
Toot or Boot: HR Edition (Stacey Nordwall)
Explore every episode of Toot or Boot: HR Edition
Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
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08 Oct 2024 | The HR Leadership exodus, flat hierarchies and the 25-year high of EEOC disability discrimination charges | 00:22:55 | |
Are we on the verge of losing key HR leaders due to burnout and lack of strategic support? Tara Turk-Haynes, founder of Equity Activations, joins us to discuss the possible HR leadership exodus along with the EEOC’s 25-year high in disability discrimination charges and how flat hierarchies may be keeping women from applying. Plus, we explore what it all means for DEI programs as middle management roles vanish. Don’t miss it! | |||
01 Oct 2024 | Amazon's RTO, more tech layoffs, and the myth of in-office culture | 00:30:41 | |
This week on Toot or Boot, Tara Turk-Haynes, founder of Equity Activations, joins us to break down Amazon's RTO mandate and the myth of in-office culture-building. Then we dive into the latest tech layoffs—is it the economy, real estate, or the upcoming election driving them? And we ask: Does simply being in the same office foster real collaboration and culture? Get ready for a wild ride!
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24 Sep 2024 | Gen Z's sick days, the meeting industrial complex, and centering employees | 00:20:17 | |
We dive into the "meeting industrial complex" and whether our work culture has really adapted to remote and hybrid models. Join Noah Warder, VP of People and Culture at Accent Inns, and me as we discuss how to reclaim focus time, explore Gen Z’s impact on sick days and discuss whether HR has swung too far in favor of employees. | |||
17 Sep 2024 | Founder mode, right-to-disconnect, and social activism in orgs | 00:24:01 | |
Noah Warder, VP of People and Culture at Accent Inns, joins to talk about founder mode and what it gets wrong. We also dive into the debate around right-to-disconnect laws. Are they necessary protections, or do they create unnecessary urgency? Plus, we explore how organizations can weave social activism into their governance. Don’t miss it! | |||
10 Sep 2024 | Messy in Texas - overtime laws, noncompetes and The Great Detachment | 00:18:22 | |
Morgan Williams, CEO and co-founder of PeakHR, joins me to break down messy Texas court rulings on noncompetes and overtime laws, and unpack this new HR trend called "The Great Detachment." Buckle up—this one's a wild ride! | |||
03 Sep 2024 | DEI rollbacks and the politics of Silicon Valley VCs | 00:13:29 | |
Morgan Williams, CEO and co-founder of PeakHR, joins me to explore the latest round of companies announcing they're dropping or scaling back their DEI initiatives. And we connect those dots to the closing of Women Who Code, Girls in Tech, and the VCs of Silicon Valley who are putting their support behind Republican politicians. | |||
27 Aug 2024 | The gig economy, RTOs, and feedback - do they adversely impact women? | 00:16:24 | |
Welcome to another Tootsday! This week Sheila Krueger of The Benefits Bungalow, joins me to dive into the latest HR news: Are women struggling to join the gig economy because they worry about sacrificing benefits? And are return-to-office mandates driving away female talent? We also chat about the latest Textio report that found high performers are getting the worst feedback. Plus, we explore why quality feedback matters for everyone. | |||
20 Aug 2024 | Revenge of the HR Trends | 00:26:24 | |
This week Cassandra Babilya and I break down some of the latest HR buzzwords. Is "Hushed Hybrid" just another overhyped term and is it a case of disempowered managers? And do leaders really care about employee engagement? Then we've got the Great Resignation 2.0—Cassandra calls BS on this one—and the bizarre rise of Employee Nesting. Are employees doomed whether they job-hop or stay put? Tune in for the trend-busting breakdown!
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13 Aug 2024 | Is HR Miserable? And the death of summer Fridays | 00:17:43 | |
Are Summer Fridays dead because of remote work? Sheila Krueger of the Benefits Bungalo joins me to break down this and more. We start off by talking about The New York Times piece, “So, Human Resources Is Making You Miserable?”—and the heated discussions it’s sparked. Plus, we dive into the Honeywell controversy: firing an employee for refusing mandatory DEI training. Tune in for all the drama! | |||
06 Aug 2024 | A 6 day work week, the broken rung, and Citi's paid parental leave | 00:16:57 | |
On this week's Toot or Boot, Cassandra Babilya and I dive into Greece's befuddling decision to introduce a 6-day workweek. Plus, what is the "broken rung" and is it really what’s holding women back in their careers? And Citi steps up by boosting paid parental leave to match the competition. Join us as we break it all down!
