I Hate It Here

Recruiting is rough right now. Job seekers are frustrated, recruiters are overwhelmed, and everyone’s wondering, “Is it just me, or is this whole system broken?”  In this episode, I sit down with Kiersten Greggs, founder of Trap Recruiter and a 24-year recruiting veteran, to unpack the chaos.  Kiersten pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in today’s job market, why recruiters are the unsung heroes of HR, and how both candidates and hiring teams can navigate this mess. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your workforce? PI empowers organizations to align talent with business strategy, helping you drive results and build a culture where your people truly thrive. Transform how you hire, engage, and lead—visit predictiveindex.com to learn how you can create meaningful change in your organization today! 00:02:19 - A Topic Keirsten Has Been Interested in Lately 00:05:03 - What is Happening in Today’s Market? 00:10:01 - How Will the Job Market Look in the Next Year? 00:14:06 - How to Stand Out During a Hiring Process 00:23:04 - Why Does Everybody Think You Need to Beat the ATS? 00:29:14 - Using AI for Resumes or Job Searching 00:36:39 - The Biggest Inefficiencies in the TA Process Right Now 00:44:16 - How Long Should the Overall Interview Process be? 00:51:46 - What is the Most Important Part of the Candidate Experience?  00:57:03 - The One Tip Kiersten Would Give Recriuters And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content! Follow Keirsten: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traprecruiter/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Work is changing FAST.  Between global pandemics, remote work, and the Great Reshuffle, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling a little unhinged! Nothing like building a deep work connection to help you adjust to it all, eh? That’s why this week’s episode is a fun (slightly wild) ride with Chris Hagood, CEO of AstutEdge and all-around HR powerhouse.  We’re covering everything from the role of work friendships to whether you’d take $10,000 to return to the office (spoiler: Chris has thoughts).  Plus, we’re throwing in some HR raps courtesy of ChatGPT because why not?! Whether you’re here for the laughs, the insights, or just to feel less alone in your corner of chaos, this episode has it all.  Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your workforce? PI empowers organizations to align talent with business strategy, helping you drive results and build a culture where your people truly thrive. Transform how you hire, engage, and lead—visit predictiveindex.com to learn how you can create meaningful change in your organization today! 00:03:00 - A Topic Chris Has Been Interested in Lately 00:08:04 - What the F&*%$ is Going on in the World? 00:11:34 - Does Christ Have a Best Friend in Life That he Met at Work? 00:13:52 - Should HR Play an Active Role in Fostering Friendships at Work? 00:17:19 - Would You Take $10,000 to Return to the Office? 00:23:00 - Professional Myths or Facts 00:33:35 - Yes or No? 00:37:08 - HR Raps From ChatGPT 00:42:12 - 3 Things HR Definitely Shouldn’t Say   And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content! Follow Chris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrhagood/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef Hostile Government Takeover Song  Gallup Best Friend at Work survey

This episode of I Hate It Here is getting spooky with a second edition of HR Horror Stories!  Last year, we dove into tales that had us shaking our heads, and this year?  Let’s just say my jaw’s still on the floor after these submissions.  I’ll be reading these stories exactly as they were submitted, and trust me, they’re a reminder that nobody outside of HR quite understands the unique trauma we face.  Tune in to hear about The Bad Employee, The Unhinged CEO, and yes, even a Rubber Duck and Plastic Dinosaur making their grand entrance. 00:02:09 - The Tale of the Bad Employee 00:05:33 - The Tale of the Interesting Meeting 00:08:30 - The Rubber Duck and Plastic Dinosaur 00:10:35 - The Tale of ‘Do Not Disturb’ 00:11:55 - The Tale of Lack of Gratitude 00:12:51 - The Tale of the Group Text 00:16:10 - The Tale of the Unhinged CEO 00:19:02 - The Tale of Bad References 00:20:50 - The Tale of the Mediator 00:22:29 - The Tale of the Pervert And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content! Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef  Got an HR horror story of your own? Submit it here!

