practices.Check out the research report discussed on this episodeSee the show...2024-07-0830 minWe're Only HumanHow to Reduce Interview Cycle Time with Sarah Faupel of Enterprise MobilityIn this episode of We're Only Human, Ben Eubanks interviews Sarah from Enterprise Mobility's talent acquisition team to discuss strategies for emerging talent and improving candidate experiences. Sarah shares insights about Enterprise Mobility's internship program, onboarding processes, and an expedited hiring model to streamline the recruitment of IT talent. Sarah also emphasizes the importance of early engagement, robust training, and creating strong leadership connections for interns. The discussion also covers the benefits of quick hiring processes and methodologies for convincing stakeholders to adopt new recruiting practices. In addition, to open the episode, Ben speaks with Rocky Paap, CEO of...2024-07-0128 minWe're Only HumanUsing Neuroscience to Drive Better Learning Outcomes at WorkIn different organizations, sometimes learning is a punishment. If people don't do the right thing or there's a safety issue or a compliance issue, we send people to training. The other end of that spectrum is it's a reward for people. So, your top performers, key talent. So how do we find somewhere in the middle? We're Only Human -- Episode 179In this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks talks with learning executive and neuroscience enthusiast Hannah Conkey. The interview discusses the importance of redefining the role of learning in...2024-05-3128 minWe're Only Human3 Keys to Better Employee Retirement Savings and ReturnsWhat's it going to take for them to be able to retire? They're going to need to number one: save. Number two, have earnings on what they've saved. And number three, they're going to have to minimize the deductions coming out of their accounts. We call that the three key drivers.Chris Thixton, Principal, Pension Consultants, Inc. We're Only Human -- Episode 178In this episode of We're Only Human, host Ben Eubanks and retirement benefits strategist Chris Thixton discuss the importance of properly managing retirement plans and be...2024-04-3028 minWe're Only HumanUsing a "Me Manual" to Increase Employee Belonging"We can make the case. Research is out there that prioritizing connection over productivity is the fastest way to get the productivity. When people have the sense of belongings and feel valued and be part of something, the productivity goes up."Junko Fukuma, AVP of Talent, HealthesystemsWe're Only Human -- Episode 175In this episode of "We're Only Human," Ben Eubanks interviews Junko Fukuma about the importance of creating connections and fostering belonging in the workplace. They discuss the concept of a "me manual" as a tool to facilitate understanding and communication...2024-03-1823 minWe're Only HumanWhy HR Should Consider the CEBS Employee Benefits Certification"I also enjoy the face to face with employees. And I think I really have chosen this field of benefits, this discipline, because I want to help employees maximize the benefits that are offered to them."Summer Martin, Human Resources Generalist, STRATA-G SolutionsWe're Only Human -- Episode 174The episode features a conversation between Ben Eubanks and Summer Martin about Summer's journey in pursuing the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification. Summer shares her passion for educating employees on benefits and helping organizations enhance their benefits offerings. She discusses the importance of effective...2024-03-1320 minWe're Only HumanUnleashing the Power of Good Managers: Insights from CHRO Cheryl Gochis"And someone says, 'I don't think management's for me.' Celebrate that! When somebody says that to you, you need to celebrate and say, 'Great decision!' As an individual contributor, you have joy in your job by being excellent, by being a subject matter expert."Cheryl Gochis, Chief Human Resources Officer, Baylor University We're Only Human - Episode 173 In this episode, Ben Eubanks interviews Cheryl Gochis, the chief human resources officer at Baylor University. They discuss the importance of enabling and selecting great leaders. Cheryl highlights the impact of a good manager on their team, the importance of tr...2024-03-0427 minWe're Only HumanBenefits Broker Turned HR Leader: How to Take Control of Employee Benefits"I would be remiss to tell our employees 'you have the power to question your doctors' if I didn't tell HR people 'you have the power to question your consultants and brokers' the exact same way."Melissa Cassidy, Human Resources Leader, ValpakWe're Only Human -- Episode 171In this podcast episode, host Ben Eubanks engages in a conversation with Melissa Cassidy, focusing on the topics of benefits, HR, and employee wellness. They discuss Melissa's background and her experience in the field. Melissa shares the challenges she