Human Resources For Small Business

Time is precious. So why is it so challenging for us to prioritize and effectively manage where our time goes? Are there proven methods that could help us take back control of our time, easing our stress and improve many aspects of our work and personal lives? Bethanne Kronick, owner and CEO of Simplify Northwest, joins Brandon Laws in a discussion of all sorts of time management hacks and tricks, from how to prioritize tasks, get through email more efficiently, ensure meetings are useful and productive for all involved, and the one quick task you should do every morning to better organize your day and set yourself up to get more done.   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 About the Guest: 

In this unusual podcast episode, Senior HR Business Partner Molly Kelley opens up about her decision to transition out of her role at Xenium. She and Brandon discuss the ideal process and communication for smooth transitions for key employees, from the angles of both employee and employer. Listen in for recommendations on timelines, employee communication, client communication, as well as how to handle less amicable employee transitions.   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   About the Guest:  Connect with Molly Kelley

Episode number one started with Lacey Halpern, a Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Xenium HR, so we brought her back to celebrate episode number 100. In this "mailbag" episode, Lacey answers rapid fire questions on everything from defining illegal interview questions to how much time managers should spend with low performers versus high performers to what she believes the future workplace will look like.    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   About the Guest:  Connect with Lacey Halpern  

What's the difference between bullying and harassment, and when do they become the same thing? What are the stages of bullying and how can you catch the signs early before it escalates into a real issue that emotionally impacts people, both those involved and those observing? Catherine Mattice, author of Back Off! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, founder of Civility Partners, international speaker, HR consultant and expert in workplace bullying joins Brandon Laws to discuss the often overlooked issue of workplace bullying and the root cause of the problem of bullying.   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   About the Guest:  Buy Back off Learn about Civility Partners Connect with Catherine Mattice  

There's a lot of buzz around establishing a compelling mission, vision, and values for your company. But what are the real world impacts of having these in place, and how do you use them to create value for your employees and customers? Shawn Busse, CEO of Kinesis Inc., joins Brandon Laws in a discussion of how their work as marketing leaders overlaps and coexists with the work of human resources when it comes to integrating the mission, vision and values inside of people practices, recruiting, and marketing processes. 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   About the Guest:  Learn about Kinesis Connect with Shawn Busse

Conflict and disagreement are inherent parts of human existence. The simple fact is that no matter how congenial and friendly and inclusive your organization is, problems should and will arise. The real question is how we respond to those problems. Maybe an employee chooses to say nothing, hoping the problem will go away, until their anger bottles up and bursts out one day. Then what happens? As an HR manager or the employees' supervisor, what strategies should you use to resolve the disagreement? How do you foster genuine empathy between employees and encourage either/one of them to offer true, full apologies - and what actually makes an apology true and full? Chris Sheesley, founder of In-Accord NW and a conflict management professional with over 25 years of experience, joins the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of conflict resolution and recommendations for responding to these all-common issues in the way that benefits everyone involved.   How to Support this Show: Subscribe on your favorite podcast ap

In honor of our upcoming 100th episode, we’re turning the mic on our regular host, Brandon Laws. Listen in as Angela Perkins, VP of Sales & Marketing, gets Brandon’s take on HR trends, what it’s like to be a marketer for Xenium, inside of a human resources consulting company, and all things podcast—from favorite episodes to lessons learned to a little sneak peek of what’s to come.  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   Connect with Angela Perkins on LinkedIn

So often, we measure and talk about our work day in terms of time - the 40 hour week, the 9-to-5 job, the flex-time perk, and more. Jody Thompson, co-author of Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: The Results-Only Revolution and Why Managing Sucks and How to Fix It: A Results-Only Guide to Taking Control of Work, Not People, offers a new way of viewing our own work and others': with a results-only focus where your success or failure is based upon measurable results. Listen in as Brandon and Jody discuss the merits of a results-only work environment, what it could look like in different industries or types of organizations, and how it helps both people and the bottom line. 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   About the Guest:  Why Work

How much of our decision making is truly born out of our own deeply held beliefs and values rather than a product of messaging from brands and media or the social influence of our family, friends, and peers? Tyler Meuwissen, Xenium's Compensation & HR Analyst, joins Brandon Laws in a discussion of Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior by Jonah Berger, in which they delve into several subjects including how we buy products to how we participate in meetings at work.   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 Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com  

We've all been the new person at a company, trying to get our footing in a new role and within a new industry. It can be a lot to take in, particularly when each company has its own set of acronyms and internal jargon they frequently rely on. "Think out of the box," "I'll ping you," "let's be sure to bake that into the process," "we should avoid any tissue rejection on this specifically," - the list goes on! We're all guilty of it, and we're all likely aware of how confusing it can be for a newcomer. So why do we keep using workplace jargon? James Sudakow, consultant, speaker, and author of Picking the Low-Hanging Fruit...And Other Stupid Stuff We Say in the Corporate World joins Brandon Laws in a conversation about conversation and what we can all do to clarify our communication. Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book and/or take our survey and be entered to win a free book! Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR Learn about James Sudakow | Buy the book

