When Work Works

The future of work is no more. Why? Well, because it's already here. In this season finale of When Work Works, host Julie Develin closes out the inaugural season with Taylor Stockton, Chief Innovation Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor, for a conversation about what it means now that the future has officially become the presentFrom the state of AI at work to the hard-won lessons he's gathered watching adoption play out across industries, Taylor unpacks where teams get stuck when they encounter new technology and why so many early experiments fall flat. Landing on agility as the real antidote, he makes the case for why the most successful organizations are the ones ready to move quickly and integrate AI from every direction, not just the top down. Finally, Taylor looks into a crystal ball and shares why it's optimism that will be louder than fear.If you're reading this hit play, you're already one step closer to building a more connected, more human workplace.Resources:Your Frontline Workforce: How to Drive Productivity and ImpactPowering the Frontline Workforce: How Frontline-First Companies Thrive

When budgets are tight and hiring is hard, purpose might be the last thing on your list. But what if it should be the first?In this episode, host Julie Develin is joined by George Rogers, Chief Strategy Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, author, keynote speaker, and podcast host, to make the case that purpose is not a feel-good idea; it's a powerful business tool. Together, they explore why purpose acts as a performance multiplier, a resilience buffer, and a retention driver, even in the most high-pressure environments. George shares his RSVP framework for quarterly check-ins, explains how to translate purpose into the language of the boardroom, and unpacks why organizational friction quietly drains productivity when purpose is absent.If you've ever struggled to connect culture to business outcomes, this episode gives you the language, the framework, and the case to make it real.

The legal landscape is shifting in every direction, and for compliance teams, that means keeping up with everything from new legislation to a growing patchwork of rules across states.In this episode of When Work Works, Julie Develin is joined by Chris Olmsted, employment law expert and managing shareholder at Ogletree Deakins, for a conversation about what employers need to be watching right now. Together, they unpack some of the fastest-moving areas in compliance, including pay transparency, wage and hour law, leave management, and, of course, AI. With the real challenge being not just the volume of change, but the speed of it, Chris shares his insights on what teams need to understand so they do not fall behind.So if you are looking for a gut check on whether your team is keeping up with today’s compliance demands, start with this episode.Disclaimer: This material presented by an external source includes general commentary for informational purposes only and is not legal or professional advice. There may be risks associated with relying or acting upon this information, and readers should seek qualified professional or legal counsel before doing so.

AI may be moving fast, but adoption is a very different story, especially on the frontline. So what happens when leaders are eager to invest, but employees are still unsure how AI will affect them?In this episode, host Julie Develin sits down with Karina Monesson and Marcus Erb of Great Place to Work to explore the real barriers slowing down AI adoption. Together, they discuss the disconnect between executive ambition and employee reality, why peer-to-peer learning and manager behavior matter so much, and what organizations need to do to make AI feel useful rather than threatening.From governance to psychological safety and frontline relevance, this conversation gets to the heart of what it takes to turn AI from a company initiative into something in the hands of employees. 

If frontline managers are responsible for some of the most important moments in the employee experience, and the consequences of poor management are significant, then the question is clear: What is your organization doing to develop managers right now?In this episode, host Julie Develin is joined by Sharlyn Lauby, writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of HR Bartender, for a conversation about what frontline managers really need to succeed. Together, they unpack why management and leadership are not the same thing, how communication shapes trust and performance, and why conflict management, problem solving, and change navigation are essential frontline skills. They also explore what organizations can do to better support manager development, from stronger onboarding to peer learning.So if you are ready to kick-start your manager development program, listen to this first. Read UKG’s newest white paper on training frontline managers HERE