faced when implementing a new benefit plan...2024-02-1225 minWe're Only HumanRecruitment Process Outsourcing Research: Value and Impact"And speaking of changing expectations and what's socially acceptable, this challenge of ghosting is going through the roof, and I've got bad news for you. It's gonna get worse. When we look at the data on ghosting, we see that it's actually age correlated. So someone who is 25 is more likely than someone who's 35, who's more likely someone who's 45, and so on. So the people who are 55 years old and older in the workplace are the least likely to ghost an employer. And guess what? They're gonna steadily age out. And the ones w...2023-05-2321 minWe're Only HumanFrom Talent Transformation to L&D Fundamentals with Mike Trusty of Fannie Mae"It's a big differentiator. And I think the organizations that figure it out--the organizations that get it right--are the ones that are gonna be able to attract people. And I think organizations that don't are gonna have more of a struggle because that becomes more important as we think about just making conscious choices: how do we wanna spend our days? How do we wanna spend our working lives and what do we want to accomplish?Mike Trusty, VP of Talent and Learning, Fannie MaeWe're Only Human -- Episode 157 Digital t...2023-04-1730 minWe're Only HumanWhen Training Isn’t the Answer with Delta Dental’s Head of LearningThere's certainly the opportunity cost that comes with assigning someone from your learning team or frankly finding anybody to work on this if it's not gonna fix the problem. There's also the frustration that comes with that. I've experienced that personally and as a leader of learning professionals. It is really frustrating to spend your time and effort doing something that you think is not gonna work.Ben Sieke, Director of Talent Development and Learning, Delta DentalWe're Only Human -- Episode 156When training is the answer to a problem, it can improve...2023-03-0722 minWe're Only HumanPay Transparency and Compensation Trends with Marriott’s VP of Global Compensation "The joke is pilots get in the plane, they read their checklist, and they take off. They push the [autopilot] button and sit back and wait for the plane to land itself. But when something goes wrong, suddenly the pilot's got to take control. And then everybody's life's in that pilot's hands. I think autopilot turned off for compensation people 18 months ago."Bryan Briscoe, VP Global Compensation at Marriott International We're Only Human -- Episode 154 There's not a company in existence that hasn't needed to take a fresh look at c...2023-02-0433 minWe're Only HumanThe One Thing People Analytics Teams Often Get Wrong"I think the danger that we tend to run as people analytics teams is that we're not willing to take slightly bolder stances and say, "Hey, we have a better collective picture of the labor market. We have a better collective picture of what enterprise trends and behaviors are like." We need to give strategic guidance and not just be turning over data products."Zach Frank, Senior Manager of People Analytics, Freeman Company (formerly at Aramark)We're Only Human -- Episode 143When it comes to analytics and AI usage in the business, we...2022-07-1130 minWe're Only HumanHow to Win in the Modern Hiring Environment on We’re Only Human"Oftentimes they're looking for a quick fix. But what I will say is those that are doing [hiring] well and really moving the needle are those that are looking at this issue holistically. What is our employment brand in the market? Who are we competing with in our market? How does our total compensation package compete? Do we know how to sell to candidates?"Pam Verhoff, President, Advanced RPOWe're Only Human -- Episode 142Everyone's talking about hiring. And we all want an easy button. In this episode, Pam Verhoff and T...2022-06-1033 minWe're Only HumanPrioritizing Skills to Drive Talent Agility at H.B. Fuller"How can you build things that are as small as they can be so that you can plug and play and you can pivot and change? The way that I think about manifesting that in talent programs is thinking about more of a skills culture. If we have the skill of adapting and coping, for example, and we know that's a critical element in a lot of areas of our organization. Let's go ahead and build programs around building that skill up, then we can quickly pivot and change as the organization's needs change."Becky Layana, Global...2022-05-1934 minWe're Only HumanThe Data Behind Paid Leave and What Workers Really Want"I think the the one stat that came out of this research, that nine out of 10 employees would be more likely to stay with their employer if they had this benefit, I was just kind of blown away."Rob Whalen, CEO, PTOExchangeWe're Only Human -- Episode 140One of the most common employee benefits is paid leave. Employers offer a variety of options, from more standard