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In this episode of the Payroll* Like a Boss podcast, John Bernatovicz, Brian Escobar, and Walter William Duncan III discuss the integral role of payroll. They explore the journey of Brian and Walt in the payroll industry, the current state of payroll, and the future implications of AI and technology in payroll processes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, adaptability, and the evolving perception of payroll professionals as business leaders.ABOUT BRIANBrian Escobar is the Co-Founder and Payroll Advisor of Payroll Universe, Inc., a payroll strategist, global payroll leader, and host of two payroll education podcasts. With 20+ years of domestic and global payroll and HRIS experience—including large-scale HCM/payroll implementations—Brian brings enterprise-level accuracy, reliability, and operational strategy to small businesses without the complexity or cost.ABOUT WALTERWalter William Duncan III is a payroll expert and business development leader with over 20 years of experience in payroll operations, compliance, and workforce solutions. A former member of the United States Navy, he brings a disciplined, detail-oriented approach to solving complex payroll challenges.  He is the co-host of the popular podcast “It's About Payroll,” where he helps employees and professionals better understand pay, compliance, and financial wellness. Passionate about innovation and education, Walter is dedicated to transforming payroll into a more transparent, strategic, and human-centered function. https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-william-duncan-iii-477051187?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Most small and mid-sized businesses don't have an employee handbook problem - they have a "we don't have a policy for that" problem. Scattered Google Drive docs, a handbook from 2017, three managers making three different calls on the same issue. That's how inconsistency claims and wrongful termination exposure start.In Episode 4 of the HR Foundations series, Kerri Roberts unpacks why an employee handbook isn't a bureaucratic binder - it's a communication tool with legal weight that protects the employer and the employee.In this episode, you'll learn:The 5 required HR policies every small business needs in writing (anti-harassment, at-will, EEO, pay practices, leave) The 5 strongly recommended policies that come next (code of conduct, attendance, performance & discipline, confidentiality, drug & alcohol) The 8-section handbook structure your team will actually read Why electronic acknowledgment in your HRIS/payroll system is the only acknowledgment that holds up How a real client's $5,000 relocation reimbursement gap almost soured a new hire — and the policy template that fixes it Chapters: 00:00 "We don't have a policy for that" 02:20 HR Foundations: where this episode fits 04:30 What happens when there's no handbook 06:00 The 5 required HR policies 11:30 The 5 strongly recommended policies 16:00 Recommended handbook structure 19:00 Acknowledgment, annual review, and the legal weight of a handbook 23:00 Using AI to draft policies in your voice 25:30 Operate the way your handbook reads 27:30 Real client example: the relocation reimbursement gap 29:30 What's next: Episode 5 on compensation & classificationNot sure where your HR compliance gaps are? Take the free HR Audit and see exactly where your foundational policies stand in 5 minutes: saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit Resources:
These episodes of #thePOZcast, live from Transform 2026 in Las Vegas, are proudly brought to you by our friends at PIN. AI recruiting tools that automate candidate sourcing, screening, and scheduling across 850M+ profiles. Built for recruiters, agencies, and hiring teams. Learn more and check out a demo: https://www.pin.com/book-a-demo?via=adam-posner Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com CHAPTERS: 00:00 – The Witching Hour: An Impromptu Stop-and-Chat Day 10, final afternoon, luggage everywhere — Adam spots Mike Johnson at the Onboarded booth and pulls him into an unscripted conversation that delivers more insight than most prepared interviews. 02:00 – Meet Onboarded: The Messy Middle of HR Tech What Onboarded actually does: orchestrating the compliance-heavy gap between recruiter technology and back-office HRIS — federal, state, local obligations, background checks, integrations — built elegantly for high-volume hirers. 04:30 – From Checkr to Onboarded: The Origin Story Mike's background building trust and safety infrastructure for the gig economy at Checkr, why that exposed the far greater complexity of W-2 hiring, and what made him want to solve it. 07:00 – Building With People You Know, Love & Trust The team that followed Mike from his previous life — people whose kids and spouses he knows, who've gone on trips together — and why that trust foundation is the real secret ingredient behind Onboarded's early traction. 10:00 – Family First as a Company Value — Not Just a Talking Point Offsites where spouses and kids are invited, a hiring philosophy that prioritizes family relationships above work, and why Mike believes that's not a soft value — it's a performance strategy. 13:00 – The White Space Nobody Else Was Solving Every HR software product has its own onboarding experience. Nobody had built the orchestration layer that unifies the end-to-end worker experience across all of them. 15:30 – Enterprise Software Re-Architecture: 5 Months, Not 5 Years The speed at which AI is upending enterprise software is being radically underestimated. Not a five-year transformation — a five-month one. What Claude and coding agents are making possible right now. 18:00 – Compliance Is Not Vibable Federal, state, and local compliance obligations are discrete, black and white, and non-negotiable. That's Onboarded's moat — and why no amount of AI creativity replaces domain expertise in this space. 21:00 – Enabling Builders on Top of the Compliance Foundation How Onboarded balances compliance rigidity with entrepreneurial flexibility: partners and independent builders using the platform to build their own products on top of a compliance-ready foundation. 24:00 – The Founder Philosophy: Say Stupid Stuff to the Right People Finding people you trust enough to say your dumbest ideas to — who will push back hard and still be with you when the dust settles. That's the real engine of innovation. 27:00 – Where to Find Onboarded onboardr.com — a freshly launched website with a free trial and direct scheduling available. TAKEAWAYS: 1. The Messy Middle Is the Most Underserved Layer in HR Tech Every recruiting tool has onboarding. Every HRIS has onboarding. But nobody built the orchestration layer that connects them elegantly for the worker and for the operators managing it all. That's the gap Onboarded identified — and it's larger and more painful than most people outside high-volume hiring environments realize. 2. W-2 Hiring Is 10x More Complex Than Contractor Onboarding The gig economy built an enormous amount of infrastructure for contractor trust and safety. But the W-2 world — with its federal, state, and local compliance obligations, background check requirements, I-9 verification, and benefits enrollment — is a fundamentally different problem. Mike learned this at Checkr and built Onboarded to solve it. 3. Enterprise Software Is Being Re-Architected in Months, Not Years Mike's view on AI's pace is one of the most direct in the series: people are underestimating how fast the change is coming. Not a five-year transformation curve — a five-month one. The coding agents available today, powered by tools like Claude, are already capable of building enterprise- grade software. Every software company needs to be honest about what that means for their product. 4. Compliance Is the One Category AI Cannot Vibe Away The federal, state, and local obligations governing W-2 hiring are not ambiguous, interpretable, or creatively solvable. They are discrete, binary, and non-negotiable. That is Onboarded's defensibility. No vibe coding tool can build compliance infrastructure. That requires domain expertise, legal knowledge, and years of working inside the problem — and that's exactly what the Onboarded team brings. 5. The Right Moat Is Domain Expertise, Not Just Technology In a world where building software is getting cheaper and faster, the companies with genuine defensibility are those with deep domain expertise that can't be replicated with a good prompt. Mike's background at Checkr building trust and safety infrastructure for the gig economy is the foundation that makes Onboarded's compliance product credible — and the reason partners trust it enough to build on top of it. 6. Build With People You Know — Especially Your First Team Mike's intentional choice to build Onboarded with people from his past — people whose families he knows, who've traveled together, who have real relational history — wasn't nostalgia. It was strategy. Trust that's pre-built from shared experience is the fastest path to a high-functioning founding team. You spend zero time establishing credibility and all your time solving problems. 7. Family First Is a Performance Strategy, Not Just a Value Onboarded invites families to offsites. They prioritize the spousal and parental relationships of their employees as an explicit part of their culture. Mike's reasoning: companies that ask people to choose between family and work get less from both. Companies that make space for the whole person get more output, more loyalty, and more resilience when things get hard. 8. The Best Founding Teams Can Say Stupid Things to Each Other Mike's counterintuitive founder philosophy: the most important feature of a great founding team isn't complementary skills or market knowledge — it's the psychological safety to say your worst ideas out loud without losing credibility. When you can argue, disagree, say the dumb thing, and still trust each other completely, you can work through anything. That's the trust foundation that makes the rest possible. 9. Enabling Others to Build on Your Foundation Is a Growth Strategy Onboarded isn't just a product — it's a platform. Partners and independent entrepreneurs are building compliance-ready applications on top of the Onboarded foundation, extending its reach and value without the company having to build everything itself. In an era of rapid AI-enabled building, making your core defensible and your surface area open to builders is a powerful combination.