Let’s be real, HR doesn’t exactly scream creativity to most people, right?  But, are we selling it short by overlooking all of the hidden opportunities?  Could HR actually be a secret powerhouse of creativity, ready to lead the charge in fostering a culture of innovation within organizations? I’m here to tell you that is possible to carve out that creative space in your role as an HR leader, and Cassidy Edwards is here to break down the many ways HR can lead the charge in fostering a culture of creativity and innovation within your company. Cassidy will also dig into how HR can work hand-in-hand with marketing to craft stories that resonate with employees, the role of curiosity in driving creative thinking, and tips for keeping team relationships vibrant and productive—you’ll also get her take on the coolest sneakers out there. 00:02:280 - Cassidy’s Current Favorite Pair of Sneakers 00:03:45 - The Key to Strong Work Relationships 00:04:48 - Defining Creativity in Work and Personal Life 00:06:34 - What Inspires Cassidy’s Creativity? 00:013:12 - Inspiring Creativity Through Photography Books 00:15:46 - Why Creativity Matters in HR Roles 00:19:11 - Creative Best Practices for Day-to-day Duties 00:25:33 - Fostering Creative Cultures to Keep Employees Satisfied 00:31:12 - Injecting Creativity into Employee Training 00:36:50 - How to Foster a Creative Environment in Your Team 00:41:47 - Cassidy’s Advice for Unlocking Creative Potential And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Cassidy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-edwards-yyom/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Alright— that’s it. We’re finally settling the debate of who wore it best: remote, hybrid, or in-person. Or uh… at the very least, we’re coming to some massively inconclusive conclusions about which work style reigns supreme. In this special series with New Stand, a startup company setting out to improve everyday employee experience— and bring a little bit of daily joy back into employees’ lives— CEO Dave Garcia chats with Hebba about how to cope with in-office mandates, the difficulties of conversational nuances over Slack, and how to chisel away at a person’s professional persona to connect with their juicy, human core (hint: snacks are always a good start).  Plus: How many hours a day do people actually work, and how can workplaces strengthen the employer-employee relationship? But more importantly, why does Hebba despise eating at her desk so much?    Thanks to our sponsors, New Stand, who partners with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team hospitality, employee gifting and rewards, and pop-up events.   New Stand helps bridge the onsite/offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium programs designed to enhance wellbeing, community, and recognition. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com.   And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.   https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   Check Out New Stand:  Website: https://www.newstand.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thisisnewstand  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisnewstand/   Follow Dave:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nycddg/   Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Work sucks, I know. And since we can’t all make it to Blink 182’s show… How exactly do we cope with the uncertainty of an insanely competitive, wildly unstable job economy?  In this special series with New Stand, a startup company setting out to improve everyday employee experience—and bring a little bit of daily joy back into employees’ lives—CEO Dave Garcia chats with Hebba about the #problematic aspects of workplace culture.   In this ep, they’re breaking down why the effects of a rapidly changing job economy have led to an epidemic of “quiet staying” and why employees have such difficulty staying engaged with, well… doing actual work.   Plus, you might think you can do a better job than your manager… but can you really? Let’s be real—it’s not as easy as it looks. Thanks to our sponsors, New Stand, who partner with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual hospitality, employee gifting and rewards, and pop-up events. New Stand helps bridge the onsite/offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium programs designed to enhance employee wellbeing, community, and recognition. Learn how to bring more joy and satisfaction to your team by visiting newstand.com. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.   https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   Check Out New Stand:  Website: https://www.newstand.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisnewstand/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thisisnewstand  Follow Dave:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nycddg/   Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Let’s face it— not everyone wants to be at work. So how do you build a better sense of community without feeling like you’re pulling out teeth?  In this live virtual event featuring a panel of HR experts, Hebba and crew discuss the ways in which you can create a better workplace community. How can you foster more virtual interactions? How do you rebuild trust after massive layoffs? And how should you respond to a workforce that doesn’t want to attend work-sponsored events? Plus, stay tuned at the end as they field a rapid-fire round of audience questions, including how to mesh clashing divisions together and whether or not you should attempt to pry a hermit out of its shell.    And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.   https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef   Follow Alex:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexseiler/   Follow Suraiya: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suraiya-kara-peopleandculture/   Follow Adrienne:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrampaul/