accrued leave during every pay period to a newer option for "unlimited PTO." But how do people feel about these benefits? Well, the data are i...2022-04-2627 minWe're Only HumanPsychological Safety, Resilience, and Work with Dr. Allessandria Polizzi"We're talking ISO 45003 that I highly recommend people look at . Or you can talk to people like me who can break it down into regular language. Those three components of psychological health and safety, which are the structure, the environment and the expectations of behavior."Dr. Allessandria PolizziWe're Only Human -- Episode 137In the workplace today, one of the common phrases that gets thrown around a lot is "psychological safety." But what is it, and how does it fit into the bigger conversation about resilience at work? In this episode o...2022-03-2120 minWe're Only HumanThe Business and Human Value of Organizational TransformationIf we want to transform and do things differently, we always have a big "why." We have a purpose we are going after. When I think about transformation, I say, how would you make a preferred way of working which will create delightful experiences for people at the center of that change?Shalu Manan, HR Transformation StrategistWe're Only Human -- Episode 136Change is inevitable, but there is a right and a wrong way we can present and represent change as HR leaders. In today's episode of We're Only Human, Ben talks with S...2022-03-0930 minWe're Only HumanThe CHRO of Memphis on Getting to HR’s PurposeThe first advice I would say is be extremely clear about what your purpose is. When I came into this role, we were extremely clear about what not only my goal, but my purpose as a leader in what I was here to do. I think is important for all HR professionals to understand really the critical business needs for the organization that you're a part of, and what is your role in your purpose within that? Alex Smith, CHRO of the City of MemphisWe're Only Human -- Episode 135One of the t...2022-02-2323 minWe're Only HumanNew Data on Employee Mental Health, Business Impact, and Employee Perception"According to their Director of DEI and Mental Health, they've reduced short-term disability claims related to mental health by 20%, and they've reduced relapse and recurrence by more than 50%." Doug Berkowitz - SVP Operations - LifeSpeakWe're Only Human -- Episode 134In the last few years, employee mental health has become a priority for more employers than ever before. And yet the data indicate that while employers are trying to make positive changes, they aren't really being felt by the workforce nearly as much as employers would like.In this episode of W...2022-02-1523 minWe're Only HumanMythbusting AI in Talent Acquisition on We’re Only HumanThe days of a recruiter having to really remember or jot down different iterations, skills, synonyms, acronyms... Those days are gone. We are constantly learning based off of the resumes that we're parsing. Terry Bustamante, DaXtra Technologies We're Only Human -- Episode 133 Back in December, Ben and over 100 other business leaders and technology providers attended the HR Tech Connect Summit in Jacksonville, FL. At the event, one key session was called Mythbusting AI for HR, and it dove into the specific areas where myths abound because of misinformation or lac...2022-02-0718 minWe're Only HumanTop Concerns for HR in 2022 on We’re Only Human"Many employees these days may feel disconnected from their jobs or the company culture as a whole."Ralf Hofmann, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Drake Star We're Only Human -- Episode 132 One of the things that makes us all better is hearing from people outside of our bubble. In this episode, Ben talks with Ralf Hofmann, an investor and business leader that helps with funding and business deals across the HR technology industry. They dive into some of the things that are top of mind for this business leader, such as th...2022-02-0222 minWe're Only HumanCreating a Vibrant Performance Process: Insights from Two Chief People Officers"We all want to be seen, heard, and recognized."Abby Hamilton, Chief People Officer, LiveIntent We're Only Human -- Episode 131 When it comes to performance processes at most companies, the expected outcomes are compliance and completion. But in this episode, Ben talks with Shane Metcalf of 15Five and Abby Hamilton of LiveIntent to understand what it takes to create not just a process, but a true culture of performance within an organization.Shane and Abby share ideas, insights, and suggestions that every employer can leverage to create a...2022-01-0624 minWe're Only HumanStop Avoiding AI and Embrace Human Experiences on We‘re Only Human"We collect three to 4 billion talent signals in the platform. That number is so large that if you were to spread it out over each second, it's 30 years of data. It's a crazy large number, but machine learning can look at that