Arielle Kilroy is the CEO and co-founder of Dado, an employee experience management platform built to automate complex people processes across the tools companies are already using. Before HR tech, she was a former Chief Product Officer who came up in the music industry, helping pioneer the direct-to-fan model when most of the industry insisted it could not work.In this episode, AJ Vaughan and Arielle go deep on the part of the business most revenue leaders avoid: sales onboarding. Why it is broken, why it stay broken, and what it actually cost the organization when every new AE gets a different version of the same program depending on which manager is whispering in their ear.Arielle makes the case that workforce operations is the real frontier. Every org measures behavioral data for their customers across marketing, sales, and product. Almost none of them measure it for their employees. That gap is why the people function never gets resourced, why managers cannot tell you what a great rep looks like at week two, and why the wrong hire stays a year too long.The conversation moves through the origin of Dado, the journey from one HRIS to a stack of point solutions, what changes when pre-boarding data is actually tracked in healthcare and revenue roles, and why psychological safety is not a buzzword when you are trying to close the first deal five days faster.What is actually happening inside sales onboarding right now. What matters most for the people function in 2026? What to do tomorrow as a revenue leader. And what every org keeps missing about its own workforce.Listen now.
THE MISSION HR – Podcast Three: ACTION!In this episode, we move from strategy to execution. The Mission HR explores the critical roles HR must play today—Planner, Influencer, and Enabler—and how these roles translate into real, measurable action across the organization.We break down the key areas of execution for the HR mission, including technology, workforce development, compliance, organisational aspirations and obligations, performance, and compensation. From empowering line managers and developing employees, to leveraging technology, ensuring compliance, and aligning rewards with performance, this episode provides a practical roadmap for HR leaders ready to make an impact.If HR is to drive change, it's time to act. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
What Do People Think HR Is About?In this episode, we explore the most common perceptions — and misconceptions — about Human Resources, and respond to them from a modern HR perspective.Topics covered:Common perceptions of HR and how we respond to themThe belief that HR creates organisational policies and rulesThe idea of HR as the employees' championThe assumption that HR only manages people, hiring, and firingWhether HR is responsible for employee performanceHR's role in managing absence and attendance levelsOrganisational culture and morale — does HR really lead this?HR's responsibility for payroll, pensions, medical insurance, and company benefitsThe stereotype of HR organising Christmas parties and social events
We're Going To Do An OpenClaw Install (Live Demo) Meet OpenClaw - the open-source AI that's been the sensation of the year so far. Imagine an actual 24/7 AI Agents that does the work for your automatically. Can it work for real world recruiting? We're not just talking about it - we're showing you. In this live demo session, watch us tackle: • How fast can you spin up a custom application workflow from scratch? • Native integrations: does it play nice with your existing HRIS and assessment tools? • Compliance and data privacy: where does OpenClaw stand on GDPR and security? • Custom reporting: can you build the dashboard your executives actually want? • API flexibility: how deep can technical teams customise the backend? • Cost reality check: where are the hidden expenses vs. proprietary platforms? We're pressure-testing Openclaw in real time—no slides, no sales pitch, just raw functionality and honest verdicts. Recruiters, HR tech leads, and TA innovators—this demo is for you. Follow the channel here (recommended) and register for the show by clicking on the green button 'Save My Spot' Episode 369 is sponsored by Juicebox PeopleGPT is the leading outbound recruiting platform built on Generative AI. Find talent across 30+ data sources, get interactive Talent Insights, and reach out with personalized AI email campaigns. Key features include: PeopleGPT (Search): the world's first people search engine that uses natural language. Describe who you're searching for and find the perfect match from over 30 data sources. Talent Insights: Visualize your talent pool with 15+ interactive charts. Refine your search and dive deep into stats based on location, employers, job titles, skills, and more. Email Outreach: Maximize candidate engagement with AI-powered email campaigns. Personalize messaging at scale using AI commands, and boost response rates by 40%. Get 15% off your Juicebox subscription with code: BRAINFOOD15 Trusted by 5000+ companies including Scale AI, Mindbloom, and Patreon. Free trial available. Try Juicebox today
In episode 249, Coffey talks with Jenay Huey about how growing businesses should approach HR strategy, outsourcing, and internal capability building. They discuss why small businesses delay investing in HR until problems arise; misconceptions about HR as a cost center versus strategic function; differences between transactional HR tasks and long-term workforce strategy; when to hire in-house HR based on employee count and complexity; how to evaluate HR consultants and service level agreements; the role of benefits brokers, attorneys, and HRIS platforms; pros and cons of outsourcing HR functions and PEO arrangements; selecting and scaling HR technology systems effectively; building internal HR talent pipelines and succession planning; importance of business acumen and aligning HR initiatives with financial outcomes. For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP249 Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: Jenay Huey, SHRM-SCP, PHR, is the President of Dunedin HR Solutions LLC and a seasoned Human Resources strategist dedicated to "putting the human back in HR." With a career built on helping organizations and employees, Jenay serves as a fractional CHRO, aligning HR policies with business vision to drive net income and team engagement. She is dedicated to serving small and medium size organizations. She believes that all organizations deserve access to an HR professional that understands their organization, scales solutions to their size and culture and undertsands the employment compliance landscape. Jenay has over 20 years of experience in HR and people operations. She has worked with organizations from small family run businesses to organizations with over 7000 employees. She received her B.A.Sc from the University of South Florida, holds several certifications including her SHRM-SCP and PHR from HRCI. Jenay Huey can be reached at https://www.dunedinhrsolutionsllc.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenay-huey https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094367457078 https://www.instagram.com/dunedin_hr_solutions_llc About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives: Identify when a growing company should invest in HR support or leadership Evaluate external HR resources, consultants, and PEOs effectively Design a scalable HR strategy that aligns with business growth and profitability
We flipped the show completely on its head for this one…Joshua Barrows—payroll and HRIS guru—steps in as HOST…and I'm in the guest chair.That's right—roles reversed.(Yes… there may or may not be some jiu jitsu references)In this special “backwards day” episode of The H.I.T. Podcast, we dive into the current state of the insurance industry, how things are evolving, and what makes Montage Insurance Solutions different.What We CoverWhy not all brokers are created equalHow Montage operates as a high-touch, white glove alternativeThe growing demand for creative plan design (including self-funded strategies)How technology & AI are reshaping the benefits landscapeThe increasing fiduciary responsibility and compliance risk for employersKey annual requirements like ACA reporting, 5500s, and CMS filingsInside Montage100% privately owned (no PE, no outside pressure)Built around service, relationships, and long-term trustConsistently recognized as a best place to workA company culture rooted in doing things the right wayIf you've ever wondered how the industry really works—or just want to see me on the other side of the mic—this one's a fun and insightful listen.