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30 Jul 2024 | Is Gen Z hard to work with? And what are Gen Z and Gen X's retirements looking like? | 00:19:08 | |
On this week’s *Toot or Boot*, we’re diving into generational workplace dynamics! Kim Rohrer joins the show to talk about if Gen Z really is the hardest to work with, or is it just a myth? We also explore how Gen X is faring in the 401k experiment and the surprising trend of Gen Z maxing out their retirement savings. Join us for the generational deep dive you didn’t know you needed! Articles | |||
23 Jul 2024 | Do careers need a higher purpose? And what letting people get away with transforms your culture | 00:10:05 | |
Steven Huang joins me to break down Rippling’s controversial move to ban ex-employees at competitors from tender offer stock sales. Plus, does your career *really* need a higher purpose? We also chat about how focusing on what employees get away with can actually transform workplace culture. Buckle up for a lively discussion! | |||
16 Jul 2024 | The rise of AI "workers" and MEI | 00:07:20 | |
Steven Huang joins and we cover Lattice’s bold (and quickly reversed) move to create employment records for AI workers, and the rise of MEI as SHRM drops “Equity” from DEI. Don’t miss this action-packed episode! | |||
09 Jul 2024 | Mandatory vacation, mental health, and carewashing | 00:15:35 | |
Get ready for an action-packed Tootsday! In *Toot or Boot* episode 9, "Toots Across the Board," Alex Seiler and I dive into hot HR topics: Should taking vacation be mandatory in the US? How can we better support young workers’ mental health? And what’s “carewashing”? | |||
02 Jul 2024 | The SHRM keynote that wasn't, the happy hour job interview, and PIPs | 00:15:34 | |
The tea is *piping* hot this Tootsday on *Toot or Boot* episode 8, "Return of the Boot"! Alex Seiler joins me as we dive into Jason Sudeikis ditching his SHRM keynote, the bizarre job interview that turned into a happy hour with other candidates, and the ever-dreaded PIPs (Performance Improvement Plans). Don’t miss this juicy episode! | |||
16 Oct 2024 | Parental leave and the case of stolen valor | 00:37:49 | |
This week Kim Rohrer and Cassandra Babilya are back to discuss parental leave and policies and practices that support parents. We start off by discussing a lawsuit where a former employee of a law firm alleges that the company’s leave policy violates civil rights law because it offers an additional eight weeks of paid disability leave only to birth mothers. Follow Cassandra Babilya
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22 Oct 2024 | Workday wellness check, supercommutes, and Dell's last minute RTO | 00:33:42 | |
Is the supercommute making a comeback? In this week’s episode, Cassidy Edwards joins as we dive into the story of a man who *loves* his 7-hour daily trek. We also unpack the chaos caused by Dell's sudden return-to-office (RTO) mandate, and explore why HR needs to rethink how they roll out major changes, because lives don’t flip with the stroke of an RTO mandate. Last, we chat about how Workday's disastrous decision to send police to a hospitalized Black employee's home for a wellness check made headlines. | |||
14 Nov 2024 | Polyworking, AI surveillance of workers, and why HR is getting tougher | 00:23:48 | |
In this episode, we talk about a new HR buzz word “polyworking” – juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. But is it just hustle and grind culture 2.0? Then, we explore recent moves by the CFPB to extend consumer protection into employment data and cautioning businesses about surveiling employees. Finally, we revisit the debate on whether HR is truly “miserable” and talk more about how HR experiences tensions that aren't felt by other roles and departments. | |||
25 Nov 2024 | Employee wellbeing and trust in leadership declines, and Meta fires staff over meal vouchers | 00:25:50 | |
Lindsey Caplan joins us again to discuss the stats showing that fewer than one in three employees trust their senior leaders. Next we talk about the employees fired by Meta for misusing their meal credits and what it means about org culture, trust, and how we write and implement our policies. Then, we dig into the stats that a record-low percentage of employees feel genuinely cared for by their employers, and talk about why wellness programs without real action backfire. | |||
19 Nov 2024 | The Trouble with SHRM | 00:50:48 | |
On this week's episode, we're doing something a little different. I invited Morgan Williams, Tracie Sponenberg, and Sarika Lamont to go in-depth on one topic - SHRM.