and in a millisecond find the patterns that you're looking for and apply it to what you want in a heartbeat." Cliff Jurkiewicz, VP Global Strategy at Phenom We're Only Human -- Episode 130 Join Phenom's Industry-first AI Day at http://ai.phenom.com Arti...2021-12-0634 minWe're Only HumanWhy Not Risk Hiring Someone Amazing? Featuring Peter Sursi of the FBI on We‘re Only Human"And as I have these conversations with hiring managers and my peer executives, I often ask them things like, 'Who is the best person that works with you that comes from a non-traditional background--would you take more of them?' And of course the answer is always yes. You can! You can do that. And why not risk the possibility of getting somebody amazing?"Peter Sursi, Talent Executive, Federal Bureau of Investigation We're Only Human -- Episode 129 In today's talent market, employers need to be willing to fl...2021-11-0828 minWe're Only HumanTalent Intelligence and Compensation with Salary.com‘s CEO on We‘re Only HumanAs we provide, billions and billions of data points of pay, job descriptions, skills, information about the organization, information about people... We have all this data and talent intelligence is an emerging super category.Kent Plunkett, CEO, Salary.com We're Only Human -- Episode 127 Today, more than ever, compensation is a priority for business leaders in fast-moving organizations. Not sure that's true? Try mentioning pay equity or competitive job offers and see what comes up. In this episode, Ben interviews Kent Plunkett, CEO of Salary.com, about the...2021-09-2822 minWe're Only HumanHR‘s Role in Driving Organizational Success with Julie Salomone on We‘re Only Human"That's step one is you have to build that partnership. And hopefully now that the iron is hot, strike it. If you have been supporting your business and organization through this pandemic, how do you take advantage of that and make sure that now your voice is in the room. Make sure that now you're using your voice and you're saying some of these things. I think HR has a unique perspective to your point--we don't cause a lot of these issues, but we help solve a lot of these issues."Julie Salomone, VP of Global Human Re...2021-09-1331 minWe're Only Human20 Hiring Strategies, Ideas, and Tips for a Tight Talent Market on We‘re Only HumanThousands of people have been our dataset this year that we've been talking to and analyzing and understanding what's happening. There's so much research and evidence here to help you. Transparently, I've never seen a market like we're in today. I hope this gives you some good insights and good ideas to solve for the current challenges and an extremely difficult hiring market.Ben EubanksChief Research Officer, Lighthouse Research & Advisory Host, We're Only HumanHost, HR Tech Talks Livestream Show We're Only Human -- Episode 124 In the rare solo episode, Be...2021-08-2547 minWe're Only HumanOpenness to Failure as a Critical HR Skill on We're Only Human"I think openness to failure is as important as openness to success, because if you're not open to failure, you're not open to trying new things. Full stop. You're going to keep rolling out the same trite things that maybe aren't the best things. So it's really as important to try new things, and where you give yourself the credibility is the fact that you are measuring and you are looking at whether or not this works objectively."Caitlin Bigsby, Visier We're Only Human -- Episode 123 Want to be mo...2021-08-1828 minWe're Only HumanDigital, Secure Document Management for HR Teams on We’re Only Human"An HR manager can do whatever they need to do. We do have a vision, and the vision is that all administrative tasks should be done in less than 15 seconds."Leila Laidani, Aconso We're Only Human -- Episode 122 In the last year, companies have shifted much of their work processes to a digital format. However, legacy files and workflows don't always transition so easily. In this episode, Ben talks with the team from Aconso about how using secure, digital storage solutions can help HR leaders to not only...2021-08-1824 minWe're Only HumanWhat's Your Culture of Health? Featuring Mobile Health on We're Only Human"You need to have a competitive pay and benefits offering. When you go to do that, the employer ends up paying for a lot of things that go unused just because there's too much to communicate. What's just amazing about the time and space we're in now is you can really use personalization to surface opportunities from among and within those programs and benefits at the right time, in a way where it's really a health and benefits journey of one."John Halloran, CEO at Mobile Health We're Only Human -- Episode 1212021-08-0223 minWe're Only HumanSMB Employers, Complexity, and Compliance with Jordan Conley on We're Only Human"I had a client that in February of last year had 72 employees, all in Boulder, Colorado. By September of last year, they eliminated their office and went remote. They went from having all their employees in one state to having those same 74 employees, but across 14 different states."Jordan Conley, President, Obsidian HR We're Only Human -- Episode 120 In the United States, approximately 98% of the employers that exist have fewer than 100 employees. It's easy to get caught up in the headlines that focus on enterprise companies, but a massive segment of...2021-07-2729 minWe're Only HumanPersonalizing Talent Practices at an Individual Level with Juan Betancourt on We're Only Human"Companies can now optimize things like rewards and training and development. HR and the way companies communicate with employees is going to be based on personalization." Juan Betancourt, CEO, Humantelligence We're Only Human -- Episode 119 The "one size fits all" approach is being replaced with the "one size fits one" approach at some of the most forward-thinking companies. In your personal life, you expect personalization. Customized movie, dining, or clothing recommendations are becoming the norm. But at work, this hasn't been the case in the past. Now...2021-07-0833 minWe're Only HumanHow to Bring the HR Community Together with Bill Banham on We're Only Human"It all has to link back to practical insights and practical takeaways about how best we can come through the current crisis together."Bill Banham, Editor, HR Gazette We're Only Human -- Episode 118 One of the fun parts of the last year has been connecting with new people, finding new resources, and building new communities. Someone at the heart of that is Bill Banham, editor and publisher at the HR Gazette. As someone who covers things happening in the HR industry, he brings a unique and balanced perspective on wh...2021-06-2822 minWe're Only HumanWork Has Changed at DHL - Here's How The Company is Prioritizing Talent"Listening without solving... Is really important, because the tendency for a lot of people is when somebody comes to you with an issue, the immediate response is to try and find a solution to the problem when in fact that may not be what you need." Gordon Simpson, SVP Human Resources, DHL Global Forwarding We're Only Human -- Episode 117 Work is changing. We all know it. We've seen it. Hiring is more difficult than ever, and predictions are that it will get harder. Retaining talent is critical. Development is ess...2021-06-1026 minWe're Only HumanWorkplace Performance is 90 Percent Mental with Roger Kitchen on We're Only Human"So the nerdy neuroscience about the brain is that your brain can't distinguish between a real-time event or if you visualized it. But when you when you walk yourself mentally, emotionally, visually through those things, and you just see yourself doing them and being successful, that's the really key piece."Roger Kitchen, Mental Skills Coach We're Only Human -- Episode 115 High-performing individuals in music, athletics, and even business use coaches to help them accomplish their goals, but have you ever thought about the importance of mental skills at work? 2021-05-1425 minWe're Only HumanHuman Benefits for a Human Workforce with Maribeth Bearfield on We're Only Human"What I see is that we're no longer working from home. We're living at work. And so how do we help employees work differently?"Maribeth Bearfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bright Horizons We're Only Human -- Episode 114 In the last year, employers have struggled with how to support workers in a rapidly changing environment. Even today as some things change, others stay the same. During this episode, Ben talks with Maribeth Bearfield about how she looks at the human side of benefits that her team offers the workforce. L...2021-05-0634 minWe're Only HumanStop Anonymizing Employee Feedback--Insights from Joyous on We're Only Human"If this week a leader acknowledges [employee feedback], next week, the person is eight times more likely to participate again than if the leader said nothing the week before." Ruby Kolesky, Co-CEO and Head of Product, JoyousWe're Only Human -- Episode 113 What's your stance on employee feedback and anonymity? In today's conversation with Mike and Ruby from Joyous, they share a bold proposal: stop making employee feedback anonymous, because you're telling them that it's something to be worried about. Instead, they advocate for open feedback that can help to identify is...2021-04-2635 minWe're Only HumanOwning HR's Cybersecurity Responsibilities with Erika Lance on We're Only Human"I think as HR leaders, one of the biggest things that we have to do is never lose sight of the people."Erika Lance, SVP of People Operations at KnowBe4 We're Only Human -- Episode 110 According to research, organizations face an average cost of over $3 million for a cybersecurity breach. Do we have your attention? In today's episode, Ben talks with Erika Lance of KnowBe4 about the