Your HR tech stack can feel like a living creature: new tools arrive, contracts renew, integrations sprawl, and suddenly you are paying multiple vendors for the same capability. We wanted a grounded conversation on how to regain control, so Bill Banham brought back Matthew Hamilton, VP of People Analytics and HRIS at Protective Life, to talk about building a guiding HR tech strategy that actually drives decisions when the pressure is on.We dig into why consolidation is not automatically the goal and how the real win is finding the right balance between an all-in-one platform and a maze of point solutions. Matthew shares how his team sets a clear vision, then makes it actionable with guiding principles that serve as a North Star when leaders disagree. From there, we get specific about what to document in your HR technology roadmap: a clear inventory of vendors and capabilities, centralized visibility into spend, an ecosystem map that reveals overlap, and a long-range plan built around subscription renewals so you do not accidentally box yourself into bad timing.If RFPs have ever felt like a procurement checkbox exercise, you will like this part. We talk about owning the process inside HR, partnering effectively with procurement and IT security, and writing capability-based requirements that invite better vendor responses without creating a 900-item monster. We also cover how to build an HR tech business case and ROI story that resonates with executives by tying benefits to what matters most right now: cost savings, reduced complexity, employee experience, better analytics, and risk control. Plus, Matthew shares how market research resources and even generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can help validate a shortlist faster.If you want to stop being a passenger in HRIS and HR tech decisions, listen, subscribe, share this with your HR leadership team, and leave a review so more HR pros can find the show.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here.Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events
Serval is one of the fastest-growing AI-native enterprise software companies right now, and this episode is a rare inside look at the deliberate architectural, go-to-market, and talent decisions behind that growth. Jake Stauch breaks down why he made the contrarian bet to build a full system of record rather than layer on top of existing tools, why ITSM is more vulnerable to AI disruption than CRM, ERP, or HRIS, and how Serval is winning Fortune 500 deals against a $14B incumbent with a fraction of the resources. Beyond the product, Jake gets into the organizational decisions that underpin Serval's velocity — why recruiting is the #1 job of every employee, how to prevent talent bar decay as you scale from 8 to 200 people, and how the role of the manager is shifting as ICs own more scope than ever. Threading it all together is a founder's honest account of what it means to build a horizontal software company when the models are improving, the infrastructure is shifting, and the window to displace a legacy incumbent is open but won't stay open forever. (0:00) Intro (1:25) What is Serval? (4:51) Early Doubts and Strategy (6:34) AI Tailwinds in ITSM (8:04) Competing with ServiceNow (9:41) Why ITSM Is Vulnerable (11:52) Automation via Codegen (16:27) Critical Guardrails (28:32) Internal Support Complexity (30:24) Hiring as the Moat (31:44) Dream Team Recruiting (33:49) Managers vs Super ICs (36:44) Junior Engineers and AI Native Workflows (43:13) Quickfire With your co-hosts: @jacobeffron - Partner at Redpoint, Former PM Flatiron Health @patrickachase - Partner at Redpoint, Former ML Engineer LinkedIn @ericabrescia - Former COO Github, Founder Bitnami (acq'd by VMWare) @jordan_segall - Partner at Redpoint
Adzuna, the global job search platform, today announced the acquisition of the jobs businesses of Trovit and Mitula, two market-leading search engines operated by the Lifull Connect group. The acquisition marks Adzuna's third acquisition in four years, further strengthening its position as one of the world's leading global job search platforms. https://hrtechfeed.com/adzuna-acquires-2-job-search-engines/ SILICON VALLEY, Calif. — Today, Novaworks, the AI-native Human Capital Management (HCM) operating system for the enterprise built on the ServiceNow platform, announced its launch in conjunction with $8M in seed funding led by Stalwart Ventures, with strategic participation from ServiceNow Ventures and Bell Ventures. The Company also introduced the first agentic operating system for Total Workforce Management (TWM) https://hrtechfeed.com/workforce-management-platform-lands-8m/ Following an intensive build phase with early customers, Deel announced the general availability of its fully integrated ATS. Unlike standalone recruiting tools that stop at the offer stage, Deel's ATS is built directly on top of Deel's HRIS. This drives quicker hiring and productivity with ATS and HR on a single platform. https://hrtechfeed.com/big-deel-eor-platform-adds-ats/ Healthcare workforce platform Carefam has emerged from stealth mode, announcing $14.5 million in funding led by Pitango HealthTech with participation from Emerge. https://hrtechfeed.com/healthcare-recruiting-platform-lands-14-5m/ SAN FRANCISCO — Ezra, a voice AI interviewing platform built for recruiting teams looking for reliable signals to assess talent, and candidates who want to be heard, announced today that it has raised a $3.2 million seed round https://hrtechfeed.com/voice-ai-interview-platform-lands-3-2m-seed-round/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We covered topics - Your journey as a DEI Strategist- What impact do you want to create?- You've embedded KPI dashboards and HRIS-based governance systems. Why is infrastructure more powerful than inspiration?- How did you improve retention by 15%?- In that moment of retention win, ‘Was there any metrics or money, the buy-in would be easy to open new door'?- How did you secure the $500K+ departmental budgets?- If you had 90 days inside an organisation with no new budget, what would you redesign first?- What's the hardest part of getting the budget signed off for this work?- What does the ROI of DEI mean to you?----Important LinksGuest - LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbyrongreen/ ) Website - greenphoenix.solutions ----Download the white paper ROI of DEI, click here → ROIofDEI.ai Any feedback? Please email vikram@73bit.com
The ground keeps shifting under every org chart, and AI is speeding up the tempo. We sit down with Tom McCarty, CEO of OrgChart, to map a practical path to an AI-ready organization that doesn't lose sight of people. Tom has helped thousands of companies redesign during M&A, hypergrowth, and downturns, and he shares why most reorgs fail before they start: leaders don't have a single, live view of their workforce. If your headcount model lives in a dusty spreadsheet, you're guessing, not planning.We dig into the steady state of uncertainty that now defines workforce planning and how to build credible what-if scenarios. Tom breaks down the data foundation—connecting HRIS, ATS, LMS, performance systems, and acquisitions into one trusted source—so you can see roles, skills, critical talent, and team dependencies in real time. From there, we explore where AI agents fit in the org chart, how to design for complementarity rather than replacement, and why judgment and empathy still decide the final call. Visualizing teams with real people, not just cells, helps leaders avoid costly mistakes like cutting the quiet expert who holds a process together.Trust is the next frontier. Tom lays out a clear approach to data security, access controls, and staged AI adoption that protects sensitive information while unlocking speed. We also tackle HR–finance collaboration: how bottom-line targets become brittle when handed off in silos, and how cross-functional planning aligns goals over one, two, and three years. Communication emerges as the underrated superpower—free HR from data chasing so they can orchestrate the trade-offs, sequence change, and tell a story people can follow.If you're a CHRO or people leader standing at the starting line of AI-enabled org design, Tom's first move is decisive: get an accurate current-state view before buying tools. From there, let AI be the copilot that surfaces options while your leaders make the calls. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share with a colleague making 2026 plans, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events
Denis Barnard, HR Tech specialist of GreenRiver Technology World and HRmeansbusiness talks about the steps HR should consider facilitating the increasing trend for Remote Working. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
The Lost World of Human Resources: In this Podcast I'll be looking at the various forms of prehistoric life and environments that inhabit the Human Resources Lost World plateau, and how HR software should be accelerating evolution. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
Over the past 12 months there's been a lot of talk about the future of work, some of it designed to make a bigger splash, some of it ill-considered and some of it downright impractical. A lot of it has subsequently been retracted. Denis Barnard gives a cursory glance at some of the things that have been said. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
AN HR HALLOWE'EN SCARY STORY – WITH A PRIZE! Part One of a tale that'll make you hide behind the sofa! Feel the excruciating toe-curling fear as we accompany Mary The HR Director on her quest for new HR software. At the end of Part Two there will be details of how to win a prize for some aspect of this story, so stay tuned for the second episode! (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
Are we in HR being measured correctly? Denis looks at some of the measures currently applied to HR, and suggests some radical alternatives which might give better insight as to the function's current performance. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
AN HR HALLOWE'EN SCARY STORY – WITH A PRIZE! Part Two of a tale that'll make you hide behind the sofa!. Feel the excruciating toe-curling fear as we accompany Mary The HR Director further on her quest for new HR software. At the end of this part, there will be details of how to win a prize for some aspect of this story, so stay tuned! (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
Over the past 12 months, there's been a lot of talk about the future of work, some of it designed to make a bigger splash, some of it ill-considered and some of it downright impractical. A lot of it has subsequently been retracted. Denis Barnard gives a cursory glance at some of the things that have been said. (43) Denis (Wallace) Barnard | LinkedInWebsite https://www.greenrivertechnology.world/#HRIS #HumanResources #HRTech #HRSoftware #Podcast #GreenRiverTechnology #leader #leadership
