I Hate It Here

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.

Welcome to a brand new season of the podcast, where I’m flipping the script and diving deep into more diverse topics! I’ll be challenging myself (and my guests) to rethink what we think we know about the world of work, and how seemingly unrelated topics still tie back to HR. Today, we’ve got the one and only Sarika Lamont, aka my Comp Guru Queen, joining us! If you want to understand pay transparency and total rewards in a way that actually makes sense, Sarika is here to break it all down.  Spoiler alert: pay isn’t as simple as it seems—and neither is the communication behind it.  We talk about why employees often misunderstand compensation, how we can improve the conversation, and why education is the key to getting pay transparency right. 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! 00:05:45 - One Topic Sarika is Interested in Right Now 00:16:05 - Explaining Compensation and Total Rewards in Simple Terms 00:19:07 - How do you Decide What Employees Should be Paid? 00:36:22 - What Makes Creating Good Pay Packages so Challenging? 00:53:55 - What do Employees Misunderstand About Pay, Benefits, and How They’re Determined? 01:13:55 - Should Companies be Open About How Much They Pay Employees? 01:16:02 - Non-money Rewards That Companies Can Offer to Make Employees Feel Valued 01:17:36 - How Pay and Rewards for Employees Will Change in the Future 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 Sarika: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarikal/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

As we wrap up 2024, it's time to start thinking ahead to 2025—and let’s be honest, it’s about time we take our place as the experts in the room.  From fixing the broken candidate experience to building stronger bridges with other teams, it’s time for HR to show up and show out! This episode features a series of friends/leaders sharing their bold wishes for the future, and why 2025 is our year to make real change happen. We’re not holding back! Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:00:55 - Tara Turk-Haynes’s Wish for HR in 2025 00:10:01 - Sarika Lamont’s Wish for HR in 2025 00:16:02 - Cassidy Edwards’s Wish for HR in 2025 00:19:35 - Noah Warder’s Wish for HR in 2025 00:26:52 - Cassandra Babilya’s Wish for HR in 2025 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 Tara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ttaraturkhaynes/ Follow Sarika: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarikal/ Follow Cassidy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-edwards-yyom/ Follow Noah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahwarder/ Follow Cassandra: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-babilya/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

As People Leaders, we love our people, but sometimes we miss how the two worlds of business strategy and people strategy need to work together to drive results.  Joining me is the brilliant Halai Shukran, COO at Pluribus Digital, who’s built her career around understanding exactly how people and business strategy intersect. From leading talent functions to overseeing operations, IT, and comms, Halai’s insight is next level.  She’s breaking down how to speak the language of other business units, why you should get your seat at the table, and how to prioritize when resources are tight. Plus, we talk about the big picture—how seeing the whole organization helps shape better leadership and decision-making. So, if you’ve ever felt stuck in the HR bubble, today’s episode is your guide to breaking out and making a real impact.  Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:02:27 - One Thing People in HR Should Rethink 00:06:10 - How Halai Discovered Her Zone of Genius 00:10:43 - Keeping Business and People Strategies Aligned 00:18:10 - The Process for Diagnosing Organizational Challenges 00:23:30 - Prioritizing When Resources are Limited 00:37:18 - Approaching Prioritization When Working Across Multiple Teams 00:42:57 - How Seeing the Bigger Picture Influences Leadership and Decision-making 00:48:14 - Advice for Leaders who Want to Cultivate the “Big Picture” Mindset 00:50:58 - What Excites Halai About the Future of Work 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 Halai: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/halai-shukran-sphr/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