importance of cybersecurity and how HR can play an active role in supporting this critical business issue. At the end of...2021-03-1827 minWe're Only HumanConnecting Healthcare Operations and Recruiting at Mercy on We're Only Human"It's about understanding that workforce isn't a recruiting job. It isn't a leadership job. It's everybody's job. If you have needs in the workforce, you must communicate them. And the vehicle to do that is our recruiting team."Betty Jo Rocchio, Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy We're Only Human -- Episode 109 One of the consistent priorities in our research over the last few years for recruiters is to align with the business and build deep, strategic partnerships. In today's episode, you'll get unique insights from Mercy about how the talent ac...2021-03-0831 minWe're Only Human3 Keys to Creating and Becoming a Best Place to Work: Angie Redmon on We're Only Human"What different actions can we take going forward? So whether it was an implementation to our benefits plan or whether it was rolling out a new piece to our onboarding process, let's do an analysis at the end... Is there anything that could've made this better? Just one little thing that we could tweak so that we can learn from this." Angie Redmon, striveHR We're Only Human -- Episode 107 Today there's no shortage of employer award programs. Every magazine, business publication, website, and trade association has a version of these programs, an...2021-02-1926 minWe're Only HumanWhat is the Extended Workforce? Insights from Utmost on We're Only Human"The way work is getting done is increasingly flexible and it gives the worker the power of choice. That choice serves both the worker and the end enterprise." Dan Beck, COO of Utmost We're Only Human -- Episode 106 Quick, your business needs to fill a talent gap you have, but you don't want to hire a new staff member. What do you do? Hire a consultant? Pick up a freelancer? Snag an independent contractor? Historically, these activities have happened outside the realm of HR, partly due to comp...2021-02-1235 minWe're Only HumanHR Analyst Day *Podcast Takeover* Featuring Engagedly on We're Only Human"Be gentle with yourself. I think we can all afford a little compassion and we're often able to give that to others easier than we're able to give it to ourselves. Give yourself time for introspection to understand what truly motivates you and let that be your first step."Kristin Richter, Engagedly We're Only Human -- Episode 105 This is a special edition of We're Only Human! Last fall Ben cohosted HR Analyst Day with Jessica from Workology (who you'll hear on today's show). They talked with a wide variety of...2021-02-0527 minWe're Only HumanEngaging a Field-Based Workforce-Lessons from Nussbaum Transportation on We're Only Human"You can reconcile accounting, but you can't always reconcile people."Jeremy Stickling, Chief Administrative Officer at Nussbaum Transportation We're Only Human -- Episode 104 Turnover in some trucking and transportation companies runs nearly 100% a year, meaning they turn over virtually every employee over a 12 month period. But at Nussbaum, the turnover runs under 30% a year. What's the secret, and how can other employers with a field-based or remote workforce apply those principles to create better employment outcomes for their people? In this episode, Ben talks with Jeremy Stickling, Chief Administrative Of...2021-02-0226 minWe're Only HumanEmpowering Your Internal Experts for Better Learning Outcomes on We're Only HumanI really do believe this is a moment for learning and training that could see a transformation that benefits learners. Simon Greany, Elucidat We're Only Human -- Episode 103 How many times have we in HR and learning been forced to create content in subjects we knew little to nothing about? In today's episode, Ben talks with Simon Greany from Elucidat about how the company supports employers through technology that enables subject matter experts to cocreate learning content. At the end of the day, learning is about performance. It's...2021-01-2233 minWe're Only HumanMeasuring Productivity in the Modern Workplace: Prodoscore on We're Only Human"We can't forget about being human."Tom Moran, Chief Strategy Officer, Prodoscore We're Only Human -- Episode 102 When workers gathered to work on assembly lines, productivity was easy: you counted the widgets produced per hour. In the modern workplace, it's a much harder proposition. How do you know when knowledge workers are really accomplishing what they need to be? In today's discussion, Ben dives into those questions and more with Tom Moran of Prodoscore. Prodoscore is a productivity intelligence tool designed to help companies understand how the wor...2021-01-1526 minWe're Only HumanMediocrity, Clarity, and Personal Brand with Carla Patton on We're Only Human"We allow business leaders to dictate things based