Explore every episode of the podcast What The Hell Just Happened?!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has employees and wants to avoid a timekeeping nightmare! Using a real-life example of a hospital system that had to pay a huge settlement, you'll learn how simple mistakes like rounding time clock punches incorrectly can have major consequences. We'll also break down how to use timekeeping software effectively (and legally!) so you can protect your business and treat your employees fairly. Join Paul Edwards and his guest, Tiana Starke, as they discuss how common timekeeping blunders can really add up. This week, episode 96 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about timekeeping compliance concerns and how to avoid them.

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, backstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease. 

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Tiana Starke to share the importance of staying compliant with timekeeping errors by employees, and actionable steps you can take to avoid common timekeeping pitfalls.

Paul Edwards and Tiana Starke also discuss:

• Case Study: How one large hospital lost a lot of money by common timekeeping errors that could have been avoided.
• FSLA Compliance and regulations you may be accidentally breaking
• How to address timekeeping concerns with your employees, and what NOT to say

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share, and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

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Do you have an employee that’s hindering growth and innovation in your practice? This podcast explores the concept of “blockers” -- those employees who, often unintentionally, stifle progress and demoralize teams. Join Paul Edwards and his guest, Michelle Richard, as they discuss how to turn blockers on your team into champions of change. This week, episode 95 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how to manage employees resistant to change.

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, backstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease. 

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Michelle Richard to share the importance of recognizing and addressing “blockers” in your dental practice, and actionable steps you can take to turn those individuals into supporters of your practice's growth and innovation.

Paul Edwards and Michelle Richard also discuss:

• How to identify blockers on your team, based on key common characteristics and behaviors.
• Blockers can severely hinder growth and innovation, but when overcome and managed correctly, they can be the champions of change in your practice.
• Various ways in which you can manage blockers, and why the way you want to approach them may not be the best for your practice.

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share, and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

Website

LinkedIn

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Facebook

It’s Election Day, and your team members may have a lot on their minds - including the political choices of their coworkers. Join Paul Edwards and his guest, Jeff Dorfman, as they discuss the political tensions we are seeing in workplaces across the country, and why this is just the start of the political tensions at work. This week, episode 94 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how to handle workplace political tension.

Join CEDR’s newsletter and gain access to the latest HR news, advice and education. 

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, backstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease. 

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Jeff Dorfman to share the importance of handling political tension the correct (legal) way in the office, and actionable steps you can take to manage the tension between employees without breaking the law.

Paul Edwards and Jeff Dorfman also discuss:

• The prevalence of political tension in the workplace, and why you should care about the political tension within your team.
• Why private practice owners and managers are not obligated to uphold freedom of speech like the government - and yet there are ways you could get in trouble for telling employees not to talk about certain topics in the workplace.
• Examples of practical approaches to managing political discussions, from minor issues to tension that affects patient care.

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share, and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

It’s Halloween week and we have monsters lurking in dental practices all over the nation - and we want to help you stop them! Join Paul Edwards and his guest, Britt Lanza, as they dissect the gory details of the Timekeeping Zombies eating away at your time and brains, the Work Conflict Werewolves who shift when things get stressful, and the Emotional Vampires who can’t possibly see the silver lining of anything. This week, episode 93 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how to approach managing different types of monsters in your office for business success.

You can check out Time Keeping with CEDR here.

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, BackstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease. 

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Britt Lanza to share the importance of knowing what monsters you may be dealing with in the office and actionable steps you can take to manage these monsters so their behavior doesn’t cost the office more time and money than it needs to.

Paul Edwards and Britt Lanza also discuss:

• Timekeeping Zombies; what they are, the dollars you’re wasting by not handling them correctly, and how best to hold these employees accountable so they stop creating payroll issues.
• Workplace Conflict Werewolves; how to identify them, what they do to the overall work culture, and how to rein them in so they can help with change or stressful situations instead of making these problems worse on the team.
• Emotional Vampires; how they suck the good out of your practice and the only way to “kill” them for good. 