What if the fastest way to modernise HR isn't ripping out systems or buying another mega-platform but connecting what you already have in a smarter way?In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham sits down with James Davies, CEO of Kinetic Data, to explore how an agility layer can transform fragmented HR and enterprise processes into simple, human-centred workflows employees actually use.James shares his journey from help desk technician to leading a platform trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense and Fortune 2000 organisations. Along the way, he explains why so many HR and digital transformation programmes stall in “upgrade purgatory”—and how starting with user experience, not technology, creates faster change, safer upgrades, and better adoption.We explore how orchestration across HRIS, ITSM, ERP, and identity systems enables a single front door for employee requests—everything from access and time off to kudos and performance reviews—without adding platform bloat.The conversation also dives into compliance in highly regulated environments. James explains how reading policy (instead of blindly following tradition) unlocks digitisation without weakening controls, enabling smarter renewals, integrated training records, and smoother first-day experiences.Inside Kinetic Data, James outlines a four-pillar operating model—Growth, Product, Success, and Operations—and reflects on servant leadership, empathy built through doing the work, and how intentional culture has kept employee turnover close to zero.If you're wrestling with complex systems, slow upgrades, or HR processes that push employees back to manual work, this episode offers a practical blueprint for reducing friction, freeing up budget for innovation, and building durable software that works under pressure—with a memorable Toyota Land Cruiser analogy along the way.Key topics include:Help desk roots and a service-first mindsetWhy modernisation is about coordination, not more toolsThe agility layer across HRIS, ITSM, ERP, and identityDesigning employee experience before system architectureCompliance lessons from DoD and federal environmentsReducing maintenance to fund innovationServant leadership, introversion, and near-zero turnoverBuilding “Land Cruiser” software that just worksSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events
“We're thinking about switching HRIS…”Famous. Last. Words.This episode is all about how HRIS platforms actually differ—and why so many teams end up frustrated after implementation.If you've sat through five demos that all felt exactly the same, this will help you ask better questions before you sign anything. This is a truly neutral guide to HRIS platforms—no selling, no affiliate links, no bias.I don't work for those guys and I'm not here to push one platform over another. What I did do was conduct countless interviews across the HRIS ecosystem to build a tight, concise episode covering:Where platforms really differWhy implementations go sidewaysWhat actually matters for your organizationHow to avoid common (and costly) mistakesSave this if an HRIS decision is on your horizonTag the person who'll end up owning the implementationDM me if you're mid-HRIS evaluation—this episode was built for you
On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome ‘ATLien', HRIS strategist, payroll expert, and CEO of Transcenders Consulting Group, and host of the Human-Roll Podcast, Tiana Neal! Tiana shares here path of a career in radio and television to finding passion and purpose in HR and payroll. And why curiosity, courage, and a love of fixing things shaped her career and her work helping organizations modernize HR and payroll systems. From the rise and angst with AI to compliance complexity to why so many companies still mistake tech problems for people problems. Tiana shares how HR and payroll leaders can embrace change, elevate the employee experience, and lead their businesses into what's next. Plus, Pete, Julie and Tiana talk through a handful of notable workplace and HR related news articles and share their POV's and have a little fun with each! Connect with Tiana: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiana-neal-22903386/ Website: http://www.transcendersconsultinggroup.com/ Blogs: https://www.transcendersconsultinggroup.com/ourblog The Human Roll Podcast: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/the-human-roll Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0
HRLocker, Ireland's leading HRIS platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the country's premier payroll services provider, Paycheck Plus by IRIS, to deliver a seamless, end-to-end, integrated payroll and HR experience for SMEs across Ireland and the UK. By uniting HRLocker's management platform with Paycheck Plus's payroll expertise, the partnership addresses a critical gap in the SME market: a lack of integration between HR systems and payroll services. The seamless all-in-one solution eliminates data silos, streamlines processes, and ensures greater accuracy across the employee lifecycle. With a phased rollout in the fourth quarter of 2025, existing customers will benefit from the combined offering in the months ahead. Notably, SMEs will gain a single source of truth for employee data, automated information flow between HR and payroll, and synchronised processes that improve compliance while reducing errors. "This partnership is about giving SMEs clarity and confidence," said HRLocker CEO, Crystel Robbins Rynne. "HRLocker is focused on delivering the practical tools SMEs need to manage growth with accuracy and ease. By connecting HR and payroll into a single solution, we're enabling businesses to spend less time on admin and more time on their people." "Paycheck Plus's mission has always been to simplify payroll for businesses. Partnering with HRLocker extends that simplicity across the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency for our clients," added IRIS Senior Director, Brona Grogan. "This collaboration reflects IRIS's commitment to improving the way people work by making business processes more efficient. Together, HRLocker and Paycheck Plus are setting a new standard for integrated HR and payroll in Ireland and the UK." As part of the new strategic partnership, HRLocker CEO Crystel Robbins Rynne and Paycheck Plus Lead Product Manager Niall Clarke hosted a free 45-minute webinar on Thursday 20th November at 11am. This informative and practical session will help employers understand and prepare for changing compliance demands arising from Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme, which begins on 1 January 2026. For more information, and to receive a recording of the webinar, visit: https://www.hrlocker.com/webinars/auto-enrolment-in-ireland See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
This episode is sponsored by Deel.Ensure fair, consistent reviews with Deel's calibration template. Deel's free Performance Calibration Template helps HR teams and managers run more equitable, structured reviews. Use it to align evaluations with business goals,reduce bias in ratings, and ensure every performance conversation is fair, consistent,and grounded in shared standards.Download now: www.deel.com/nickdayIn this episode of the HR L&D Podcast, host Nick Day sits down with Dani Woods to explore how high performing HR and payroll professionals can overcome fear, step into visibility, and lead with confidence in an AI driven world. The conversation examines why so many talented HR pros feel stuck or overlooked, how imposter syndrome holds people back, and what it really takes to build momentum and credibility as a modern HR leader.You will hear clear career acceleration frameworks including how to translate your impact into next level roles, how to build your personal board of advisors, how to lead large scale HR and payroll implementations with confidence, and how to shift from doing the work to moving work through others. Dani also shares practical guidance on overcoming visibility fear, navigating self doubt, using AI as an amplifier rather than a threat, and positioning yourself for leadership in a changing HR landscape.Whether you are an HR leader, payroll specialist, HRIS professional, or an ambitious people practitioner ready to progress, this conversation will help you break through career stagnation, build genuine leadership presence, and thrive in an AI enabled future of work. Expect actionable insights to strengthen your influence, elevate your visibility, and create the momentum needed to unlock meaningful career growth.For those of you who'd like to connect with Dani, you can find her on LinkedIn, and don't forget to check out her work at LotusWelle by visiting lotuswelle.com Nick Day's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7
In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, guest host Sivana Brewer sits down with Dr. Melonie Boone, Chief Operating Officer of Edesia Nutrition, a Rhode Island–based nonprofit on a mission to end childhood malnutrition worldwide.Dr. Boone shares her inspiring journey from corporate HR and executive consulting to joining a purpose-driven organization where every product saves lives. She opens up about leaving her consulting career to relocate her family and help Edesia scale globally while staying rooted in its humanitarian mission.Together, Sivana and Melonie explore what it means to lead in a business where the stakes are life and death, balancing operational excellence with empathy, trust, and resilience. From creating healthy CEO-COO dynamics to rebuilding confidence after crisis, she offers grounded advice for leaders who want to make impact and results coexist.Timestamped Highlights[00:02:31] – Dr. Boone explains Edesia Nutrition's mission to eradicate malnutrition and how each box of product saves a child's life.[00:04:29] – The personal loss that inspired her to pursue work with deeper purpose.[00:06:27] – How consulting for Edesia's CEO turned into a full-time COO opportunity.[00:08:09] – Combining her lifelong drive to lead with her mother's legacy of service.[00:10:14] – What challenges she was first hired to solve and how her HR and strategy background helped.[00:13:13] – Transitioning from consultant to COO and setting early “ground rules” for success.[00:15:00] – Dividing responsibilities with the founder and managing blurred lines gracefully.[00:16:20] – Facing two major business disruptions in her first six months on the job.[00:18:47] – Learning to adapt her leadership style during crises and rebuild trust.[00:20:18] – The power of transparency and “fighting together” with the CEO.[00:22:29] – How her four academic degrees shaped her approach to leadership.[00:24:08] – The lesson behind “anyone can show the numbers, but what do they mean?”[00:26:05] – Knowing which “Melonie” to bring into each meeting—coach, operator, or psychologist.[00:27:28] – How she keeps the pulse across 14 departments with weekly updates and morale checks.[00:31:29] – Using technology and HRIS tools to streamline communication and one-on-ones.[00:34:18] – Building cross-functional buy-in before making any system change.[00:36:50] – Tracking team morale and staying intentionally visible to every shift.[00:38:42] – Leading with authenticity as an introvert in a people-driven culture.[00:41:26] – Creating connection and fun through culture rituals, bingo, and bagel Tuesdays.[00:44:43] – What's ahead: a 100,000 sq ft expansion, global growth, and personal goals for joy and balance.[00:47:00] – Her advice for aspiring COOs, current operators, and CEOs hiring their “number two.”Resources & MentionsEdesia Nutrition Plumpy'Nut® – Edesia's flagship product saving children worldwideChildren Can't Wait Campaign – Donate HEROic Leadership by Dr. Melonie BoonePaycor HRIS – Tool for one-on-ones, performance, and team engagementAbout the GuestDr. Melonie Boone is the Chief Operating Officer of Edesia Nutrition, a global...