Over 50% of all employees are stressed out at work. Could it have anything to do with the fact that in the same survey, 69% of managers said they felt uncomfortable actually managing them?   In this live virtual event, Hebba chats with the co-founder of the employee-centric HR suite, Skillcycle, about the role that power dynamics play in the managing workplace relationships. How do you show empathy to employees who feel powerless in the workplace, and what can you do when the people without power have no one that looks like them in those positions of power?    Hebba and Rebecca talk about managing conflict with difficult coworkers, some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to navigating relationships at work, and how to handle a leader with a low EQ.   Plus, stay tuned at the end as they field audience questions.    And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.   https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   Follow Rebecca:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccataylor2/   Follow Hebba:    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

The job market and talent world feels way too confusing right now, so what’s going on?  In this series finale, Hebba is joined by Rie Grant, a Recruiting Manager, Anessa Fike, CEO and Founder of Fike + Co, and Cassandra Smith, Technical Talent Acquisition at NPR, for this last virtual event. They discuss five questions that get right to the heart of talent acquisition, including how to help candidates stand out in a crowded marketplace, red flags to look for during interviews, and what recruiters are focusing on right now. Plus you’ll hear the panel’s responses to questions from the live audience. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium wellbeing, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow Rie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rie-grant/ Follow Anessa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anessafike/ Follow Cassandra: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiesmithrecruiter/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

How can you give (and receive) feedback in a way that puts wellbeing firmly at the center? Hebba is joined by Nesa K. Johnson, Global Chief People Officer at GCI Group. They get into how trauma can affect how you receive feedback, the best approach to take when blame becomes an issue, and how to think of feedback as a strategic input. Plus Hebba and Nesa answer questions from the audience at this virtual event. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium wellbeing, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow: Nesa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nesajohnson/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

How do you manage the wellbeing of employees when everyone seems stressed? A pandemic, economic downturns, and the general challenges of life have left so many people feeling burnt out. How can employers handle the stress of their employees?  Hebba is joined by a panel of People and HR experts -  Amande Halle, Founder of People Tech Guru, Jomana Elwenni, Head of People at Community.com and Charkie Quarcoo, Program Manager at the Predictive Index. They get straight into discussing what work factors cause the most stress for employees, the most effective mechanisms of support, and how HR professionals can (and should) take care of their own health. Join Hebba and the panel at this virtual event discussing how to manage stress and wellbeing the right way, plus fielding Q&As from viewers. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium wellbeing, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

What are companies getting wrong about parental leave? Well, quite a few things actually! Allison Whalen the Co-founder and CEO at Parentaly joins as a guest this episode to discuss parental leave and how to support expecting parents! Her company Parentaly helps turn parental leave into a competitive advantage through coaching, planning and support services to expecting and new parents.  Hebba and Allison discuss what companies get wrong about leave, how to think about leave as a competitive advantage and how to support all expecting parents regardless of how a family was formed.  Join Hebba and Allison at this virtual event, discussing how to do parental leave right and fielding Q&As from viewers. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium wellbeing, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow Allison: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-whalen-7824168/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:45 Coming Back Strong 09:14 The Aha Moment 15:03 Communication On Your Terms 16:26 Getting Adoption Leave Right 18:30 Struggling With Terminology 22:13 Diving Into The Stats 27:07 Life And Work Past Birth 29:54 Giving Companies The Competitive Advantage 34:09 Support For Pregnancy Loss

When your team is fully remote, can you really create a sense of community? Hebba’s guest on today’s episode is Jessica Winder, SVP of People at Refine Labs, and CEO and Founder of Hidden Gems, the career coaching service helping underrepresented job seekers through every stage of their career development. Jessica and Hebba get straight into why Jessica felt moved to help others move upwards in their careers, the importance of putting in and sticking to boundaries in the workplace, and a Q&A session from listeners at the I Hate It Here virtual event where this episode was recorded. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium wellbeing, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/refinelabsjessica/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