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share, and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

Website

LinkedIn

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Facebook

The internet seems to hate cover letters - with many people discussing how employers who require a cover letter in the application process are toxic or how no one reads the cover letter, there’s a lot of reasoning as to why you may be questioning the importance of the cover letter in your own hiring process. CeCe Wilson, CEDR’s Human Resources Manager, breaks down why you don’t need a cover letter to hire the right candidate, and how to get valuable information during the hiring process in other ways. This week, episode 92 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how to approach the cover letter request in the hiring process.

You can view the complimentary Hygiene Course here.

You can check out our Hiring Guide here.

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, BackstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease.

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by CeCe Wilson to share the importance of a phone screening during your hiring process and actionable steps you can take to gather important information from a potential hire without a cover letter.

Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson also discuss:

• What the internet is saying about employers who require a cover letter 
• Where they stand on requiring cover letters - and if CeCe reads them
• The importance of phone screenings and skills tests in the hiring process

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Telling an employee that they smell bad is a tough and rather personal conversation that many office managers and owners avoid. Whether you’ve had patients or other employees complain, or have noticed the odor yourself, it can be tricky to tell an employee that they stink. Grace Godlasky, CEDR’s Solution Center Manager, is on the podcast today to discuss her new complimentary HR education course: The Clean Conversation. This week, episode 91 of What the Hell Just Happened?! is about how to tell your employees they stink - and why you should handle the conversation with compassion.

You can download the complimentary Hygiene Course here.

Better workplaces make better lives. 

Our podcast sponsor, CEDR HR Solutions, knows there’s a better, easier way to HR. With our industry-leading approach, we support over 3,000 small and medium businesses across the country through custom handbooks, one-on-one HR coaching, and education. From HIPAA training to our expansive software, BackstageHR, our affordable and tailored approach enables you to address any issue with ease.

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, CEDR CEO and Founder Paul Edwards is joined by Grace Godlasky to share the importance of handling hygiene conversations at the office with compassion and actionable steps you can take to have the conversation around smells with your employees.

Paul Edwards and Grace Godlasky also discuss:

• Medical and other life reasons an employee may smell, and the need for compassion with each conversation around hygiene
• Protected reasons someone may smell, and how to still enforce good hygiene in your practice
• Interesting real-life examples of smelly employees and how their hygiene was handled

If you are a business owner or an office manager looking to simplify your HR process and you are not already subscribed to our HR Insider Newsletter, you need to click here to start receiving the most current, updated information for your office.

Be sure to tune in every other Tuesday and listen to past episodes to get informed about tons of HR tips and best practices. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please make sure to share this episode on LinkedIn or with your team, and don’t forget to follow, share and rate the show on your preferred listening platform. 

Email questions or comments for Paul at podcast@wthjusthappened.com

You can connect with us here:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

One of our members (a dental practice) used AI to summarize their notes and recently asked how people are addressing AI in the workplace. We've discussed AI and hiring biases on the podcast (a very long time ago!) As expected, more uses are coming to light. Because of that, we're back with updated guidance and information regarding using AI in the workplace, and our focus is on HIPAA compliance and showing ways employees could unintentionally break HIPAA rules. There are several ways AI can revolutionize your work life and that of your employees, making tasks easier and more efficient. Learn more about the exciting possibilities in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, hosts Paul Edwards and Jennie McLaughlin delve into the recent FTC ruling on non-compete clauses. While this could herald significant changes for employment contracts nationwide, there's no need to panic just yet. Paul and Jennie break down the details of the ruling, emphasizing that it won't take effect immediately and discussing potential legal challenges that could delay its implementation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of non-competes and seeking clarity amidst the unfolding legal landscape!

Let’s delve into a scenario that could happen to any of us in the professional world. We've all seen them by now—the secret Zoom video recordings of a large company firing a remote employee via call go viral. Secretly recording a conversation raises privacy issues, and, once again, a crazy ruling by the NLRB last year states that eavesdropping on employers by employees is legal under federal law. When recordings get released in the wild, it is never good for the employer. We discuss how the employer tried to mitigate the negative impact by responding and how that can worsen things. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED LARGE corporation problem; it impacts small businesses, too. 

So, what could you do when this happens to you? Gain insights from the seasoned perspectives of Paul Edwards and Elijah Newsome, our Social Media Strategist, as they break down best practices around negative reviews in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!