Tyler Martin, Senior Director of Enterprise Security Engineering & Operations at FanDuel, reflects on revolutionizing security operations by replacing traditional analyst tiers with security engineers supported by custom AI agents. Tyler shares the architecture behind SAGE, FanDuel's phishing automation system, and explains how his team progressed from human-in-the-loop validation to fully autonomous triage through bronze-silver-gold maturity stages. The conversation explores practical challenges like context enrichment, implementing user personas connected to IDP and HRIS systems, and choosing between RAG versus CAG models for knowledge augmentation. Tyler also discusses shifts in detection strategy, arguing for leaner detection catalogs with just-in-time, query-based rules over maintaining point-in-time codified detections that no longer address active risks. Topics discussed: Restructuring security operations teams to include only security engineers while AI agents handle traditional level 1-3 triage work. Building Security Analysis and Guided Escalation, an AI-powered phishing automation system that reduced manual ticket volume. Implementing bronze-silver-gold maturity stages for AI triage: manual validation, automated closures with oversight, and full autonomous operations. Enriching AI agents with organizational context through connections to IDP systems, HRIS platforms, and user behavior analytics. Creating user personas that encode access patterns, permissions, security groups, and typical behaviors to improve AI decision-making accuracy. Designing incident response automation that spins up Slack channels, Zoom bridges, recordings, and comprehensive documentation through simple commands. Eliminating 90% of missing PIR action items through automated documentation capture and stakeholder tagging in Confluence. Shifting detection strategy from maintaining large MITRE-mapped catalogs to just-in-time query-based rules written by AI agents. Balancing signal volume and enrichment data against inference costs while avoiding context rot that degrades LLM performance. Evaluating RAG versus CAG models for knowledge augmentation and exploring multi-agent architectures with supervisory oversight layers. Listen to more episodes: Apple Spotify YouTube Website
Human resources (HR) administrative overload is a hidden drain on productivity and profits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ireland. That is according to The Irish SME HR Report 2025, released today by Ireland's leading HR platform provider, HRLocker, which surveyed 400 SMEs in August. The findings reveal that organisations are, on average, spending nine hours per week - equivalent to 58.5 days each year - on manual HR administration tasks. Widespread inefficiencies and frustration The report indicates that this significant time, budget and engagement sink, which equates to 22% of a full-time employee's work week, speaks to widespread inefficiencies. Findings suggest that nearly half (48%) of SMEs spend even more than the average nine hours on manual tasks, with some losing over 16 hours weekly. Based on a 40-hour work week at the national average rate of €51,000, these companies are incurring costs exceeding €22,000 per year. Further, a concerning three-quarters (73%) of respondents frequently enter the same employee data multiple times, indicating a clear waste of effort due to duplication. Organisations across all industries report duplication rates at 70% or above, signifying the prevalence of the issue. However, the problem is particularly pronounced in the Retail & Wholesale sector, where 83% report issues with duplicated efforts. The research also reveals admin drag as a major source of frustration for HR professionals, with 85% agreeing that time spent on manual processing is not an effective use of their time. The findings suggest that the disproportionate time spent on low-value tasks is taking away from more strategic, people-centred initiatives. In fact, most feel they lack the time required to build a positive company culture (84%) and the opportunity to ensure a good employee experience (72%). Smaller SMEs (20-49 employees) spend slightly more time on manual processing, averaging 9.3 hours per week, compared to those with 50-99 employees (8.9 hours) and 100-249 employees (8.8 hours). Still, the relatively equal distribution across SME sizes shows that manual processing hours do not scale in line with the number of employees, implying that a certain level of admin is inherent to all operations. However, as the report indicates, larger companies are more likely to have efficient processes and specialised tools in place that cut down excessive manual work. A clear need for better tools and processes The findings underscore a critical need for better tools and streamlined processes to alleviate this administrative burden. The data indicates that companies utilising fully fit-for-purpose HR information systems (HRIS) are significantly less likely to experience data duplication (69%) than those mainly using manual processes or a mix of generic tools (75%), demonstrating the tangible benefits of investing in appropriate technology. "Our research clearly exposes a silent, yet significant, challenge facing Irish SME owners and leaders in their HR operations," says Crystel Robbins Rynne, CEO of HRLocker. "Despite advancements in technology, valuable time and resources are being diverted to repetitive, low-value administrative tasks, such as updating employee records, attendance tracking, and leave management. This not only impacts the bottom line but also prevents HR teams from focusing on strategic initiatives that drive employee engagement, bolster talent attraction and retention, and boost business growth." HRLocker's The Irish SME HR Report 2025 provides crucial insights for SME owners and leaders in Ireland looking to reclaim lost time, reduce unnecessary costs, and empower their HR teams to contribute more strategically to business success. It is available to download from: https://www.hrlocker.com/downloads/irish-sme-hr-report-2025 See more stories here.
About Dawn Christman Dawn is a human capital executive with expertise spanning 25 years in talent acquisition, talent operations, human resources, and coaching space across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. Building and leading international teams of 60+, Dawn focuses on the strengths and opportunities of talent to help propel businesses forward, regardless of their physical location. Having led both functions and clients within start-up, publicly traded and private equity owned environments – she quickly recognizes opportunities to remove obstacles and provide bottom line impact. Always intrigued by challenge, she's had the opportunity to complete needs assessments across sales, operations, human resources, talent acquisition, IT, HRIS, finance, legal, risk and compliance, marketing and branding. Ultimately, results are used to build standard global policies and processes, geared toward impacting internal EVP and external brand – regardless of industry. Throughout her career, she has further enhanced her professional and personal career via Board. Historically sitting on the Board of the Twin Cities Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBA's offered the opportunity to lead their major fundraising gala, facilitate sponsor events and develop marketing activities. She is now leading the Executive Advisory Board for Jobs for Humanity – focusing on maximizing partnership with the CEO and several C – Suite leaders all focused on the growth and development of the business. Her Board work is a natural complement to her humancentric leadership style - driven by the personal belief that people are capable of far more than they realize. Maximizing talent in any space is simply a matter of identifying and driving initiatives together, with humility and the goal to succeed. Episode Notes 00:00 Introduction 05:16 Positioning Yourself for New Opportunities 08:17 Research and Networking for Career Growth 16:57 Respect and Career Progression 19:31 Dealing with Job Search Frustration 20:06 Breaking Out of Isolation 20:54 Reinventing Yourself Professionally 21:23 Recognizing Your Value 23:53 Considering Leaving Your Job 27:19 Handling Job Loss Emotionally 30:31 Negotiating Severance Packages
On this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Jeronika Dancy, Senior Manager of HR Technology at Amsted Industries, to explore the rise of the Workforce Management Center of Excellence (COE)! Jeronika shares her unexpected career journey into HR from recruiting to HRIS to leading global workforce management transformation in a complex manufacturing environment. Jeronika shares how she blends people, process, and technology to drive measurable business outcomes, and why investing in HR technology and payroll innovation is more than a simple tech purchase, and how the transformative power resides in the people leveraging it. The conversation explores the complexities of frontline workforce management, curating partnerships with unions, and the role of governance, change management, and ROI storytelling in driving adoption and impact. Jeronika offers insights on strategic workforce planning, building tech-enabled HR teams, and how culture and leadership support fuel transformational outcomes! Connect with Jaronika: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaronika-d-11075ba/ Podcast: ‘Logging in to UKG: A Chicago User Group Production': https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/logging-into-ukg-a-chicago-users-group-production/id1819101228 Connect with the show: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0 E-book featuring the Amsted Industries CoE Case: ‘The Manufacturing Advantage': Smarter Workforce: Turning Time and Pay into a Competitive Advantage: https://www.ukg.com/resources/ebook/modern-manufacturing-smarter-workforce-turning-time-and-pay-competitive-advantage?utm_source=payroll-influences&utm_medium=banner
Krishna Surendra is the CEO of HR Cloud, a human resources software company that offers tools for recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, performance management, HRIS, and internal communications — all designed to automate HR processes and enhance workplace culture. He joined HR Cloud in 2016 as Director of Engineering, advanced to Chief Technology Officer in 2018, and took on the role of CEO in 2021. With a background in computer science, he brings deep technical expertise and leadership to his role. Under Krishna's direction, HR Cloud continues to scale its offerings in employee engagement, onboarding automation, and HRIS solutions to drive productivity and retention in organizations. In this episode… Many organizations struggle to deliver a seamless and engaging employee experience from hiring to offboarding. Generic HR tools often fail to adapt to unique workflows, resulting in inefficient processes, poor communication, and disengaged staff. How can companies modernize their HR systems to be both efficient and deeply human-centered? Krishna Surendra, an expert in HR technology, shares strategies for building customizable, automated HR workflows that span the entire employee lifecycle. Krishna emphasizes the importance of gathering ongoing customer feedback, prioritizing modules based on real demand, and integrating with existing systems rather than reinventing every feature. He also outlines practical ways to increase engagement — such as two-way communication channels, spot recognition with rewards, and adapting solutions for unique use cases like deskless workers or younger staff who prefer SMS notifications — while avoiding common onboarding mistakes like failing to document processes or track task completion. In this episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Krishna Surendra, CEO of HR Cloud, about transforming the employee journey through adaptable HR software. Krishna discusses using customer-driven product development, enhancing engagement through recognition and feedback tools, and integrating with payroll systems. He also shares insights on prioritizing new features, addressing unique client needs, and lessons learned from build vs. buy decisions.
