Year in Review: The Best of the HR Happy Hour Show in 2019

We had another fantastic year on the HR Happy Hour Show and Podcast marked by dozens of amazing shows.  a slew of incredible guests and topics, and highlighted by the 10th anniversary of the show back in May. While new and original shows will be kicking off in early 2020, we wanted to take advantage of the holiday break to take a look back at the year of 2019 on the HR Happy Hour, and share some of the best, most interesting and most fun episodes of the year. In case you missed some of these on the first go-round, or just want to give them a second listen, here’s your recap of the Best of the HR Happy Hour Show in 2019.

Remember for all of the shows in the archive, you can listen via the show page links and widget players embedded below, or on your favorite podcast app. Big news for us in 2019 was that we finally were able to get the HR Happy Hour Show available on Spotify as well.

Finally, thanks to our HR Happy Hour Show sponsors in 2019 – Panopto, Culture Amp, OC Tanner, and People Strategy – the number and quality of the shows in 2019 was only possible through your support.

With all that said, below is the best of the HR Happy Hour in 2019 – presented in chronological order.

January 2019 – HR Happy Hour 354 – Sharing Kindness Inside and Outside the Workplace

Guest: Anne Donovan, US People Experience Leader, PwC

Listen to the show HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve was joined by Anne Donovan, US People Experience Leader at PwC to talk about their ‘Share Kindness’ initiative, a global program to help people share acts of kindness inside and outside the workplace. The Share Kindess program is simple – it encourages both the people at PwC, as well as all of us, to share a simple act of kindness with someone, and then share what they did at the ‘Share Kindness’ site – https://www.pwc.com/us/sharekindness. It’s that simple, but it’s also turning into something really powerful – folks at PwC are sharing their stories of buying a stranger’s coffee, helping carry groceries to the car for an elderly person, or even just letting a fellow driver merge into traffic in front of you.

There’s some really interesting things happening with the Share Kindness program – obviously encouraging people to be kind to each other is great, but it also serves as an element of PwC’s overall employee wellbeing approach – being kind makes us feel good too. And as Anne really clearly stated on the show, her job is to look after something simple and important – the answer to ‘How does it feel to work here?’ question that all employees think about, especially in this historically competitive labor market.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a really fun conversation – please do visit the Share Kindness site – https://www.pwc.com/us/sharekindness to get involved.

February 2019 – HR Happy Hour 360 – Creating a More Inclusive Workplace

Guest: Dr. Laura Hamill, Chief People Officer and Chief Science Officer, Limeade

Listen HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve and Trish were joined by Dr. Laura Hamill of Limeade to talk about inclusion in the workplace, how it is different from diversity, and how organizations can become more inclusive.On the show, Laura shared her definition of inclusion, how it differs from diversity, even though the two ideas are almost always paired, and how inclusion needs to be something that organizations keep top of mind.

Laura also shared some of the findings from research from the Limeade Institute on how it is the behavior of peers that matters in the workplace when it comes to worker’s feelings of inclusion and this is where many organizations fall short. We also touched upon the difference between being truly inclusive and just being ‘nice’ in the workplace. Finally, Laura shared some ideas on how inclusion needs to fit into a holistic wellbeing program encompassiing things like wellness, engagement and innovation.

We also talked about winter weather, dog names, and whether or not ‘Friends’ was really a New York show.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a really interesting and fun conversation – thanks so much Laura for joining us.

Learn more about Limeade Inclusion at www.limeade.com/inclusion/

March 2019 – HR Happy Hour 365 – The Chatbot Revolution in HR

Guest: Brian Sommer, Founder, TechVentive

Recorded Live at the Oracle Modern Business Experience event in Las Vegas.

Listen HERE

This week on the first of four HR Happy Hour Shows recorded LIVE at the Oracle Modern Business Experience event Steve and Trish were joined by Brian Sommer of TechVentive to talk about how chatbot technology is emerging in HR technology solutions.

On the show, we talked about what chatbot technology is, how it is being developed and applied in HR and talent management contexts, and what some of the more interesting potential applications of this technology might be. Brian also shared advice on how HR and business leaders can better prepare for the implementation of these technologies by preparing their data and working with their technology providers to ensure data privacy and security challenges are met. Finally, we talked about where these technologies are going, and how it is likely that integrated, platform solutions are likely to be able to best support HR and end users with HR chatbot technologies.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a fun and interesting conversation, thanks Brian for joining us. Thanks to Oracle for hosting the HR Happy Hour Show – learn more about Oracle HCM solutions like their Digital Assistant at www.oracle.com/HCM.

April 2019 – HR Happy Hour 370 – Elevating the Employee Experience with HR Technology

Hosts: Steve Boese, Trish McFarlane

Guests: Cecile Alper-Leroux, Johnathan Benhamou, Ultimate Software

Recorded Live at Ultimate Connections 2019

Listen HERE

Today on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve and Trish were joined by frequent HR Happy Hour Show guest Cecile Alper-Leroux and first time guest Jonathan Benhamou from Ultimate Software to get an Ultimate update, learn more about the PeopleDoc technology and company that Ultimate acquired in 2018, and to talk about the importance of the employee experience and the role of HR technology has to play to help elevate that experience.

