Let me share something personal. Early in my HR career, I worked at a company where innovation was the buzzword of the month. Leadership plastered posters about “thinking outside the box” everywhere. But here’s what really happened: Sarah, a sharp mid-level manager, proposed a new client onboarding process that could…
Let me tell you about the worst feedback session I ever had to give. Early in my HR career, I had to tell a manager – let’s call him Dave – that his team was terrified of him. Not “a little intimidated.” Full-on, panic-attack-during-one-on-ones, terrified. I prepared for days, rehearsed…
Let me tell you about my friend Sarah (name changed, but the story’s real). She was killing it at her marketing job – promotions, great reviews, the whole deal. Then her dad died suddenly. She asked HR about bereavement leave and was handed a pamphlet about their Employee Assistance Program.…
Let’s be honest—workplace conflict is exhausting. As an HR professional, you’ve probably found yourself playing referee more times than you’d like. Two employees are at each other’s throats over a project. A manager and their direct report are locked in a power struggle. There is a quiet but deadly tension…
Let me tell you about Sarah, the best hire we almost missed. She walked into the interview looking nothing like our typical candidate. No Ivy League degree. No big-name companies on her resume. When we asked why she wanted this job, she didn’t give the polished corporate answer – she…
Let me tell you about Maria, an ER nurse I worked with last year. After 18 brutal months of pandemic surges, she was running on fumes – snapping at colleagues, calling in sick twice a month, and seriously considering leaving the profession she loved. Then her hospital rolled out a…
Look, I’m just gonna say it – managing a hybrid team is like trying to herd cats while blindfolded. Some days you feel like you’ve got it all figured out, and other days you’re staring at Slack wondering why half your team has been “in a meeting” for six straight…
Look, I get it. You’re reading this on your lunch break, hiding in the bathroom stall because your manager just pulled another power move. Maybe they took credit for your work (again). Maybe they scheduled another pointless Friday afternoon meeting (of course, they did). Or maybe they’re just making your…
Look, we’ve all been there. The email goes out about the annual company food drive, and half the team suddenly develops “prior commitments.” The other half shows up, poses for a few photos, and spends the whole time checking their watches. But what if I told you corporate volunteering doesn’t…
Let me tell you about the worst wellness program I’ve ever seen. A former employer brought in a perky consultant who made us do trust falls at 8 AM on a Monday. Half the team “coincidentally” came down with the flu that morning. The other half? We’re still in therapy.…
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