Workleap, a leading Canadian software company building the AI-powered talent management platform teams actually love to use, has acquired Barley, an end-to-end compensation management solution. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in unifying two critical components of talent strategy: performance and compensation. Traditionally managed in isolation through disconnected systems and workflows, these functions are now brought together in one unified platform, enabling HR teams to improve transparency, consistency, and alignment in how they recognize and reward employees. https://hrtechfeed.com/workleap-acquires-compensation-management-platform/ PHILADELPHIA—-Phenom, an applied AI company that helps companies hire faster, develop better and retain longer, will host its Industry Week 2025 livestream July 28 – August 1. The five-day, SHRM-accredited program addresses the unique talent acquisition and management challenges facing six critical industries — retail, hospitality and travel, healthcare, financial services and manufacturing — through real-world use cases and proven progressive AI implementation strategies. https://hrtechfeed.com/phenom-to-host-industry-week-july-28-august-1/ Deel, the leading global payroll and HR platform, today introduced a major wave of AI-powered features in its quarterly product showcase, The Deel Drop: Summer Edition. The update includes more than 500 improvements across onboarding, payroll, HRIS, and client experience, focused on simplifying day-to-day operations for global teams. Deel's all-in-one platform now embeds intelligence at every step, from talent strategy and financial operations to compliance and support. This quarter, the company introduced new capabilities that anticipate customer needs, reduce back-and-forth, and help organizations make better decisions about how and where to scale. At the same time, it continues to reduce operational friction through self-serve payroll features, built-in financial tools, and clearer HR workflows for global teams. https://hrtechfeed.com/deel-adds-built-in-artificial-intelligence-pay-flexibility-and-global-hiring-tools/ Lightcast, a global leader in labor market intelligence, has acquired UK-based Rhetorik—marking a major expansion in people and company data to offer one of the most comprehensive views of the global labor market. The acquisition strengthens Lightcast's position by combining demand-side signals with deeply curated supply-side data to power workforce planning, talent acquisition, sales prospecting, and more. https://hrtechfeed.com/lightcast-acquires-labor-market-intelligence-tool/ WANTED: An entrepreneurial role for an executive in the HR Tech industry to help run the GTM and daily operations of Jobstream. What happens to the 99% of candidates who don't get the job? Jobstream is an AI-technology platform helping employers build long-lasting candidate relationships by referring recommended jobs, even after they get rejected. https://hrtechjob.com/jobs/145495964-business-strategy-operations-gtm HR Tech Job of the Week: Business Strategy & Operations – GTM @Jobstream
In this episode of the HR Like a Boss podcast, John is joined by Laura Azzarella, HR leader and Co-Founder of Applied Potential Solutions. They discuss the evolving role of human resources as a strategic partner in organizations. Laura shares her journey from media production to HR, emphasizing the importance of data analytics and technology in HR practices. They explore how HR professionals can leverage data to improve workforce management and the significance of embracing technology to enhance HR functions. Check it out!ABOUT LAURALaura Azzarella is a data-driven HR leader and Co-Founder of Applied Potential Solutions, as well as the President-Elect of the Buffalo Niagara HR Association. With over 15 years of experience in strategic HR leadership, she has built a career transforming businesses through analytics, technology, and forward-thinking solutions. Laura specializes in leveraging technology to drive measurable results. She has led HRIS migrations, payroll and benefits system upgrades (KRONOS & ADP), and the development of HR analytics dashboards across multiple organizations. She believes HR should be more than just a compliance function—it should be a strategic force that drives business success. Her expertise spans leadership development, employee engagement, workforce analytics, and HR technology integration, with a focus on bringing enterprise-level best practices to startups and small businesses.
In this episode, we explore the four pillars of a great total rewards strategy and share steps to create a cohesive rewards package tailored to your organization's goals.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Episode Resources & Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬►Free BernieU Courseshttps://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/► Benefits You Can Offer Without Needing a Broker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RkLjEjRgY► Free Resource: 10 Questions You May Receive During Open Enrollmenthttps://www.bernieportal.com/10-questions-you-may-receive-during-open-enrollment/▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne
"We're here to take the complexity out of unified communications — and turn it into simplicity." — Todd Remely, Unimax At Cisco Live 2025 in San Diego, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green caught up with Todd Remely of Unimax to explore how the company is streamlining unified communications (UC) management for enterprises and partners alike. With over 30 years in business, Unimax is a veteran in the telecom software space. Their tools help organizations manage Cisco, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Avaya UC systems more efficiently — and that value was on full display across two booths at Cisco Live: one in the Collaboration Village (highlighting Webex integration) and another on the main show floor. Three Ways Unimax Delivers Simplicity in Complex UC Environments: Second Nature A power-user interface that layers over Cisco and other major UC platforms, enabling administrators to perform complex MACDs (moves, adds, changes, deletes) and configuration tasks like provisioning, routing, and device pool management — all from one streamlined dashboard. Automation Platform Unimax enables full automation of provisioning and deprovisioning processes. Their platform integrates with Active Directory, ServiceNow, Remedy, HRIS systems, and any REST API-enabled tool, drastically reducing time and human error in user onboarding and offboarding. HelpOne A lightweight interface that empowers Tier 1 help desk agents to complete routine MACDs — such as password resets — without telecom expertise, freeing up UC teams to focus on higher-priority work. Remely noted strong engagement from MSPs and resellers, many of whom use Unimax's multi-tenant solutions to manage customer UC systems at scale. "We're solution-focused," he said. "And we love working with end users — because that's where the real problems are, and that's where we can help most." For more information or to request a demo, visit unimax.com or contact the team at tellmemore@unimax.com.