Today, we're talking about the importance of privacy and email addresses for your employees, inspired by a chiropractic office that got locked out of their website by an employee who was demanding a ransom. Allowing employees to use their personal email addresses for various business activities sets you up for trouble in more ways than we can list... Giving your employees company emails solves so many problems. Let's talk about it and how those emails can protect you and your business in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! with Paul Edwards and guest Ally Dagnino.

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Discover why talented employees often find themselves in management positions for which they might not be suited and the unintended consequences that can arise from such decisions. Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson sit down to dissect the reasons behind these common practices, shedding light on the importance of recognizing different skill sets essential for effective management. Whether you're running a burgeoning startup or steering a large enterprise, understanding the Peter Principle and how to navigate its challenges is key to building a resilient and thriving work environment. Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge to make smarter, more effective managerial decisions.

Recently, Dairy Queen was in the news because one of their manager's "corrective action" sent people to the hospital. As managers, sometimes, actually fixing the issue is something we all want to avoid for one reason or another - let's be honest, it can be exhausting (especially if it's an issue you've already addressed a million times). Getting through to your employees is hard, and we're all human. The most important thing to remember (other than the fact that poisoning your employees is NOT the way to go) is that you need to keep your emotional response in check and, as we always say, attack the problem, not the person. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to hear Paul Edwards and Jennie McLaughlin talk about facing employee challenges head-on. 

For this week’s episode, we are doing a re-release of one of our favorites (and one that is always highly requested!) Giving your employees in-house treatment as a benefit of employment is common, and a great way to increase employee retention! However, there are a lot of things to consider, especially when it comes to billing and how insurance carriers see things. Listen when Harley Hartliep and Paul Edwards sit down and talk about it in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!

Buckle in, managers and owners! It's time for the next "What the Hell Just Happened?!"  In this episode, we answer two questions: one from the more than 10,000 HR questions the experts at CEDR receive each year and the second from one of our listeners. Our first question concerns an employee who corners their manager and wants more money: “Since I don't want or need your health insurance, I want the money, not the benefit.” This happens often, and we discuss why your answer should almost always be a resounding NO! Our second question concerns an employee who keeps making an unemployment claim during scheduled office closures and what the practice can do to prevent them. Keep those questions coming! Send them to podcast@wthjusthappened.com!

All employees fall somewhere on the skill versus will matrix, which is a tool that can help you objectively make tough decisions with employees. You have your ideal employees (those that can and will and those that can't and will), and then you have your less-than-ideal employees (those that can and won't and those that can't and won't). Have you ever stopped to think about where all of your employees land? From there, what to do with those that fall in the less-than-ideal category? Join Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! as they go over the skill vs. will matrix and how to decide when it's time to coach, train, or fire, depending on where each employee falls.

As your team gets the chance to sit down together and learn about something new during their break, and while eating a yummy lunch that they didn't have to buy, keep in mind the following: being paid for the time during that session isn't just a kindness, it is required by law in all circumstances. If you remember one of our previous episodes called "You Can't Pay People in Chicken," the same principles we discussed apply here! In that situation, Chick-fil-A got in trouble for trying to pay employees with chicken sandwiches, and in this situation, you will too! Sadly, providing lunch as pay, even if you add waffle fries, is a wage and hour violation. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to hear Paul Edwards and Harley Hartliep go over one of the all too common wage mistakes made and how to avoid them.

Job Descriptions... way more important than a lot of us realize. When you ask an employee to do something and get the "that's not my job" response, what do you do? Your biggest tool that you can use to combat that is a solid and well-thought-out job description! Find out how job descriptions not only play into the culture of your workplace but also how having an improper job description can make your employees' lives more difficult. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, which is inspired by a listener-submitted question, to hear Paul Edwards and guest Ally Dagnino talk about the topic of using your job descriptions as a tool to help you manage your employees.

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Paul Edwards and Jennie McLaughlin answer some listener-submitted questions. For this episode, the questions surround some complex scenarios that every person dealing with HR can relate to. This episode offers practical advice and real-world solutions, from how to handle anonymous tips about employee misconduct (such as embezzlement) to the intricate balance of allowing kids in the workplace. The discussion doesn't stop there – stay tuned for an essential breakdown of recent changes in sick leave laws across various states. Don't miss out – listen now and arm yourself with the knowledge to tackle any HR challenge that comes your way!