If HR should be anything it’s these two things: creative and curious. This week’s guest is as delicious as the bagels her company makes (and that’s saying something).  Nikki Rappaport, Chief People Officer at Call Your Mother—aka my go-to for stress-eating bagels—is here to share her creativity and wisdom! With a decade of experience in creative marketing and employee experience design, Nikki shares how curiosity and creativity drive exceptional HR practices.  From storytelling to culture-building, we’re exploring how HR can learn from marketing to build trust, align teams with company values, and create meaningful employee experiences. Also, yes, we talk a little bit about bagels. Obviously. Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:03:50 - One Thing People in HR Should Rethink 00:04:53 - How Nikki Found Her Zone of Genius 00:07:20 - How Creativity Translates into Exceptional Employee Experiences 00:10:50 - The Overlap Between Marketing and HR 00:15:38 - The Connection Between Marketing and a Strong Workplace Culture 00:18:53 - How HR Can Utilize Storytelling to Strengthen Culture and Branding 00:24:53 - How to Align Employees With Company Missions and Values 00:36:30 - Lessons From Customer Experience Design That HR Should Learn 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 Nikki: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkirap/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Ever feel like recruiting is just herding cats—or maybe gremlins?  And job searching? Let's call it what it is these days: a special kind of torture. In this episode, I’ve rounded up some previous guests and we’re tackling the dual headache of being a recruiter and a job seeker in today’s chaotic market! With 2025 shaping up as the “Year of the Personal Brand,” we’re dishing out the tea on trust, relationships, and why recruiters who don’t build a foundation are always playing defense. Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:02:22 - Shannon’s Biggest Piece of Advice for Recruiters 00:04:41 - What Job Seekers Should Consider in This Market 00:09:32 - Rhona’s Biggest Piece of Advice for Recruiters 00:11:42 - Tips for Job Seekers of Today 00:15:21 - Brandon’s Biggest Piece of Advice for Recruiters 00:17:34 - Brandon’s One Tip for Job Seekers 00:21:15 - Sean’s Biggest Piece of Advice for Recruiters 00:22:24 - Sean’s One Tip for Job Seekers 00:26:53 - Can you Beat the ATS? 00:34:58 - What is the Best ATS System to Use? 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 Shannon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonogborn/ Follow Rhona: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/ Follow Brandon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandohires/ Follow Sean LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-page-capm/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Hot take: Nobody is inherently a good leader. Being a leader is a learned skill. What does it really take to be a good leader?  It’s not about being perfect, having all the answers, or walking in like a natural-born boss! Leadership is messy, vulnerable, and learned.  In this episode, my unofficial co-host (and leadership guru) Jessica Winder is back to break it all down.  We talk about why vulnerability is a must (not an option), how to lead when you have zero authority, and why leadership isn’t a natural-born trait—it’s a skill you grow over time. Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:01:35 - Jessica’s Background  00:03:45 - One Thing That HR People Should Rethink 00:06:30 - What Does it Mean to be a Leader? 00:11:57 - How Jessica’s Leadership Style Evolved Over the Years 00:16:13 - When Jessica Realized Leadership as Her Zone of Genius 00:19:20 - Common Myths About Leadership, Debunked 00:23:38 - What Qualities Differentiate a Good Leader From a Great Leader? 00:30:40 - Balancing Empathy and Decision-making as a Leader 00:36:48 - Advice for People Stepping Into Their First Leadership Role 00:38:27 - What Leadership Could Look Like in 5-10 Years 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 Jessica: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Just how different is a work environment that’s unionized versus one that isn’t? Today, we’re diving headfirst into the world of unionized workplaces with the brilliant Morgan Williams!  Spoiler alert: unions aren’t just about strikes and tension—they can actually make your organization stronger if you know how to play the game.  Morgan’s expertise? Managing unionized environments, reducing conflict, and building collaboration that lasts.  She’s here to drop some knowledge on how you can navigate union demands without breaking a sweat (or losing your mind). Plus, why you should care about union negotiations—because, trust me, what they’re asking for today might just be what your employees are eyeing tomorrow. Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo. 00:02:15 - Something That HR Folks Should Rethink 00:04:20 - What Sparked Morgan’s Interest in Working With Unions 00:07:30 - How the Election Could Impact Unionized Work 00:10:47 - Working in a Unionized Environment VS a Non-unionized Environment 00:13:04 - Common Misconceptions About Unionized Workplaces 00:20:00 - Why Some People Don’t Support Unions 00:22:17 - Fostering Positive Labor Relations and Reducing Conflict 00:28:58 - How Employee and Union Relationships Have Changed Over the Years 00:38:10 - Where Can People Educate Themselves on Unions? 00:45:22 - Where to Get in Touch With Morgan 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/morganbwilliams/ Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef