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Having a conversation with an employee about why you’re letting them go is never fun. Sometimes it can even be difficult or challenging. In this episode, Jill Shroyer, Founder and CEO of Expedition HR and best-selling author of the book Conquer Sticky Situations, shares helpful phrasing for when you need to let someone go. This five-step formula will give you the basics to handle any tough conversation. She also shares some tips to accommodate for the nuanced “what if” scenarios. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ Check out Jill’s book, Conquer Sticky Situations: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736213407 On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:45] An overview of the steps [02:22] Tips to keep in mind [04:37] Sample employee termination script

Even though employee engagement is all the rage right now, according to Gallup, only 33% of employees feel engaged at work. In this episode, David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, shares why engagement is so important to a company’s success and how to survey your employees to gauge where they’re at. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:25] The benefits of an engaged team [01:30] Addressing the need to create happier, more engaged employees [2:40] Customizing your surveys

When you’re putting a lot of resources toward recruitment efforts, it’s important to understand what those costs are to determine only if they are worth the return you’re getting. In this episode, Catie Grigsby, Senior Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, shares ways you can calculate cost per hire and ultimately decide if what you’re doing is worth continuing. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:26] Costs that contribute to hiring [01:15] Personnel costs [01:45] Employee turnover rates

It's no secret. If you want to build a great company, you must start by investing in your people. Without this proactive approach, it’s hard to grow. In this episode, Morgan Furchner, Associate Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, shares how you can help train, develop, and grow leaders to push your business to the next level. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:28] Invest in your people to grow your organization [00:50] What happens when employees don’t get training [01:34] Treat the employee experience like the customer experience [02:44] The power of building relationships [03:15] Establish what’s in it for them

Only a decade ago, HR teams had to be careful of leaving sensitive employee information on a copy or fax machine. Technology has changed drastically since then, making cybersecurity a much more real issue. Lourdes Rivera, Senior Director of People at Electric, shares why cybersecurity matters for HR professionals. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:27] How technology has changed [01:32] What the pandemic did to security [03:01] IT needs are evolving quickly [04:05] Where there are challenges [04:50] Ways to protect your people and business [06:45] How Electric could help

In 2021, we saw almost 50 million people quit their jobs in what was dubbed as “The Great Resignation.” In this war for talent, how do organizations create an exceptional brand to attract and retain talent? Ankur Patel, Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, joins the show to share his insight. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [01:55] Brand building is emotional [02:30] Lead with your values [03:42] Share your story [05:08] Find your brand ambassadors [06:50] Don’t underestimate tone and voice

There’s been a shift among organizations to focus more on their employees, because if employees are thriving, it will in turn help customers. So who is responsible for this culture of employee growth? Ankur Patel, Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, joins the show to share how the CEO fits into the puzzle. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:38] People want to see the company value them [02:05] Where the CEO needs to set expectations [03:58] Think through the milestones

Part of having great employees is having a great recruiting and hiring process, which is why it's so important for companies to monitor how successful the process is to ensure continued success for the company. Lora Patterson, a People Operations Advisor at TriNet Zenefits, joins the show to share ways you can measure this success from both the candidate and manager perspective. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:45] Remember to serve people who are part of the process [01:18] Survey questions to ask hiring managers [04:21] Following up on how candidates are performing [05:29] Survey questions for your candidates

With a wide range of disabilities that exist, it can be hard to keep track of all the accommodation options you can offer employees needing assistance. In this episode, Lucy Henry, People Operations Advisor at TriNet Zenefits, shares examples of what accommodations can be made under the ADA and resources to help you find solutions that fit the needs of your employees. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [01:05] Examples of ADA accommodations [02:15] Resources for employers to find accommodation solutions

If you’re a company with over 15 employees, it is a federal requirement that you comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ****In this episode, Lucy Henry, People Operations Advisor at TriNet Zenefits, helps describe the ADA and the steps involved in complying with the interactive process. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:35] What is ADA? [01:49] How businesses must comply [03:00] The ADA interactive process, step by step [06:05] What’s considered undue hardship on the employer?

HR organizational design is the administration and execution of an organization's strategic plan. Ultimately, it's about creating the best fit between the strategic choice of the organization and the organization setting. So how do you do it successfully? Catie Grigsby, Senior Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, shares her insight into how to do organizational design right. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:24] The definition of organizational design [00:51] Five principles of organizational design [01:15] Common mistakes companies make

The hiring process can be overwhelming, and it can often feel like a guessing game trying to find that perfect candidate for your company and the role you’re trying to fill. Lora Patterson, a People Operations Advisor at TriNet Zenefits, joins the show to go over the steps your company can take to find those great employees. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:32] Understand how their career goals fit with the job [01:03] Check references with different questions [01:45] Don’t just focus on their resume [03:00] Ask unusual or uncommon questions [04:08] Bring them into another environment [05:11] Take your time; push for diversity

Is your organization experiencing a lot of turnover? It can be overwhelming to figure out what to do when it’s happening, let alone prevent it from becoming an uncontrollable pattern. In this episode, Summer Rogers, Senior Solution Consultant from the embedded analytics team at Visier, joins the show to share what you can do proactively and what you can do reactively to combat this issue. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [01:12] Thoughtfully design culture and avoid toxic managers [02:23] Invest in development opportunities for your employees [03:20] Act on what you learn in stay interviews [04:00] Reactive measures to keep your people; counter offers [05:15] Consider boomerang workers

People analytics aren’t a trend. They’re becoming a necessity as companies grow and thrive in the market. Why do you need them? Ian Cook, VP of People Analytics at Visier, shares insights around the importance of tracking people data and some basics you can start with. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:39] Ian’s small business story [03:40] What people analytics looks like today [04:35] What intelligence you need to run your business [05:22] Understanding the impact of headcount [08:30] Understanding employee starts [09:45] How the movement of people affects costs [11:11] More mature analytics to track

In today's increasingly complex world, acting on gut feelings is not always the best way to make company decisions, especially when it involves your people. Andrea Derler, Principal of Research and Value at Visier, shares what workforce trends leaders should be aware of and the analytics they should track alongside them. Additional Resources: Stop the Exit Leader's Data Mindset: Deloitte/Visier Research Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:52] Analytics around attracting and retaining talent [04:27] Analytics around diversity, equity, and inclusion [08:22] Analytics around leader’s data mindset [11:28] Why people analytics matter

Any change starts with your people. When decisions need to be made, people’s opinions will differ, and it’s HR’s job to make decisions that take everyone's view into account. In this episode, David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, talks about how the rational and emotional aspects of decision-making can play into people operations. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:28] What does “emorational” mean? [01:19] Taking everyone’s view into account [02:00] Balancing business and people

As an HR leader, the process of expanding your workforce outside of your current country can be unfamiliar territory. There’s so much to consider, and it can be overwhelming not knowing what types of hurdles you might need to go through. In this episode, David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, talks through some key questions to ask before starting the process. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:28] Why companies expand global workforces [00:58] The role of HR during expansion [01:12] Questions you should ask

70 million Americans have some form of a criminal record in their past. This means there are 70 million Americans who aren’t give a fair chance and are overlooked as viable job candidates. Believe it or not, fair chance hiring is a key part of DEI strategies, and it’s something companies don’t really think about. In this episode, Jordan Martinez, Marketing Manager at Checkr, interviews Ken Oliver, Executive Director of Checkr.org, Checkr’s corporate social responsibility program in philanthropic initiative. Listen in as he shares insight into what fair chance hiring is, the benefits it can generate, and how organizations can incorporate it into their DEI strategy. Additional Resources: Download the eBook, The Diversity Group You’re Overlooking: How to be a Fair Chance Employer: https://checkr.com/resources/ebook/decrease-recidivism-with-fair-chance-hiring?utm_source=zenefits&utm_medium=email-soical&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=downloadcontent Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [01:02] Ken’s background in social work and DEI [02:41] Being a product-first corporate social responsibility endeavor [03:58] What is fair chance hiring and how it relates to DEI [06:14] Overcoming your biases [08:03] Where to start incorporating fair chance hiring practices

People are an organization's greatest asset. Ensuring your employees are motivated begins with understanding what their basic human needs are and how to support them in the workplace. In this episode, Morgan Furchner, Associate Product Marketing Manager at TriNet Zenefits, shares the basic needs employers should be fulfilling and how to determine if you’re supporting those needs. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:30] Reference Maslow’s hierarchy of needs [02:32] How to determine if you’re supporting those needs [05:00] The benefits of supporting the basics

To stand out in today's competitive job market, employers and hiring teams must provide candidates with the best experience possible. But what elements make a great interview process? On this episode, Josh Jones, the Manager of Talent Acquisition at Employ Inc., shares his insight on what will enable your hiring teams to provide a great candidate experience. Additional Resources: Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/ On this episode, you’ll hear: [00:44] Starting with people [02:18] Having a well-defined interview process [04:31] Incorporating technology [06:42] Standing out in recruiting