Are you always looking for excellent multitaskers when you're hiring? Well, we've got some news for you. Everyone these days is an excellent multitasker, it's almost impossible not to be with how much the world throws at us. What should you be looking for instead? Someone who's a great sequencer! We know, you must be wondering what the heck that even means. Well, let's just say it may be one of the main ways to prevent burnout in the workplace - seriously! Join Paul Edwards, CeCe Wilson, and Amanda Rishor as they discuss the difference between sequencing and multitasking, along with giving guidance on how to find someone who knows how to sequence their tasks (and finding someone who doesn't!)

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, Jennie McLaughlin and CeCe Wilson from CEDR HR Solutions highlight a very recent case where the DOL decided not only to fine a practice but also to go after the office manager and fine them personally for $25k in damages! The worst part, it could have been avoided. Whether you're an experienced HR professional or new to managing people, this episode provides valuable lessons in employment law, management best practices, and understanding state-specific regulations. Don't miss out!

What's the most logical solution to making sure your employees are always working, even when you're not in the room? Filming them of course! (NOT!) In this highly requested episode of "What the Hell Just Happened?!", join host Paul Edwards and guest Ally Dagnino as they delve into the complex world of workplace monitoring. This episode unpacks the legal, ethical, and practical aspects of using cameras and audio recording devices in the workplace. Discover not only the implications of employee surveillance but also alternative strategies for boosting productivity and compliance. From discussing real-world scenarios to evaluating the impact of monitoring on employee morale, this episode is packed with insights for HR professionals, business leaders, and office managers alike. Tune in to learn how to navigate the fine line between surveillance and support in today's dynamic work environment.

In this episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Jennie and CeCe from CEDR HR Solutions take over as hosts to delve into a series of intriguing workplace scenarios that challenge the boundaries of ethics and professionalism. From the discovery of employees' controversial online activities on platforms like OnlyFans to confronting inappropriate behavior in office settings, this episode unpacks the complexities of modern workplace dynamics. Listen as they discuss the implications of personal life on professional conduct, explore the intricacies of privacy and digital footprints in the work environment, and provide insights into how HR departments can navigate these delicate issues.

Feast your ears on the latest episode of "What the Hell Just Happened?!" where host Paul Edwards (formerly chef Paul in another life) and content curator Amanda Rishor slice into prepping for Thanksgiving. Learn about strategic leftovers, as Paul reveals his ultimate late-night sandwich that might rival the main event. Imagine layers of succulent turkey, tangy cranberry sauce, and a slather of mustard that kicks harder than your favorite football team. So, unbuckle your belts and tune in for a dose of laughter, culinary confessions, and the answer to the age-old question: "What the Hell Just Happened to make this Thanksgiving so successful?"

In this enlightening episode, Paul Edwards and Moriah Ochoa dive deep into the complexities of worker classification, using the real-world example of a dental hygienist. Drawing from an actual IRS determination from 2017, they shed light on the risks of misclassifying workers as independent contractors when they should be employees. The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding and adhering to regulations, warning businesses of potential pitfalls and hefty penalties. Join them as they unravel the intricacies of this topic, offering valuable insights and guidance for businesses navigating the challenging landscape of worker classification.

In this chilling Halloween episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, we delve deep into the haunted halls of office lore, unearthing the spookiest HR tales that will make your skin crawl... with laughter. But beware, for beneath the humor lies the very real horror of navigating business best practices and remaining legally compliant through it all. Tune in, if you dare, and be regaled with tales that will make every day feel like Friday the 13th in the office. Happy Haunting!

You have dress code policies and expectations for a reason. You want to strike the right tone with your customers and your patients. What happens when an employee finds a loophole in your policies and really leans into it? This week on What the Hell Just Happened?! Paul Edwards and Harley Hartliep sit down to discuss Dress Code Policies and how to avoid Malicious Compliance.

What is your obligation as an employer? Providing a safe working environment free from harassment or threats. Sometimes, danger still creeps into the workplace, and you have to handle it. How? Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to gain some insight.