In this episode, we dive into the difference between Stephen Covey's Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence, and how focusing your energy on the areas you can control leads to greater impact in your HR role. We'll also explore how shifting your focus allows you to move up the HR Hierarchy of Needs.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Episode Resources & Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬What Is the HR Hierarchy of Needs? https://blog.bernieportal.com/what-is-the-hr-hierarchy-of-needsWhat Is the HR Hierarchy of Needs?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzWMAuCLBJkWhat's The Difference Between an Employee Handbook and a Culture Guide? https://blog.bernieportal.com/employee-handbook-vs-culture-guideEmployee Rewards vs. Employee Recognition https://blog.bernieportal.com/the-difference-between-reward-and-recognitionBernieU Courseshttps://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/courses/▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne
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Learn how the Affordable Care Act's sledgehammer and tack hammer penalties can impact your business, what triggers them, and actionable steps you can take to avoid costly fines and stay compliant.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Episode Resources & Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Resources: 1095-C Cheat Sheethttps://www.bernieportal.com/1095-c-cheat-sheet-2/Understanding ACA Safe Harbor Codeshttps://blog.bernieportal.com/understanding-aca-safe-harbor-codesFree BernieU Course: Intro to Forms 1094-C and 1095-Chttps://www.bernieportal.com/intro-to-forms-1094-c-and-1095-c-2024/Q2 HR Checklisthttps://www.bernieportal.com/q2-hr-checklist/2025 HR Calendarhttps://www.bernieportal.com/hr-calendar/HR Scorecardhttps://www.bernieportal.com/hr-scorecard-identify-compliance-risks/▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne
In this episode, we break down how HRAs and HSAs work, their key advantages, and how they can complement each other to empower smarter employee healthcare decisions.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne, #hsa, #hra
Attending a professional work event soon? In this episode of HR Party of One, we're breaking down exactly how to prepare, connect, and follow up like a pro—so you can grow your network and your career, one conversation at a time.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne, #Networking
In this episode, we explore the types of benefits businesses can offer without relying on a broker, how they can enhance your workplace, and key considerations for building a benefits package that aligns with your organization's goals.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Episode Resources & Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Free BernieU Course: How to Build and Audit a Great PTO Policyhttps://www.bernieportal.com/how-to-build-and-audit-a-great-pto-policy/Guide: How HR Can Improve Communication at Your Organizationhttps://www.bernieportal.com/how-hr-can-improve-communication-at-your-organization/2025 HR Calendarhttps://www.bernieportal.com/hr-calendar/HR Scorecard: Identify Compliance Riskshttps://www.bernieportal.com/hr-scorecard-identify-compliance-risks/Rhythms of HRhttps://www.bernieportal.com/rhythms-of-hr/▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne
In this episode, we'll explore the ins and outs of moving to a new office, covering everything from preparing your space and establishing a timeline to celebrating your new environment and mastering the art of flexibility.Find us at https://www.bernieportal.com/hr-party-of-one/BerniePortal: The all-in-one HRIS that makes building a business & managing its people easy. http://bit.ly/2NEQ5QbWhat is an HRIS?https://www.bernieportal.com/hris/BernieU: Your free one-stop shop for compelling, convenient, and comprehensive HR training and courses that will keep you up-to-date on all things human resources. Approved for SHRM & HRCI recertification credit hours. Enroll today!https://www.bernieportal.com/bernieu/Join the HR Party of One Community!https://hubs.ly/Q02mNML90▬ Episode Resources & Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬How to Establish a Meaningful Workplace Culture https://www.bernieportal.com/how-to-establish-a-meaningful-workplace-culture/Rhythms of HRhttps://www.bernieportal.com/rhythms-of-hr/▬ Social Media ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bernieportal▬ Podcast▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-party-of-one/id1495233115► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ViQkKdatT40DPLJkY2pgA► Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1874beb8-2a68-4310-8816-e704e6850995/HR-Party-of-One► iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hr-party-of-one-57127074/#► Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/o6e2auqq►RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/hrpartyofone/ ► Other: https://hrpartyofone.captivate.fm/listen#HR, #HumanResources, #HRTips, #HumanResourcesTips, #SmallBusiness, #HRPartyOfOne,Tags: HR, Human Resources, HR Tips, HRIS, Small Business Help, HR Party of One,
This episode is sponsored by Deel. Master global HR with our essential guide. Discover the secrets to effective global HR management with our exclusive guide. Perfect for HR teams aiming to expand globally.Get Free Guide Now: https://www.deel.com/resources/scale-global-hr/?utm_medium=sponsored-newsletter&utm_source=nickday&utm_campaign=ww_engage_download_nickday_sponnewsletter_hrnewsletter-scaleglobalhr-feb25_all_all&utm_content=engage_all_sponnewsletter_scaleglobalhr-sponnews400-hr_enIn this special compilation episode of the HR L&D Podcast, we “Enter The Vault” with host Nick Day — a signature segment where top HR and L&D leaders share their most powerful insights on leadership, growth, and the future of work.From emotional intelligence and trust-building to vulnerability and human-centered leadership, these timeless lessons reveal what truly matters in today's ever-evolving workplace. Whether you're an HR professional, a people leader, or simply someone passionate about creating better work environments, this episode offers a masterclass in wisdom from those shaping the future of how we work.
In today's growing landscape of layoffs and uncertainty, more professionals are moving away from traditional career paths -- opening the door for HR pros to take a skills-first approach in recruiting and hiring. Host Nicole Belyna and John Morgan, president of career transition & mobility and leadership development at LHH, discuss how HR professionals can use tools like HRIS data and AI to guide displaced talent to new roles amid this trend. Episode Transcript This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires May 1, 2026. Subscribe to HR Daily to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz---Explore SHRM's all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r Rate/review Honest HR on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is sponsored by Deel. Master global HR with our essential guide. Discover the secrets to effective global HR management with our exclusive guide. Perfect for HR teams aiming to expand globally.Get Free Guide Now: https://www.deel.com/resources/scale-global-hr/?utm_medium=sponsored-newsletter&utm_source=nickday&utm_campaign=ww_engage_download_nickday_sponnewsletter_hrnewsletter-scaleglobalhr-feb25_all_all&utm_content=engage_all_sponnewsletter_scaleglobalhr-sponnews400-hr_en—————————————————————————————————————————What if the key to a high-performing team isn't management—but coaching?In this episode, Nick Day sits down with Jeff Dewing, CEO of Cloudfm Group and best-selling author of Doing the Opposite, to explore why traditional leadership is broken—and how to fix it.Jeff shares 10 transformative strategies that go beyond buzzwords, offering real-world examples of how he's built a culture rooted in autonomy, trust, and psychological safety. From mandating school pick-ups (yes, really) to leveraging AI and AR to empower teams, this is a masterclass in modern leadership.Topics Covered:Why “managers” are outdated—and what to do insteadThe 3 things every employee truly wants (and it's not salary)Creating cultures that grow people—even if they leaveUsing AI and AR to solve real operational challengesEmbedding wellbeing and resilience into your company's DNAWhether you're an HR leader, business owner, or team manager, this episode will shift how you think about work, leadership, and what it takes to truly engage your workforce.Press play to learn why doing the opposite just might be the smartest thing your company can do next.Check out Jeff's BookDoing the opposite: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doing-opposite-lessons-building-success-ebook/dp/B08TT82XJ5 Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdewing/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Of course, if you are an HR or L&D professional listening to this podcast and you have an HR, HRIS or L&D related vacancy that you would love some specialist HR recruitment support with – please also get in touch with me! I would love to help show you what a great HR recruitment experience feels like! You can reach out to me directly at nick@jgarecruitment.com or give me a call – 01727800377.Thanks for listening folks – I look forward to bringing you the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast real soon!00:00 Intro02:58 Meet Jeff Dewing03:21 Why Leaders Should Coach, Not Manage05:29 How to Turn Managers Into Coaches07:34 Creating Clear Career...