On the show, Cecile and John shared their thoughts on the important role of HR and HR technologies to help develop people, allow them to achieve their goals and aspirations, and ultimately, (no pun intended), to help the organization succeed. By creating person-centric and ‘people first’ technologies that better understand people, streamline and enhance the way work and transactions are performed, and enable them to connect to each other in powerful ways – Ultimate is helping people and organizations of all kinds meet their individual and organization-wide challenges. We also learned a new term – “Ambient HR” – that is a really powerful idea about where HR is heading.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a really fun and interesting conversation – thanks to Cecile and John for joining us and thanks to everyone at Ultimate for having the HR Happy Hour at Ultimate Connections.

May 2019 – HR Happy Hour 376 – HR and Digital Transformation – Live from HR Tech China

Guest: Jason Averbook, CEO and Founder, LeapGen

Sponsored by Panopto – For businesses and universities, Panopto is everything YouTube isn’t. With enterprise-grade security, built-in recording and live streaming, and a unique search engine that finds any word spoken in any video, Panopto is how professionals share knowledge.

Listen HERE

On the first of a special three show series recorded LIVE at the recent HR Tech China Conference in Shanghai, Steve is joined by Jason Averbook, CEO and Founder of LeapGen and intrernational speaker, advisor, and HR Tech though leader. On the show, Jason shared some of the key highlights and themes of his recent presentations in China as well as at the HR Festival in Singapore all about HR Transformation, Digital Transformation, and the way forward for HR and HR tech professionals.

Jason talked about the importance of employee-centered approached to HR tech design and deployment, how ‘technology’ does not equal ‘digital’ and offered some advice as to how to best prepare HR and the organization overall for change and for digital transformation.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a fun and interesting conversation – thanks so much to Jason for joining us. And also thanks to LRP and DLG China for having the HR Happy Hour Show in Shanghai.

June 2019 – HR Happy Hour 379: Making the Most of Benchmarking and Best Practices

Guest: Harry Osle, Principal and Global Human Resources Practice Leader at The Hackett Group

Listen HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Trish was joined by returning guest, Harry Osle, from The Hackett Group.  He shared data from their recent report, the HR Agenda for 2019.  The discussion revolved around how business requirements are changing and the pace and need for agility is increasing.  Harry gave tips on how HR leaders can stay current with those demands.  They also talked about digital transformation and what is important for HR pros to know.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

As part of ADP’s new service program, ADP Advantage, the tools you need to keep these implementation worries at bay are now standard for ADP’s customers.  This will drive greater success through the implementation process, “Go Live”, and beyond.

July 2019 – HR Happy Hour 384 – The Critical Role of Managers in Employee Engagement

Guest: Jim Harter, Chief Workplace Scientist, Gallup

Sponsored by Culture Amp, the platform that turns your company culture into a competitive advantage. Your employee data tells you what’s happened in the past, but what if it could tell you what might happen next. See how with your free Predictive Analytics report at www.cultureamp.com/happy

Listen HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve and Trish were joined by Jim Harter to talk about Gallup’s most recent research, it’s largest workplace study to date, and how the job of management has probably never been more complex. Jim is the co-author of ‘It’s the Manager’, a look at how the role of manager has changed, how it remains critically important for employee engagement and organizational success. Jim shared several interesting findings from the research and the book, which all managers and leaders should understand as their workplaces evolve.

Additionally, Trish shared her excitement with the recent St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup victory, Steve admitted he has not watched a hockey game in years, and we discussed whether or not it is ethical to A/B test management theories on your kids.

Listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a really interesting and fun conversation, thanks to Jim for joining us.

August 2019 – HR Happy Hour 387 – Workplace Movie Hall of Fame: Free Solo

Hosts: Trish McFarlane, Steve Boese

Sponsored by Culture Amp, the platform that turns your company culture into a competitive advantage. Your employee data tells you what’s happened in the past, but what if it could tell you what might happen next. See how with your free Predictive Analytics report at www.cultureamp.com/happy.

And also Sponsored by O.C.Tanner, the global leader in engaging workplace cultures, helps thousands of top companies create peak moments that inspire people to achieve, appreciate, and connect to purpose and each other.

Listen HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, it’s the return of the Workplace Movie Hall of Fame series, with a deep dive into the 2018 Academy Award winning Documentary Feature “Free Solo”. The movie focuses on professional rock climber Alex Honnold, and his quest and attempt to become the first person to free solo climb El Capitan, a 3,000+ foot granite mountain in Yosemite National Park. The movie touches on several important themes that we find in the workplace and in our careers – training and development, the importance of teams and mentors, the need to manage risk vs. consequences when making tough workplace and career decisions. On the show we talk about the parallels between taking on such an amazing challenge and what we can learn from it and how to think about our own challenges and our own career choices.