So, you discover your employee has an OnlyFans account. What next? Not only that, but they have a QR code sticker on their water bottle that leads to their page... 

How can you stop losing people at your business? Employee engagement is your answer. What does that mean? Generally, when people feel involved and enthusiastic to be at your workplace. How do you achieve that? Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! as CeCe Wilson and Paul Edwards dive into the topic that never goes away and is vital to small businesses: employee engagement. 

You have two businesses... two businesses that are solid and established. Each has its own company culture that has been curated and built over time to match its needs. That culture, for both, is organic; the entire team at each practice has created it and works hard to keep it alive within the walls. What happens when those two businesses collide? Which culture stays around, and which one fades away? How do the employees handle it? Whether you're expanding, selling your practice, or combining with another practice, businesses need to be prepared to handle this element of merging. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to discover how to merge two businesses and their cultures successfully. 

Website copy: Dating in the workplace: where love blooms amidst the water cooler chats and paper jam crises. From an HR perspective, it's like watching a rom-com unfold, but with potential pitfalls, making it more of a tragicomedy. On this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! listen to Paul Edwards and Ally Dagnino talk about dating in the workplace, from managers dating employees to employees dating employees to even employees dating patients. What's the danger here? Let's get into it. 

On this episode of What The Hell Just Happened?! CeCe Wilson and Paul Edwards discuss wild questions that employers ask potential candidates during interviews. How does asking someone what they would do if they opened a freezer to see a penguin inside help see if they will be a good candidate? The world may never know... Let's go over the better way to go about interview questions. 

Heard of the Pregnant Worker's Fairness Act? The major change with this federal law is that employers now must provide accommodations for an employee experiencing a “limitation” due to pregnancy. Previously, you were only legally obligated to provide accommodations if the employee had a pregnancy-related “disability.” So basically, limitation vs. disability.

In some ways, this seems like semantics. But when it comes down to how these words are defined in the law (we won’t bore you with the details of that here), there can be a lot of gray areas and disagreement over whether something is a “limitation” or rises to the level of “disability.” Listen to Paul Edwards and Grace Godlasky break down the PWFA, and why it matters in your business. 

Do you ever think your employees may have concerns about the workplace, but haven't talked to you about it? A California employer decided to bring in a priest and offer their employees to "confess" to them, with the intention of using those confessions against their employees in the future if they ever decided to bring up those concerns. In short, this is NOT the way to go about hearing your employees' concerns! Listen to Paul Edwards and Ally Dagnino talk about it on this week's episode of What The Hell Just Happened?! 

Giving your employees in-house treatment as a benefit of employment is common, and a great way to increase employee retention! However, there are a lot of things to consider, especially when it comes to billing and how insurance carriers see things. Listen when Harley Hartliep and Paul Edwards sit down and talk about it in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!

You’d be surprised what’s out there when it comes to HR practices; we sure are. From an employer that liked touching the ear lobes of his employees all the way to potentially paying employees with pizza, listen to Paul and CeCe talk about various stories where HR has gone very wrong.

Events outside of work are super common, and sometimes even encouraged. Hosting your employees for after-work drinks or holiday parties to show appreciation is nice. However, are you inviting employees to these in the right way? A post on Reddit went viral where an employee felt pressured to go to the events outside of working hours as if their position in the company would be in jeopardy if they didn’t attend. Remember, if it feels required, then it is required. Listen to Paul Edwards and Ally Dagnino unpack this situation in this week’s episode.

How are performance evaluations done at your business? Everyone all at once? On each employee’s yearly employment anniversary? Which method do you think is best? Performance evaluations can be done in several different ways to match the needs of whatever business the employees belong to. However, doing them all at once at the same time each year can make it rough on not only the person giving the reviews but also the employees themselves. Listen to Jennie McLaughlin and CeCe Wilson as they take over the mic this week to talk about best practices around performance reviews.

One of the easiest ways to find yourself in hot water when it comes to human resources is by paying people incorrectly (which is easier to do than you think!). There are so many Timekeeping systems out there, how do you know which one to use? Listen as Paul Edwards and Tiana Starke discuss Timekeeping systems, what to look for in them, and let you know which ones are stupid and which ones are not.