Show Notes: Dori Yona, founder of Simple Closure, explains the process of shutting down a company. The process is painful, manual, and bureaucratic, with an average time of nine to 12 months. It can cost companies thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. Many companies end up doing it incorrectly, leading to fines and penalties. The Multiple Moving Parts of a Business Shut Down Dori explains that the main difficulty in shutting down a company is the coordination of multiple moving parts, such as the state of incorporation, IRS, lawyers, accountants, payroll provider, vendors, service providers, investors, payroll, and state departments. The average shutdown for a venture-backed company has about 95 moving parts, and if any of them are missed or not done correctly, the process can drag on and on. First Steps in Shutting Down a Business Dori talks about three typical approaches for a shutdown of a firm, which they categorize into three main “buckets”. The first bucket is companies that reach out six to nine months before they need to shut down, as they are running out of cash and trying to raise another round or convince existing investors to invest more in their company. They want to be ready for what happens if it doesn't work out, so they reach out to the Simple Closure six months before to discover what the process involves. Dori mentions the Shut Down calculator his firm developed and put on their website to help business owners work through costs and assess the time they have left before going into the red and complicating the shut down. Bucket number two is when companies decide to shut down immediately, need quick media advice, need help presenting to the board, or with winding down the business. Bucket number three is when companies have shut down operationally six months or a year ago but never dealt with properly winding down the business. They may face penalties, fines, and liens on their personal property due to improper actions. The Financial Reality of Shutting Down a Business Dori emphasizes that it is not easy to walk away from a company, as it can come back and haunt the owner(s). He explains that while a corporate entity is there to protect board members, investors, and founders, if certain things are not done properly, it can pierce the corporate veil, making the board and founders personally liable and potentially sued. The most common issue is wages, where an employee is owed wages and has not been paid. Companies should make sure that the proper winding up process is done to avoid loose ends and potential lawsuits from stakeholders, such as vendors, investors, state departments, and payroll departments. Dori also stresses the importance of considering investors during the shutdown process. Payroll Providers and the Shut Down Process A company's shutdown process involves understanding the number of employees it has and how to properly shut down them. Dori uses a typical seed stage company as an example. This type of company usually has around 15 to 20 employees at its peak, with a few founders and one more engineer or person. To properly shut down the company, it is crucial to know who is currently on payroll, whether full-time or contractors, and how many employees the company had at its peak across different states and locations. Most startups use payroll providers, but they are not good at shutting down payroll accounts. When a company shuts down, they terminate the relationship between themselves and the payroll provider, this does not mean the payroll provider has closed down all accounts in all states. To help close out all accounts and notify all states, companies should ask for the HRIS census, which provides background and history of employees. Analyzing this data helps determine who is a past employee versus an active employee. The discussion explores the issue of 1099s for companies that are about to shut down, such as those in the US. Dori explains that the ultimate goal is to close out all accounts and notify all states, as every state operates differently and how to shut down accounts for active and non-active employees, and contractors. Technology that Automates and Scales the Shutdown Process The goal of Dori's company is to build a technology solution to automate and scale the process of closing out payroll departments. The company aims to be the TurboTax shutting down platform, providing a platform for companies to easily close out their payroll departments. He mentions that the company has built automations to automate various processes, such as faxes, phone calls, emails, and online forms. However, there are many AI solutions available today, such as outbound SDR and AI calls that can call in and provide basic account information. The company's goal is to develop a platform that allows companies to easily close out their payroll departments and help streamline and automate the process. Dori also talks about shutting down repeat services such as subscriptions. Three Main Phases of a Company Shut Down The winding down of a company involves three main phases: dissolution, wind up, and shut down. In Delaware, the first phase involves notifying the state and other entities, such as shareholders, board, and employees, about the decision to shut down the company. This involves notifying the state, preparing franchise taxes, filing the certificate of dissolution, and canceling the EIN. The second phase is the winding up phase, which involves unwinding payroll, paying out vendors, collecting invoices, and dealing with accounts receivable and payable. After the dissolution phase, the company must file a final tax return, distribute any remaining money to investors or creditors, and close out bank accounts. The third phase is the shutdown phase, which involves closing out bank accounts and sending out certificates of closure to investors and shareholders. It's important to have an export of all contracts with vendors and understand their options for cancellation. This process depends on the type of vendor and the company's capital. Dori shares information on how to deal with vendors during the shut down process. The Legal Requirements of Data Retention The conversation turns to the importance of data retention and the value of company data and IP. Dori talks about the importance of understanding the industry and company type, such as healthcare companies needing to keep patient records for seven years post-shutdown. Dori recommends using data custodians to store these records in a safe place, adhering to protocols and encryption levels. He also discusses the need for tokenization around the store to ensure a safe and secure process. On the IP side, Dori explains how founders can monetize their IP after the company shuts down. Delaware law states that winding down the business should maximize value for shareholders, as it is the shareholders' company. They can either acquire the IP or sell it, depending on the situation. They also support the process of repurposing IP, which can take various forms, such as acquiring a domain or selling the domain. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of considering the legal requirements and the value of IP in the business world. Sale of Data during a Business Shut Down The discussion revolves around the process of closing a company, including the sale of data, intellectual property, patents, and code base. A platform called Simple Closing offers buyers to buy assets of companies shutting down, making the process as simple and streamlined as possible. Tax reporting and other tasks are prepaid by the accountant or accounting firm, but the final stage involves closing the bank account, paying off vendors, and sending out final checks to investors.The final stage involves record retention, notifying the IRS about the shutdown, and distributing funds to investors. This process is methodical and involves a waterfall calculation to determine the amount each person should receive back. This calculation is done on a pro rata basis, and after paying all taxes and closing the company, the money is wired out and distributed back to investors. The Final Stage of a Company Shut Down The final stage involves closing the bank account, paying off vendors, and sending out final checks to investors, record retention, payment of vendors, and distribution of funds. The final stage involves tying up loose ends and ensuring accurate distribution of funds to investors. Dori explains the process of closing a business, particularly when it comes to payroll, and the challenges faced by founders, such as filing quarterly taxes and dealing with payroll issues. He also talks about the importance of estimating the involvement and duration of founders, such as prepaying themselves with severance packages or bulk sums and why waterfall calculations must be done and how they work. The Simple Closure Company Explained Dori talks about Simple Closure, an online platform that helps founders and operators in the unfortunate position of wanting to shut down their firm. Their mission is not to shut down companies, but to help founders and operators have the peace of mind to move on to what's next. They believe that entrepreneurship is a community of repeat founders and businesses, and the faster they can get founders back on their feet, the more mind space they can give them to build and find their next job. He shares his company's go-to market, which includes referrals from venture-backed firms or inbounds from their website. He explains that they invest in partnerships to meet customers at the right moment in time and build trust with them. The company aims to partner with companies, firms, or entities, such as venture-backed firms, to help them navigate the process and ensure their brand reputation is built. Timestamps: 02:49: Overview of Shutdown Process 05:42: Handling Payroll and Employee Wages 19:28: Wind-Up Phase and Vendor Management 27:36: Data and Intellectual Property Management 31:53: Final Stages and Distribution of Funds 38:44: Go-to-Market Strategy and Pricing Link: Company website: simpleclosure.com Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.
This episode is sponsored by Deel. Master global HR with our essential guide. Discover the secrets to effective global HR management with our exclusive guide. Perfect for HR teams aiming to expand globally.Get Free Guide Now: https://www.deel.com/resources/scale-global-hr/?utm_medium=sponsored-newsletter&utm_source=nickday&utm_campaign=ww_engage_download_nickday_sponnewsletter_hrnewsletter-scaleglobalhr-feb25_all_all&utm_content=engage_all_sponnewsletter_scaleglobalhr-sponnews400-hr_en—————————————————————————————————————————How do we move beyond DEI checkboxes to create truly inclusive, thriving workplaces?In this episode, Nick Day sits down with Vivian Acquah, a leading DEI consultant at Amplify DEI, to explore how companies can build cultures of belonging, empathy, and inclusion that drive real business impact.Vivian challenges the traditional "HR" mindset, advocating for a shift toward People & Culture—where leaders take ownership of inclusion and employees feel truly valued. She shares how Virtual Reality (VR) is transforming DEI training, why empathy is the missing ingredient in leadership, and what organizations must do to make diversity efforts stick.She also answers a critical question: Why do so many DEI initiatives fail? From budget constraints to leadership buy-in, Vivian reveals the biggest obstacles—and how to overcome them.If you're an HR leader, executive, or someone passionate about workplace transformation, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you turn DEI strategies into lasting cultural change.Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on leadership, workplace culture, and the future of DEI!—————————————————————————————————————————Find your ideal candidate with our job vacancy system: https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/919cf6b9eaSign up to the HR L&D Newsletter - https://jgarecruitment.ck.page/23e7b153e7Connect with Vivian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianacquah/Connect with Nick Day: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/Of course, if you are an HR or L&D professional listening to this podcast and you have an HR, HRIS or L&D related vacancy that you would love some specialist HR recruitment support with – please also get in touch with me! I would love to help show you what a great HR recruitment experience feels like! You can reach out to me directly at nick@jgarecruitment.com or give me a call – 01727800377.Thanks for listening folks – I look forward to bringing you the next episode of the HR L&D Podcast real soon!—————————————————————————————————————————(00:00) Introduction (01:18) Why HR Should Be Replaced with “People & Culture” (03:45) The Importance of Work Culture (05:13) Empathy in DEI & Workplace Inclusion (09:20) Talent Attraction & Retention Challenges(10:55) Virtual Reality in DEI (16:43) Why VR is the Most Effective DEI Training...