You can listen to the show on the show page HERE, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

 

September 2019 – HR Happy Hour 389 – Cultivating Next Generation Talent at Liberty Mutual

Guest: Francis Hyatt, Executive VP of Enterprise Talent Practices, Liberty Mutual

LISTEN HERE

Sponsored by Culture Amp, the platform that turns your company culture into a competitive advantage. Your employee data tells you what’s happened in the past, but what if it could tell you what might happen next. See how with your free Predictive Analytics report at www.cultureamp.com/happy.

And also Sponsored by O.C.Tanner, the global leader in engaging workplace cultures, helps thousands of top companies create peak moments that inspire people to achieve, appreciate, and connect to purpose and each other.

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Trish and Steve were joined by Francis Hyatt, Executive VP of Enterprise Talent Practices at Liberty Mutual, a Fortune 75 insurer,  to talk about how the giant company engages and approaches the new and emerging talent it needs to keep meeting their important and challenging hiring goals. On the show, Francis discussed how Liberty Mutual uses an understanding of what today’s newest entrants to the workforce are looking for in an employer to shape and craft their programs and strategies for new hire recruiting, employer branding, internships, and onboarding for optimal results. Additionally, Francis shared how they connect Liberty Mutual’s mission and vision, helping people feel secure, to their recruiting and talent programs.

You can listen to the show on the show page here, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a fun and informative show, thanks Francis for joining us.

October 2019 – HR Happy Hour 392 – LIVE from the HR Technology Conference 2019

Listen HERE

Guests: Don Weinstein, ADP; Lisa Sterling, Ceridian; Ben Brooks, Pilot; Jarik Conrad, Ultimate Software

Sponsored by O.C.Tanner, the global leader in engaging workplace cultures, helps thousands of top companies create peak moments that inspire people to achieve, appreciate, and connect to purpose and each other. Learn more at www.octanner.com.

And also sponsored by People Strategy. From intuitive hire-to-retire HR technology to comprehensive benefits consulting and HR services, People Strategy offers employers a single source for the tools and services necessary to attract, manage and retain talent. Find out more at www.peoplestrategy.com.

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, recorded LIVE at the HR Technology Conference 2019 and in front of a live audience, we welcomed four of HR Tech’s most interesting and influential leaders to talk about technology, innovation in HR Tech, blending technology with the human side of HR, some ways to think about diversity and inclusion in the organization and plenty more. Don, Lisa, Ben, and Jarik are some of the smartest and most interesting people in HR tech and it was fantastic to get a chance to spend some time with them at HR Tech.

You can listen to the show on the show page here, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a really fun show, thanks again to everyone in our live audience.

November 2019 – HR Happy Hour 397 – Tips for HCM Tech Selection & Implementation from Emerson Electric

Guest: Jim Rhodes, VP of HRIS, Emerson Electric

Listen HERE

Sponsored by Oracle. Create tomorrow, today with Oracle HCM Cloud- Work made human. Oracle provides organizations a complete HCM cloud solution that drives digital transformation and improves business agility while meeting both current and future business requirements. Organizational excellence includes creating a unified cloud solution that connects Finance and HR to improve business performance.

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Trish and Steve were joined by Jim Rhodes, VP of HRIS at Emerson Electric.  We kicked off the show with Trish and Jim talking about their St. Louis connection, and quickly dove into how organizations can go through the selection of transformational HCM technology.  Covering everything from how to prepare your team to how to communicate during the entire process, we walked through some major steps of technology selection and implementation.  We also talked about how a global, decentralized organization embarks on a multi- phase implementation process.

You can listen to the show on the show page here, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a fun and informative show, thanks Jim for joining us.

December 2019 – HR Happy Hour 405 – Payroll Innovation and End of Year Preparation

Guest: Tom Hammond, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Product Management, Paychex

Listen HERE

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve and Trish were joined by Tom Hammond of Paychex, to talk about innovation in Payroll technology and how HR and Payroll can prepare for end of year 2019 and new regulations coming in 2020. Some of the key points Tom discussed were how Paychex works with hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized businesses to understand their challenges, and delivers modern and innovative solutions to help them meet these challenges in Payroll, HR, Benefits and more. Self-service, advanced workflows, using analytics to make better people decisions, and delivering user friendly user experiences are just some of what HR and Payroll leaders and employees demand from modern HR tech, and we talked about how these can be delivered to organizations of all sizes.

Plus, Tom dove into some of the most important issues facing HR and Payroll leaders as we end 2019 and move into 2020, like the new form W4. You can learn more about these challenges at paychex.com/hrhappyhour.

Additionally, Steve and Trish talked about the Pantone Color of the Year for 2020 – “Classic Blue”, aka “Paychex Blue”.

You can listen to the show on the show page here, on your favorite podcast app, or by using the widget player below:

This was a fun show, thanks so much to Tom for coming on the show.

Thanks to all our listeners, guests, and supporters for a great 2019 and here’s to even a better 2020! Remember to subscribe to the HR Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

HR Happy New Year to all!