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03 Dec 2024 | Managers' toxic positivity, the legacy of Steve Jobs' leadership style, and a 2025 quitting spree? | 00:30:25 | |
This week I'm joined by Vijay Pendakur, an author and HR advisor and consultant, to dive into toxic positivity, toxic leadership and more. First, we chat about managers glossing over bad news, creating an atmosphere of toxic positivity, and losing employee trust. Next, we talk about the leadership style of Steve Jobs, and how many too often misattribute his bullying behaviors for good leadership. And we wrap up by chatting about the potential for a 2025 quitting spree due to declining employee satisfaction - do we think a quitting spree is likely or just hype? Visit his website https://www.vijaypendakur.com/
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09 Dec 2024 | Elon to X remote work, RTOs as retaliation, and what employees really value | 00:28:50 | |
In this episode, we dive into Elon Musk's and Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial task force, cheekily named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their mission? To slash federal workforce numbers by targeting remote and hybrid work—impacting up to a million federal employees. We unpack the implications, including potential productivity myths and disproportionate impacts on marginalized groups. Then, we pivot to Grindr's clash with the NLRB. Accused of retaliating against unionizing employees by enforcing an in-person return-to-office mandate, Grindr’s case is a litmus test for RTO policies and their role in modern labor relations. Are we seeing the start of a broader worker movement? Finally, we explore the “human factor” in workplace design. How can organizations create an employee experience that values flexibility, connection, and well-being in a hybrid world? From balancing tradition with innovation to rethinking digital workspaces, we’ll share insights on fostering environments where employees truly thrive. Tune in for a conversation that bridges the political, legal, and cultural landscapes of today’s workplace! | |||
07 Jan 2025 | Candidates love-bombed and ghosted, the return of bro culture, and volunteering as a wellbeing program | 00:30:09 | |
In this episode, we explore the turbulent landscape of modern workplaces, starting with Greenhouse's survey revealing that over half of job seekers experience ghosting or "love-bombing" during the hiring process—creating frustration and mistrust in organizations. What’s driving these behaviors, and how can HR professionals and hiring managers do better? Next, we delve into the lawsuit against CloudKitchens and its controversial CEO, Travis Kalanick. Allegations of wrongful termination and a return to toxic “bro culture” raise questions about how far workplace culture has—or hasn’t—evolved since the Uber scandals. Finally, we shift to a brighter topic: the power of volunteer programs. Studies show volunteering as the most impactful workplace wellness initiative. But is the real benefit the program itself or the sense of support employees feel when they’re encouraged to participate? We’ll unpack how organizations can build meaningful well-being into their cultures. Tune in for insights on the good, the bad, and the transformative potential of today’s workplaces.
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17 Dec 2024 | The Golden Toots and Coal-filled Boots of 2024 | 00:40:09 | |
2024 was a challenging year. We saw the implementation of six-day workweeks, so many layoffs, return-to-office (RTO) mandates, and DEI rollbacks. SHRM removed the E from DEI and Silicon Valley CEOs and VCs seemed to want a return to days of HR past (or no HR at all. | |||
14 Jan 2025 | All things DEI with Vijay and Tara | 00:52:11 | |
What do we mean when we say DEI? Are the companies rolling back their DEI programs making substantive changes? And what is DEI going to look like under the new administration? Find Vijay here: www.vijaypendakur.com
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21 Jan 2025 | 2025 HR Predictions: Toot-worthy or Boot-worthy? | 00:48:25 | |
In this week's special episode, your host Stacey Nordwall joins the Toot or Boot hot seat with Erica Spitale and Rebecca Taylor, and producer Lexi comes out from behind the scenes for a rapid-fire edition of Toot or Boot, all about 2025 HR predictions. Lexi reviewed 15 different predictions sources (that’s over 75 predictions) which were organized into five different themes: AI, Remote/Hybrid Work, Leadership and Organizational Change, Employee Experience and Well-being, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Unlike a usual episode of Toot or Boot, Stacey, Erica, and Rebecca had no idea what predictions/trends they would encounter. They were put on the spot to take each trend at face value, Toot or Boot it at the same time, then discuss.
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28 Jan 2025 | HR preps for new administration, Apple pushes back on anti-DEI, and reverse discrimination lawsuits | 00:22:48 | |
Get ready for your HR news fix! This week we're diving into three timely stories: guidance on how to approach the administration change, Apple's response defending their DEI initiatives against shareholder pushback, and a potential emerging trend of "reverse discrimination" lawsuits. Join us as we unpack what these developments mean for workplaces and HR professionals, share our takes on the latest industry moves, and break down why these stories matter. Whether you're in HR or just interested in how companies are navigating these challenges, we've got you covered with clear analysis and real talk. | |||
04 Feb 2025 | Anticipated employment law changes, soft quitting, and the new deputy labor secretary | 00:34:02 | |
This week we kick it off with some anticipated employment law changes that could impact your workplaces. We'll unpack 5 laws expected to impact businesses in 2025, from pay transparency mandates to revamped contractor rules. We'll also analyze key leadership changes in Washington, as we discuss Keith Sonderling's appointment as deputy labor secretary. Plus, we'll explore the latest of buzzphrases, "soft quitting." | |||
11 Feb 2025 | What 2025 holds for RTOs and why Americans may be accepting lower salaries | 00:34:21 | |
Coming up on today's episode: We're diving into the latest RTO trends for 2025! We'll explore how major companies are taking wildly different approaches - from WPP's new four-day office mandate to firms like Spotify doubling down on flexibility. Plus, we'll discuss some fascinating findings about workers choosing flexibility over higher salaries, and tackle the tricky question of whether remote work might be holding back career progression. Stick around for a candid conversation about what all this means for HR practitioners navigating the future of work. | |||
18 Feb 2025 | What is burnout? And why is it so prevalent in HR? | 01:12:01 | |
Join host Stacey Nordwall and special guests Julie Turney and Stephanie Lemek for a deep dive into HR burnout - an issue that has become critical for the field. Connect with Stephanie: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanielemek/ At her website: https://www.thewoundedworkforce.com/ Connect with Julie: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamjulieturney/ At her website: https://www.hratheart.com/ Connect with Stacey: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceynordwall/ Articles and book: Beyond burnout: Why changing how we talk about employee well-being could help solve it |