The poles have never been further apart when it comes to employer vs employee expectations. Can HR help fix the problem? Welcome to the first episode of the I Hate It Here podcast. Kicking off the season, Hebba Youssef, Head of People at Workweek, gets into conversation at a live event, with David Garcia, President of New Stand, and passionate campaigner for wellbeing at work. Hebba and David dive into creating psychologically safe spaces, monitoring your own (and others’) emotional states, and how to manifest well-being as part of your company’s culture. The pair throw open the floor for a live Q&A session from listeners, tackling the kinds of topics you were too afraid to talk about. Thanks to our sponsors New Stand - partnering with companies to deliver better work experiences, including onsite and virtual team stores, employee rewards, and pop-up events.  New Stand helps bridge the onsite - offsite gap for distributed teams with their premium well-being, community, and recognition programs. Learn how to bring joy to your team by visiting newstand.com And The Predictive Index. Bonus payouts around the corner? Don't panic. The Predictive Index gives you (and your managers) the tools you need to create a more engaging culture. Go to trypi.com/hrt  to get started for free. And if you love HR Therapy, sign up to I Hate it Here, the newsletter for jaded, overworked and emotionally burned out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/ Follow David:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nycddg/ Follow Hebba:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

If HR is one of the most soul-crushing industries to work in, how come we’re not talking about it more? I Hate it Here is the unflinching podcast for People professionals talking honestly and openly about HR and sharing best-in-class resources to make the hardest job in the world, a little bit easier. Hosted by Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer and creator of the I Hate it Here podcast and newsletter at Workweek, this is the show for HR People who want to get things done right - even if they do feel dead inside. You’ll hear from different people in the industry, not just the same old voices, sharing all the things you’re secretly thinking but never said out loud. Each week Hebba will dive into a topic and discuss the questions most HR folks are afraid to ask, digging into real-life examples and giving solutions and strategies. Season 1 drops soon with new episodes every week. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay so this episode is a little different, because the layers here are a lot.  Morgan T. Stanley is my guest today, and yes, that is her real name, and yes, we have laughed about it many times.  We started as peers, then somehow ended up in a manager-direct report situation, then became peers again, and NOW she has my old job! We discuss everything — how we met, what it was like when the dynamic shifted, what she changed after stepping into the role, and how leadership has genuinely changed her as a person.  This one felt less like an interview and more like two people who've seen each other grow up in this industry, finally putting it all on the table. --- Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance.  Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠quantumworkplace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more. --- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:39 - One New Thing Morgan is Learning This Year 00:04:30 - How Hebba and Morgan Met 00:15:59 - How Hebba and Morgan Have Learned From Each Other Over the Years 00:21:44 - When Morgan Stepped Into Hebba’s Old Role 00:36:24 - What Changes Did Morgan Make After Stepping Into Hebba’s Old Role? 00:41:51 - How Morgan’s Relationship With Power and Responsibility Have Evolved 00:48:45 - How Morgan’s Role Has Changed Her --- And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. ⁠https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/⁠ And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here⁠ for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Morgan: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgantstanley/⁠   Follow Hebba:  YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef⁠ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Retirement planning is one of those topics that always feels confusing and overwhelming…until someone finally comes along and breaks it down in a way that makes sense.  In this episode, I'm joined by Melissa Elbert from Aon to talk about why so many retirement strategies are lowkey failing employees, the outdated assumptions driving bad benefit decisions, and what HR and finance leaders should be paying attention to right now, before it becomes a bigger problem later. If you've ever felt like retirement was a gray area nobody fully explained to you, this might give you a better understanding! Aon’s Human Capital capabilities help organizations make confident workforce decisions by connecting advisory, insights and data across health benefits, talent and retirement. By aligning people strategies to business outcomes, we enable leaders to drive engagement, manage program sustainability, and build a resilient workforce ready for what’s next. Learn more at Aon.com 00:01:40 - How Leaders Should Rethink Retirement Decisions 00:03:10 - Outdated Assumptions About Retirement 00:09:16 - How Orgs Can Balance Flexibility and Sustainability 00:13:40 - What Signals Should HR Leaders be Looking to Now to Make Smarter, Long-term Retirement Decisions? 00:20:25 - What Role Should HR be Playing With Finance When Accessing Benefits? 00:24:26 - One Retirement-related Decision Companies Keep Getting Wrong And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Melissa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-elbert-b709b65/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Today, we're talking about a topic that shouldn't be controversial but somehow still is, which is being authentic at work!  As most of you already know, most workplaces either treat authenticity like a performance or punish you the second you actually show up as yourself.  I'm joined by Madison Butler, who literally wrote a book about this, and we're getting into why authenticity feels so dangerous, why corporate America says they want it but freaks out when you deliver, and how to practice authenticity without tanking your career.  If you've ever felt like you're performing a version of yourself at work instead of just existing, you’ll probably relate to this discussion! Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance.  Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit ⁠⁠quantumworkplace.com⁠⁠ to learn more. (00:00:00) Intro (00:04:53) Something New Madison Wants to Learn This Year (00:09:12) What Prompted Madison to Publish a Book? (00:14:45) What Authenticity at Work Means in 2026 (00:25:00) Why Does Being Authentic at Work Still Feel Dangerous for So Many People? (00:30:25) Madison’s Personal “Toolkit” (00:36:55) Is the Average Exec Constantly Trying to Grow, or Complacent in Their Power? (00:45:37) Building Authenticity at Work Without Turning it Into Weird Cultural Theater (00:48:36) How to Practice Authenticity in a Way That is Safe and Strategic If you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Madison: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bluehairedunicorn/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