Age discrimination is high on the list of everyday occurrences in the workforce. Forcing an older employee to retire, looking for “fresh out of college” applicants, and more can quickly land your business in the danger zone in the eyes of the EEOC. In this week’s episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Listen to Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson talk about the risks involved with this touchy subject, and how to ensure you don’t land in a place where the EEOC will be looking at you.

Conflict is everywhere and comes in many forms. In the workplace, it can bring down the entire vibe of your practice, and your patients will feel that shift too. What do you do, as a manager or owner, when employees approach you about conflict that they can’t seem to solve themselves? What steps do you take? Listen to this week’s episode to hear what Paul Edwards and Moriah Ochoa sit down and talk about it.

In this episode, we give managers payroll heartburn over bonuses and commission payments. Did you know that bonuses and commissions affect hourly wages and cause the need to adjust past pay for overtime?

“What I need you to know, and this is the mindblowing part, is that when an employee works the first quarter of a year and earns a bonus or commission at the end of that quarter if they have worked any overtime during that first quarter where the bonus was subject to -  YOU  have to go back and look at the overtime hours and add that bonus into the overtime hours. You owe them more money. Not only do you owe the commission/bonus, but now that you know how much they earned, you need to go back and adjust their overtime pay.”

One trend in the world of HR right now is that employers are using social media to look up the people applying to your workplace. For years now we’ve been telling our HR Community that there are intrinsic issues with doing so. The prevailing thinking is that it gives you the chance to see if the person you are thinking about hiring is “normal”? but the problem is, you may also or only come up with things that you don’t want to find. Listen to Jennie McLaughlin and CeCe Wilson in this week’s episode to hear why we advocate against this practice.

Recently, there was a court case about one employee claiming the use of the requested pronouns of another employee went against their religion, so they would not do it. What would you do if you were an employer in this situation? The answer is trickier than you think. Our main guidance: engage in the interactive process. Listen to Paul Edwards, Nora Gustafson, and Amanda Rishor sit down to unpack this issue and the best way to handle it as an employer.

Recently, Crumbl Cookies found themselves in trouble with the Department of Labor for violating child labor laws. This issue is more common than you may think, as many states have specific laws surrounding minors having jobs. If you are considering hiring a minor this summer, listen to Paul Edwards, Kristen Hof, and Amanda Rishor talk about the various things to remember when you decide to bring a child on as an employee.

One thing we constantly get asked about by our community of over 10,000 practice owners and managers is how to handle employees traveling for a work event. Do you need to pay them for the entire time? Can you restrict their drinking? What about rooming employees together to save some money on hotel costs? Listen as Paul Edwards and Michelle Richards discuss this popular topic and answer some of your most asked questions.

One of our employees recently went to a concert where the show's opener gave out a feedback form. Of course, as HR nerds, this inspired us to talk about the always asked about topic: giving feedback to employees. Most people want feedback, but there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Listen to Paul Edwards, Kristen Hof, and Amanda Rishor talk about why you shouldn’t be afraid to give feedback to employees and what the benefits of those conversations are (if you aren’t giving them feedback, they will start making it up in their head). 

A good amount of states out there have now legalized cannabis for recreational purposes along with medical. Employers are increasingly facing employees coming into the office smelling like weed. Even if they do not seem impaired (if they do, that is an entirely different issue), there are steps you can take to ensure the smell is not present in your office. Listen to this week’s episode, where Paul, Nora, and Amanda sit down to discuss what to do when facing this situation.

A.I. is everywhere, and it isn’t going away. More and more discoveries are being made about how popular A.I. tools, such as ChatGPT, can help with various daily tasks, even running a business. There is even talk out there about how certain A.I. tools can run your HR department for you or write your employee handbook. However, listen to Paul Edwards, Ally Dagnino, and Amanda Rishor talk about the risks involved with taking the human out of human resources and using it as a solution rather than a tool.

Have you heard the term “hire slow, fire fast”? It’s making its way through the world of content catered to employers lately, and Paul Edwards and Moriah Ochoa wanted to sit down and talk about it. Is there any truth to it? What exactly does it mean? Listen to this week’s episode to hear their thoughts on the entire concept and how they suggest you interpret the increasingly popular phrase.