Voices of HR HRMorning

Employee handbooks with clear policies that protect your business from legal risks and retaliation claims and are compliant with employment laws can be useful tools for HR. But if it's been a while since you updated your handbook, you need to listen closely to our next guest, Jake Sitman, Chair of the Employment Law and Labor Relations Group for the law firm Fitzpatrick, Lentz, and Bubba. He’ll share his insights on writing and maintaining an effective employee handbook.



Highlights

[3:01] The greatest risk for employers today

[5:17] Understanding retaliation

[8:41] The common mistake employers make

[11:42] Remote work and risk

[18:01] Harassment policy mistakes

[22:17] Where to start with reviewing your handbook

[25:52] Avoiding overly detailed handbooks

[29:46] The impact of company culture on your handbook

[33:06] Handbook best practices for HR

[36:50] The risk of having little or no documentation



Guest Bio

Jake Sitman, Chair of the Employment Law and Labor Relations Group, Fitzpatrick, Lentz and Bubba

Jake Sitman is one of Pennsylvania's leading labor and employment law attorneys, a skilled litigator who often represents employers in federal and state courts in defense of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower and wrongful discharge claims. Jake also counsels and trains business owners, executives, and HR managers in ways to reduce legal risk and how to make smart, strategic, and cost-effective personnel-related decisions. He is an author and a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics for various chambers of commerce and industry trade groups.



Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-sitman-5392879/

https://www.flblaw.com/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/the-employee-handbook/

https://www.hrmorning.com/news/dol-report-flsa-mistakes-2023/



Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



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HR pros often have to navigate situations where the company's interests may conflict with the needs of individual employees. HR veteran Jackie Plunkett has extensive experience as both an in-house practitioner and as a consultant. Today, she shares her insights on how to build trust and respect with employees while also reducing employer risk. 

Highlights

[2:46] Poor employee relations can be corrected

[6:06] Building relationships and a culture of openness

[14:35] Terminations and confidentiality issues

[16:22] Proactive relationship building with employees

[21:06] Managing up and having candid conversations with leaders

[29:56] “Evil HR departments”

[31:18] Online reviews of employers and social media videos

[34:11] HR ethics and managing risk

[42:40] AI and HR

[43:44] Staying on top of trends and compliance



Guest Bio

Jackie Plunkett, VP of HR, SuccessFuel

Jackie Plunkett is a SHRM-certified professional with more than 25 years of experience as an in-house practitioner and as a consultant in a variety of industries. She has extensive experience in employee relations, investigations, performance management, training and development, policy writing and enforcement, FMLA administration, conflict resolution, workers’ comp claims and unemployment hearings. In addition to Jackie's role as VP of Human Resources at SuccessFuel, she's a contributing writer to HRMorning.com, where she helps her HR peers tackle some of the most difficult issues facing them today.



Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-plunkett-phr-shrm-cp-b484362b/

www.successfuel.com

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/new-to-hr/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/hr-trends-forecast-2024/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/new-layoff-tiktok-trend/



Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



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Companies are missing golden opportunities to hire high performing talent that’s being trained and certified right now by nontraditional workforce development programs. To help your organization tap into traditionally overlooked talent communities, we’ve called in Michelle Sims, CEO of YUPRO Placement. Michelle tells us, "For 40 years, the trend has been to use a four-year degree as a proxy for your skills when, really, a piece of paper and a resume don't always represent what you can actually do and what you know."



Highlights

[3:25] What is skills-based hiring?

[4:10] A learn-and-earn, skills-based hiring success story involving an internship

[10:35] Getting connected with local nonprofits and nontraditional workforce development programs

[14:18] What nonprofits and workforce development programs are training for

[17:44] Apprenticeships involving modern business skills

[19:42] Addressing common concerns and objections, and building momentum, for skills-based hiring

[25:23] Practical tips for companies transitioning to a skills-based approach

[29:32] Building advocacy for skills-based hiring

[30:47] Lifetime support for workforce development program alumni and the potential future of talent



Guest Bio

Michelle Sims, CEO, YUPRO Placement

Michelle Sims is the CEO of YUPRO Placement, a skills-first placement firm that sources, recruits, retains, and advances historically excluded talent. A champion of skills-based hiring, Michelle leads a purposeful ecosystem of employers and training providers who collaborate on and commit to creating equity in our workforce. Michelle has been recognized on both the SIA Global Power Women 150 List and the SIA DEI Influencer list and is a regular contributor with the Forbes Business Council as a subject matter expert on employers adopting skills-first hiring practices in order to create equitable career pathways for overlooked talent.



Links

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellesims-/⁠

⁠https://yupro.com/⁠

⁠https://yupro.com/skills-to-staff-apprenticeship/⁠

https://yupro.com/driving-economic-mobility/

⁠https://yupro.com/talent-testimonials/⁠

⁠https://www.accenture.com/us-en/about/company/apprenticeships⁠

⁠https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/apprenticeships/⁠



Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



If you love this show, please share your favorite episodes with colleagues and on social media. We greatly appreciate your support.

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Voices of HR is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HRMorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For many companies, employing formerly incarcerated individuals may seem like a high-risk proposition. However, there are more people with charges and convictions than you realize. And there are plenty of moving, life-changing success stories that show that fair chance hiring can be good for your business. Ken Oliver, Vice President of Checkr.org shares his own success story and tells us that “fair chance hiring doesn’t mean hire every single person with a record. Every company has a right to hire the best person for the job. We don’t want them to lower the bar, we just want them to lower the barrier to access.”

Episode Note: See the links below to learn more about Checkr.org and to view the incredible story of Ken Oliver’s Friend, Larry Miller - From Prison to Nike’s C-Suite: Larry Miller’s Journey.



Highlights

[2:29] From prison to VP

[5:36] The value proposition of re-entry programs

[11:36] Overcoming objections to fair chance hiring

[16:13] Data and evidence supporting fair chance hiring

[18:00] The “From the Streets to the Boardroom” resilience story of a leader at Nike

[23:58] The business impact of diversity of lived experiences

[26:50] The justice-impacted and the labor gap

[36:07] How HR can introduce fair chance hiring and tactical things to consider

[41:38] What the EEOC and Title VII say about hiring someone with a record

[45:57] Checkr’s training sessions for HR pros and government-funded apprenticeship programs



Guest Bio

Ken Oliver, Vice President, Checkr.org

Ken Oliver is Vice President of Checkr.org, the social impact division of background screening company Checkr Inc. He also serves as the executive director of the Checkr Foundation. Checkr.org is dedicated to the mission of building a fairer future of work, one job at a time, by reshaping the narrative and providing pathways to sustainable employment for nearly 80 million Americans with an arrest and conviction record.

Ken's professional expertise spans the landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion and justice, record clearance, talent development, talent sourcing, strategy, change management, and public policy. His insights and contributions to the field have been recognized and featured in publications such as Newsweek, Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, and others.

He also played a role in shaping California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2021 Future of Work Report.

Links

https://checkr.com/

https://www.checkr.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kengoliver/

Larry Miller’s Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ZVqsjfRg0

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/formerly-incarcerated/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/second-chance-month/



Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



If you love this show, please share your favorite episodes with colleagues and on social media. We greatly appreciate your support.

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Voices of HR is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HRMorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Although some companies have been cutting back on their DEI efforts lately, Mita Mallick, the Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at financial software company Carta, says, “Now’s not the time to put DEI on the back burner. There’s a business case for creating an inclusive workplace and fostering a culture of belonging. Right now, in the US, 40% of individuals identify as non-white. That number is rapidly changing. That doesn't include individuals with disabilities, veterans, the LGBTQ+ community, and others. If you don't have those voices and talent in your organization I don't know how you expect to stay competitively successful.”


Highlights

[2:32] The challenges and opportunities facing DEI efforts in the workplace

[8:35] Why does inclusion matter?

[10:40] Why microaggressions and bullying happen get tolerated

[13:24] Strategies for responding to complaints about microaggression

[16:15] How bias can be an obstacle to pay equity

[19:14] Some top myths about inclusion in the workplace

[21:05] Confusion among C-suite leaders about DEI’s impact on their company brand

[23:20] Tips for HR professionals who are working to create an inclusive workplace

[29:00] Treating DEI as an important business function

[31:50] What should employers strive to be?



Guest Bio

Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact, Carta

Mita Malik is the Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at the financial software company Carta. She previously worked with leading iconic brands like Aveeno, Avon, ChapStick, Vaseline, Suave, and Dove, ensuring that black and brown people were represented in advertising campaigns. Mita is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, co-host of the “Brown Table Talk” podcast, and a contributing writer to Harvard Business Review, Adweek, and Entrepreneurial Data.



Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/

https://carta.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mita_mallick13/?hl=en

https://www.amazon.com/Reimagine-Inclusion-Debunking-Transform-Workplace/dp/1394177097

https://www.hrmorning.com/news/microaggressions-toxic-workplaces/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/6-dei-pitfalls-to-avoid/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/deib/

Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



If you love this show, please share your favorite episodes with colleagues and on social media. We greatly appreciate your support.

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Voices of HR is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HRMorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Leveraging competitive benefits that appeal to everyone is a challenge for a lot of HR pros today. According to Amy Spurling, the founder and CEO of Compt, “A lot of companies have really great programs, but when they start looking at utilization, it's usually around 3 to 5% per thing that you're offering. It is very low. And so you're spending across each individual thing and getting incredibly low utilization. The challenge is then to reach more people and keep more people engaged without cutting benefits.” A former CFO and COO, Amy shares strategies for increasing engagement while offering employees the opportunity to make personalized decisions that are best for them.

Highlights

[3:00] The kinds of benefits it takes to attract and retain talent today

[9:41] How does a stipends-based benefits program give employees more control?

[13:50] What benefits employees are attracted to

[15:37] The impact of stipends on the local economy

[18:01] How one company got its CFO behind a stipend-based benefits program

[20:54] Impact of stipend benefits portfolios on employee engagement and retention

[24:50] Emerging benefits trends

[26:32] The impact of benefits on employee diversity, equity and inclusion

[30:01] Stipend utilization by salaried vs. non-salaried employees

[35:52] Stipends can dramatically improve employer-employee relationships



Guest Bio

Amy Spurling, Founder and CEO, Compt

Amy Spurling is the founder and CEO of Compt, an HR software company that enables companies to offer personalized, globally inclusive, and fully tax-compliant employee lifestyle benefits. Amy's experience as a former CFO and COO drives her belief that companies and employees can achieve much more together when employees are fully supported. A seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience in leadership roles at venture-backed companies, Amy has also closed over 10 rounds of financing, totaling more than $200 million, and managed two acquisitions to close. Amy received her master's of business administration from the Simmons School of Management, and a bachelor of arts from the University of Rochester.



Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyspurling/

https://www.compt.io/

https://resources.compt.io/2024-lifestyle-benefit-benchmarking-report-0

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/lifestyle-benefits-in-2024/

https://www.hrmorning.com/articles/cancer-benefits-in-2024/



Berta Aldrich’s best-selling book, Winning the Talent Shift, is available on Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/iS7MuPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We want to hear from you. Leave a review (5-Star would be nice!) on Apple Podcasts and add your question in the comment. We read every review and use them to choose topics, guests, and interview questions for the podcast. You can also reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@hrmorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 



If you love this show, please share your favorite episodes with colleagues and on social media. We greatly appreciate your support.

Thank you for listening. Remember to subscribe and follow us so you never miss an episode! 

Voices of HR is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HRMorning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.