on who they like, who they golfed with the last weekend, and things like that when it should be: 'Who is doing the work and who is a benefit to our work environment and our culture?'" Carla Patton, HR Executive We're Only Human -- Episode 101 One of the challenges in the last year is that the pandemic showed the cracks in the relationships created by poor leadership. In an office environment, there are enough opportunities to smooth over mediocrity from a leadership pe...2021-01-0727 minWe're Only HumanHow Paypal Maps and Creates Employee Journeys on We're Only Human"We map the employee journey and experiences that an employee has. We do things where we can really hear, learn, and better understand the employee sentiment, directly from employees. We have feedback mechanisms built in that allow us to continually evolve, and we really look at that feedback that we get on our experiences as a gift. We welcome it. We want to hear 'what did we do' and 'how did it land' and 'how can we make it better?'"Adella Bell, PayPal We're Only Human -- Episode 100 To...2020-12-1032 minWe're Only HumanAshley Furniture Saved ~$5 Million with Employee Retention: Featuring Humantelligence on We're Only Human"So you're about to go into a meeting physically or remotely, you click on the team on the calendar invite and it'll pull up the culture of that meeting. Imagine EQ everywhere, and you're delivering emotional intelligence insights where every person can communicate, collaborate, and connect." Juan Betancourt, HumantelligenceWe're Only Human -- Episode 99 One of the issues with the tools, the technology, and the processes we use in HR is that we sometimes get away from the human at the core of it all. This episode includes an incredible case study of how Ashley F...2020-11-2734 minWe're Only HumanHow to Drive Business Innovation from Within HR on We're Only Human"Human resources is ripe for innovation right now. Innovation is definitely a place of great opportunity within human capital. We should be constantly looking out for how we can leverage what others have done in other areas and apply it to human resources functions." Karin Wagner, Senior Director of Talent Transformation at UnitedHealth GroupWe're Only Human -- Episode 98If you've ever wondered why HR seems to struggle with innovation, you're not alone.For some companies, HR expects innovation to come from other departments.For some companies, HR tries but fails to generate the...2020-11-1232 minWe're Only HumanHow Do I Support a Remote Work Culture? A Q&A Episode on We're Only Human"My company is going remote because of COVID. How do I transition our culture over?" We're Only Human -- Episode 97In today's episode, Ben takes three audience questions: How do we move to a remote work culture?What payroll technology works for a smaller organization? How do I leave a toxic workplace? We are trying out this Q&A series and would love to hear your feedback! Let us know if you enjoy it or if you want to ask your own question. Just send it to questions@upstarthr.com or record a shor...2020-10-2225 minWe're Only HumanHow Takeda Radically Transformed Its HR Operating Model on We're Only Human"I think you can't make the mistake of designing an optimal, or academically perfect HR operating model in a vacuum. It really must be aligned with your fundamental business strategy and the overall operating model." Lauren Duprey, Takeda Pharmaceuticals This is the first in a fascinating new series of episodes where we interview talent and HR leaders from a select set of IBM Talent and Transformation clients about their innovative practices and approaches. We're Only Human -- Episode 96 What does it take to change the fundamental model for...2020-10-1537 minWe're Only HumanWhy Learning is the Superpower We All Need: The Upskilling Imperative on We're Only Human"And to me, just hands down learning is the future of work. Let's just put a period on that. That's how I feel about this. We've entered this era of where there's continuous, rapid change. It just keeps coming for us. Every day we're faced with a new change. And the only way that we can sort of ride those changes or rise to them is through continuous learning." Shelley OsborneWe're Only Human - Episode 95If that statement doesn't convey the sentiment of this episode, nothing will. In this discussion with Shelley Osborne, the c...2020-09-3025 minWe're Only HumanYour Brain on Change Management-Google's Travis Hahler on We're Only Human"One of the things that I find most fascinating about using neuroscience in the [change management] work that I do is that there's a lot of really common misconceptions about neuroscience." Travis Hahler, GoogleWe're Only Human - Episode 94What is neuroscience and why should we be thinking about it as HR and business leaders? Neuroscience is the study of how the brain works, how we make decisions, and what drives our behaviors. If we