I'm doing something a little different today and revisiting Season 6 where I asked every single guest the same question:  “What's one thing HR folks should rethink?”  And honestly, I've been in this whole new and rethinking era lately, writing about it in the newsletter, talking about it nonstop on the pod, and it just felt like the right time to bring these answers back because, let's be real, we all need the reminder!  Work is changing faster than it's ever changed before, which means the cadence of how we think about things has to change too.  Sometimes I genuinely worry that the solutions I built six weeks ago don't even work for today, let alone six months ago!  So consider this your dose of inspiration, hearing from some of my favorite guests on all the things we should be rethinking.  Hopefully it sparks something in you, or at the very least, makes you feel less alone in the chaos.  Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance.  Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit ⁠quantumworkplace.com⁠ to learn more. 00:01:28 - Improving Equitable Operations in Your Org 00:04:01 - Just Be Honest About Your Culture to Candidates 00:13:35 - Embracing People’s Passions Outside of Work 00:16:42 - When Leaders Are a Common Blocker to HR 00:18:52 - Finally Holding Leaders Accountable 00:21:55 - Why HR Should be Thought of as a Creative Department 00:23:27 - Addressing Employee Turnover and Going Back to the Basics And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow DeMario: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demario-bell-7a510994/ Follow Joel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellalgee/ Follow Justin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingignac/ Follow Morgan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganbwilliams/ Follow Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/ Follow Nikki: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkirap/ Follow Halai: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halai-shukran/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

We're out here constantly hearing that Gen Z is "so different" and Millennials "just don't get it," but nobody ever stops to ask how or why they're different.  It's not because we're lazy or entitled (though I know that's everyone's favorite narrative).  It's because we looked at the leadership systems y'all built, said absolutely not, and decided to burn it all down and start over! Amanda Litman and I got into the leadership myths that are finally dying, why vulnerability isn't a weakness, how social media completely changed what leadership looks like, and why so many of us refuse to let our jobs become our entire personality.  This episode is for anyone who's ever felt gaslit for having boundaries, anyone who's been told they're "too much" for expecting basic humanity in the workplace, and anyone who knows the way things have always been done is not the way things should keep being done. Quantum Workplace helps leaders build thriving teams that fuel business success. We give leaders at every level a clear path forward—by unlocking critical talent insights across engagement, performance, and development. With clarity and confidence, people leaders can act decisively, scale leadership quality, and strengthen connection and performance.  Trusted by thousands of people-focused companies, Quantum Workplace makes it easier to keep teams aligned, empowered, growing, and valued on the path to business success. Visit ⁠quantumworkplace.com⁠ to learn more. 00:05:41 - One New Thing Amanda Wants to Learn This Year 00:15:07 - Why Are Leadership Myths Continue to Persist? 00:20:51 - Seeing More Representation in Entertainment Media and Exec Boards 00:26:41 - What Earned Authority Looks Like Now vs a Decade Ago 00:29:36 - Where Orgs Consistently Misread Next Gen Employees 00:36:41 - How Younger Generations Manage Power Struggles 00:42:46 - How Loyalty is Perceived Among Different Generations And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalitman/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef