We're Only Human

Why 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 Solutions
We're Only Human -- Episode 174
The 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 communication in benefits and the value of specialized certifications in HR. The conversation highlights the role of benefits in attracting and retaining talent, as well as the significance of tailoring benefits information to different audiences.
Show Notes
Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
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Unleashing 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 truthful job descriptions for manager roles, and the need for HR professionals to understand and support the business they serve. The interview also highlights the value of sharing real stories and narratives to guide managers, rather than adopting a formulaic approach.
Show Notes
Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn
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Learning in the Age of AI with JD Dillon

"My refrigerator broke one day and I didn't call a repair person. I didn't go to refrigerator repair school. I went to YouTube, found a person who had a similar problem, followed along, fixed the problem, moved on. And then we go to work and suddenly you can't do that anymore."
JD Dillon, Chief Learning Officer, Axonify
 
We're Only Human - Episode 172
In this episode, Ben talks with JD Dillon, a learning leader and advocate for frontline workers and the use of technology to support learning outcomes. In the conversation, they discuss the concept of the modern learning ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of enabling frontline workers and exploring the evolution of learning technology and its impact, particularly for frontline employees. The conversation focuses on the practical application of technology to improve work experiences, including personalized learning, language barriers, and the promise of AI. Three takeaways for listeners include:
1. The evolving role of learning technology in supporting frontline workers.
2. The potential for technology to address challenges such as language barriers and accessibility.
3. The importance of rethinking the work experience and leveraging technology to enable personalized, equitable, and effective learning and development.
Show Notes
Connect with JD on LinkedIn
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Benefits 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, Valpak
We're Only Human -- Episode 171
In 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 and the importance of gathering employee feedback. Moreover, they dig into the strategies they used to educate and support employees in terms of benefits and financial literacy. 
Key Takeaways:
Gathering employee feedback is crucial: Melissa emphasizes the significance of listening to employees and their needs when it comes to benefits. Conducting surveys and actively seeking input from employees can help shape effective benefit strategies.
Tailor education and communication: Melissa highlights the importance of delivering benefit information in a way that meets the needs of the diverse employee population. Using various communication channels, such as in-person meetings, virtual visits, and recorded presentations, allows employees to access information at their convenience.
Holistic approach to employee wellness: In addition to focusing on health benefits, Melissa's organization prioritizes mental and financial well-being. Providing access to financial advisors and mental health resources demonstrates a commitment to the overall well-being of employees beyond just health insurance coverage.
Show Notes
Check out Melissa on LinkedIn
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Can You Really Prove the Value of Learning and Training Activities?

"So when it comes to training and learning as a viable solution for helping people be the best that they can be in the roles that they serve, I believe that that's always been important.  We've just not always been able to illustrate impact in the past the way in which we're able to now. That is because of the different types of tools and resources and knowledge that we've gained about the science of measuring the impact of training and learning."
Kevin M. Yates, The L&D Detective
We're Only Human -- Episode 170
 
It's an age-old problem: We're training people, but how do we know if it's working? What's the impact? What's the result? What's the ROI? 
In this interview with Kevin M. Yates, the learning detective and a daily practitioner with experience in learning analytics and measurement at organizations like Meta and McDonald's, you'll learn about how measuring and proving training value is closer than ever before. 
 
Show Notes
Check out Kevin's nonprofit: https://mealsinthemeantime.org/ 
Check out Kevin's work: https://kevinmyates.com/ 
See the show archives and sign up for episode updates: https://lhra.io/podcast 
 

A Case Study in Hiring with Intentionality, Not by Accident

"So it's really designed to be a two-way street and to create that conversation from the very, very beginning points. So we're setting the expectations for what employment is going to be like, especially as a leader at our company."
Nicole Hirsch, Sr Recruiting Manager, Lattice
We're Only Human -- Episode 169
 
Teaching hiring managers how to interview... It sounds like a foregone conclusion, yet data from the 2023 Lighthouse Research & Advisory Modern Screening Practices Study of more than 500 employers shows that it's not happening as much as it should. Employers put their reputation on the line every time they let hiring managers speak with candidates, but they don't always do a good job of preparing them for what to say, how to say it, etc.
In this conversation between Ben and Nicole Hirsch, a senior recruiting leader, you'll hear how to approach this with intentional focus in order to drive the best hiring results. 
 
Show Notes
Thanks to Brighthire for connecting us with Nicole! https://brighthire.com 
Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolethomsenhirsch/
See the show archives and sign up for episode updates: https://lhra.io/podcast 
 

Building a Career in HRIS and HRIT - Insights from the Trenches

"Like a lot of people, it's something I fell into. I don't think there's anybody out there that woke up and said, "When I grow up, I want to be an HR tech/HRIS person. So I had a background in social work, counseling, and nonprofit, then got into it and then ended up working in an HRIS role implementing a learning management system.
That was my first kind of true HRIS and I'd never worked with learning management before. I'd never worked in HR before. So it was a learning experience for me. But since then, I've grown in responsibility and different systems that I've worked with, and I've gotten a lot of experience doing data analytics, people analytics and system support.
I just love that blending of technology and people."
Tim Whitley, Director of HR Technology, Oklahoma State
 
We're Only Human -- Episode 168
Everyone knows the core elements of human resources: hiring, training, compliance, payroll... But what about HRIS?
What does it take to excel in that type of role, and how do you get into that specific discipline of HR? In this interview with Tim Whitley, the HR Tech Wizard, Ben dives into that background, the transition, and advice Tim might have for others that want to explore the same career path. 
Show Notes
Get Tim's top tips for succeeding in HR Tech: https://hrtechwizard.com/download 
See the show archives and sign up for episode updates: https://lhra.io/podcast 

The #1 Pay Transparency Priority for Employers

"Pay transparency is here (or coming) depending on where you're located and where you're hiring people. It's kind of like a snowball rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger. It's something to really stop and think about and prepare for now, because it's not easy. I think the biggest thing around transparency is thinking about what your education plan is for your people."
Megan Nail, Vice President, Total Rewards Practice at NFP
We're Only Human -- Episode 167
In our research with employers, we find many of them believe that salary transparency puts more power into the hands of candidates and employees, but there's also a lot of value for employers, too. If your organization wants to stand out from the crowd, it's not as simple as bumping up pay and walking away. 
In today's interview with Megan Nail, she tells some of the best strategies for evaluating your compensation competitiveness against internal and external measurements. Plus she gives her best advice on how to manage pay transparency in a healthy, employee-focused manner. 
Show Notes
Connect with Megan on LinkedIn
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