can understand some of the underlying evidence and contributing factors, we can change behaviors of the people we w...2020-09-2349 minWe're Only HumanGroundbreaking Research on Organizational Agility with Oracle on We're Only Human"What we're telling customers is that we can help make work more human. First is really putting empathy at the forefront of the employee experience. It's up to HR to work with leadership and create this human experience." Munjal Munshi, Oracle We're Only Human - Episode 93Organizational agility is a critical part of adapting to and overcoming change. What does this mean in the context of the work HR does? Everything. Our newest data at Lighthouse Research & Advisory show that 96% of employers that claim to be future-ready also say tha...2020-09-1727 minWe're Only HumanIdentifying the Skills of Enterprise Organizations with Starmind on We're Only Human"At the beginning of my career, HR was looked at as a necessary evil. Now it's completely flipped to where HR is the driving force for how companies grow and expand." Eric Storm, StarmindWe're Only Human - Episode 92Skills are the currency of business. Research shows that in the 1980s, 85%+ of organizational value was in tangible assets (property, facilities, equipment, etc.) Today, that has shrunk to just 15% or less, and the rest of value is in intangible assets (ideas, capabilities, intellectual property, etc.)Skills are a key part of organizational value, but...2020-09-1028 minWe're Only HumanBlockchain, Skills, and the Future of Work with the Velocity Network Foundation on We're Only Human"We as an industry are driving toward the cliff and the HCM [technology] vendors are competing over who offers better tire pressure." Dror Gurevich, Velocity Network FoundationWe're Only Human Podcast Episode 91How are organizations gathering skill data inside the business? Our research shows that the most common method is also one of the most biased: manager observations. However, Velocity Network Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to solve the problem of unverified, unvalidated employee skills through the power of blockchain.Dror and Ben explore what this means for the future of t...2020-09-0335 minWe're Only HumanVirtual Open Enrollment and Benefits Communication Strategies on We're Only Human"We need help communicating the benefits we pour our hearts and souls into and making them successful for our employees."Jesse Albro, Flimp CommunicationsWe're Only Human Episode 90Heads up: open enrollment will happen this year. While this seems like the strangest year in, well, forever, it also has some predictable elements to it. That said, how do you plan for a virtual approach to open enrollment? How do you measure the impact of your communications/ How do you support your people as they think more carefully about health and wellness than ever...2020-08-2832 minWe're Only HumanCombining Learning, Technology, and Culture with Christopher Lind on We're Only Human"For me it's always been about focusing on how we can use technology to transform the way we develop, grow, and care for our employees." Christopher Lind, learning technology leader at GE Healthcare and founder of Learning SharksWe're Only Human episode 89In today's discussion, host Ben Eubanks digs in with Christopher Lind on how to use technology as a piece of the bigger picture of supporting the workforce from a learning perspective. Discussion topics include knowing the business, what your learning culture looks like, and how to stay current on the technologies that enable...2020-08-1827 minWe're Only HumanCompassion and Connection: Keys to a Better 2020 on We're Only Human"This year has really redefined what compassion means to me. The need to have compassion for others, whether it's wearing a mask for those at high risk when I'm going into a store or what role I can personally play in social injustice, it really is all just coming back to compassion."Lesley Lyons, PeopleStrategyWe're Only Human - Episode 88In this conversation Ben interviews Lesley Lyons, a marketing executive with PeopleStrategy, to talk about the themes of connection and compassion and how they play a part in helping each of us support...2020-08-0632 minWe're Only HumanWe're Only Human 87: This Company Screens Thousands of Candidates to Improve Inclusive Hiring Outcomes"That hiring maanger still has a view of the candidate's abilities and skills without being exposed to their race, gender, or ethnicity." Scot Sessions, Talvista Did you know that there are nearly 200 cognitive biases that affect our decisions every day? While a decision about where to eat or what to wear is unlikely to have negative consequences, making a biased choice in hiring can lead to negative outcomes for people of color, women, and other minorities. In this conversation, Ben speaks with Scot Sessions and Elaine Orler from the Talvista team to...2020-07-2235 min