As human beings, we are attuned to detect trustworthiness. It's often a gut feeling we get about a person, an organization, a brand, a place - almost anything. So how do we make sure that the people around us find us trustworthy? How do we broach tough conversations about our own areas for improvement, or someone else's, without it going south or just getting awkward? And what can trust really do to transform our workplace and our work relationships? Thomas Cox, business consultant and author of over 300 articles on leadership, joins the podcast to discuss the three pillars of trust and delve into how seemingly minor interactions and decisions can have huge impacts on others' perception of the kind of person you are.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR Connect with Thomas Cox  

When it comes to social media, the lines between public and private are blurred—especially in the workplace. There’s certainly nothing wrong with coworkers connecting via social. But what happens when an employee starts posting about their political views? Or their workplace? Or other employees? Listen in as Suzi Alligood and Brandon Laws discuss what’s protected and expected under Oregon law, communication tactics for defusing tense situations and leadership approaches to help keep social media in its place.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR   Connect with Suzi Alligood

The open office is definitely having a moment. One of many workplace trends that’s made its way from Silicon Valley to offices everywhere, it’s meant to fuel collaboration and productivity, increase visibility and knock down hierarchy. But Lindsey Kaufman, a creative director in NYC and Washington Post author of “Google got it wrong. The open-office trend is destroying the workplace,” would beg to differ. Join us as we discuss the downfalls of the open-office layout and the tweaks that could make things better for everyone.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR Connect with Lindsey Kaufmaun

Your company has fallen on hard times, and you have no choice but to let go of highly skilled, talented employees - who you may have a hard time tracking down or finding qualified replacements for once you're financially able to rehire for those positions. Or is there another way? The Work Share program in Oregon (name varies in other states) offers an alternative that involves an hour reduction for multiple employees, while subsidizing partial unemployment insurance benefits to those employees. Salena De La Cruz, Project Manager at Work Share for the Oregon Employment Department, joins the podcast for a deep dive into the mission of the program, how to go about applying as an employer, what benefits employers and employees alike will receive, and highlights of recent improvements that have streamlined the program.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR Learn about Work Sha

Informational interviewing can give you or your employees the opportunity to gain perspective and hear tips and advice when at a career crossroads. So why isn't it talked about more, and why aren't employers actively encouraging their employees to interview or be interviewed themselves more often? Lacey Halpern, Sr. HR Business Partner at Xenium, joins Brandon Laws in a discussion of the do's and don't's of informational interviewing and a walkthrough of how to get started getting the most out of this key professional development strategy.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn Learn about Xenium HR Follow Lacey on LinkedIn

Gaining direct access to the knowledge and skills of others can be a challenge for those who have the desire to grow professionally. But what if employers could build an effective mentor program that that granted access to internal and cross-company mentors? What would effect would that have on the growth, development, and engagement of employees? Heidi Holmes, Co-Founder of Mentorloop joins the podcast to discuss how many organizations are uncovering the secret to building the most effective mentor programs to drive employee engagement and retention of top talent.   Review us on iTunes Take our survey   Learn More: Connect with Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn | Email Learn about Xenium HR Learn about Heidi Holmes and Mentorloop 

Millennials are continuing to pour into the workplace, and by 2020 they are expected to represent nearly half of the workforce. As managers and leaders, how do we best communicate with this generation? What are their common behaviors that we need to adapt to, and what do millennials want and hope to get out of their work? Lee Caraher, author of Millennials and Management: The Essential Guide to Making it Work at Work and founder of Double Forte, joins the podcast to discuss these questions and much more as it relates to managing and working alongside millennials.   Review us on iTunes Take our survey   Learn More: Connect with Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn | Email Learn about Xenium HR Learn about Lee Caraher | Buy Millennials and Management and Pre-Order The Boomerang Principle

At Xenium, it’s our job to stay on top of the various workplace and HR trends that come our way. And in this podcast, we’ll talk about the belief that HR should be replaced or absorbed into other business departments. Is it a good idea? Listen in to find out. We’ll be discussing the viability of this approach, the role of HR and the real duties of the department. Whether it skews administrative or strategic, we’ll be talking through the ways your HR department can be refocused to do more for your organization.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Connect with Brandon Twitter | LinkedIn | Email Learn about Xenium HR Follow Angela on LinkedIn

When it comes to hiring fresh talent, there’s a new demographic in town. With boomers retiring and Gen Xers aging, millennials are taking over the workforce and changing the way companies attract and retain new talent. In this episode, we’ll be discussing all the ins and outs of recruiting and hiring millennials—why it’s worth it and what to expect. Listen in as we decode the values and behaviors of today’s job seekers to arm you with the knowledge you need to connect with the next generation of top talent.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Connect with Brandon Twitter | LinkedIn | Email Learn about Xenium HR Follow Paige on LinkedIn

So much of the job seeking process has moved online into social media, job boards, and applicant tracking systems. But is this the most effective way to job search these days? What about the so-called "hidden job market," and how do we find those less publicized or Google-able opportunities? Peter Paskill, Owner and CEO of CareerMakers, joins Brandon Laws in a discussion of how to navigate the job market in a focused, determined way, and come out of it with your dream job. In this podcast, Peter not only shares best practices for job seekers, but he provides insight to the behaviors of job seekers that recruiters will learn from.   Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book! Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!   Contact Information: Connect with Brandon - Twitter | LinkedIn | Email Learn about Xenium HR Learn about Peter Paskill and CareerMakers | Buy Peter's Book