HR Fresh Take

In Part 2 of our series, HR and the Age of AI:  Opportunities and Obstacles, our guests share their unique perspectives on how AI is transforming HR practices from creating culture to enhancing neurodiversity inclusion. 

We also discussed the need for critical thinking and human oversight in AI applications, as well as the legal implications and ethical considerations.

Special thanks to our contributors:

Michael S. Cohen Partner, Duan...

Discussing the benefits and challenges of AI can help reduce anxiety around its integration and use. When HR professionals understand the advantages and limitations of AI, they can develop a balanced perspective and in turn, foster collaboration and proactive planning, ensuring that AI is integrated responsibly and ethically.

In this special multi-part series: HR in the Age of AI - Opportunities and Obstacles, recorded during the 20...

For three seasons, HR Fresh Take has covered topics that affect our business community and how HR is able to meet those challenges.  For this episode, we’d like to approach it from a different angle and take this opportunity to share the meaningful experiences of individuals who joined Philly SHRM’s HR Lift Lab in 2024. 
With a foundation of leadership self-awareness plus a balanced portfolio of effective HR practices, LIFT LAB...

As companies strive to prioritize employee well-being, a concerning trend has emerged: “Care-washing” which is the practice of offering superficial or surface-level wellness programs that fail to address the root causes of employee stress and burnout. 

In this episode, we are in conversation with guests Nicole McNeal, Director of Wellbeing at Virtua Health and Anna Greenwald CEO/Founder of On the Goga as well as HR Fresh Take produc...

Silos in the workplace can create divisions that hinder communication, collaboration, and innovation. They often lead to duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, and a lack of cohesion. But what causes these silos to form, and how can we break them down?

In this episode of HR Fresh Take, we’ll talk with Pat Schaeffer, co-founder of Talent Strategy Partners and Barbara Taylor, Business partner of JanBara & Associates. They are t...

Born between the mid 1990s and early 2010s, Gen Z is not just another demographic, they are a driving force behind many of the changes we're seeing in today's job market. The challenge for some organizations is figuring out how to engage with Gen Z effectively and how best to utilize their skills within the workforce. 

In this episode, we'll talk with Michael Brenner, founder and CEO of Right Chord Leadershi...

Halloween is around the corner! So come with us as we revisit HR Fresh Take's most fun and popular episode: "An HR Halloween", where we share a few horror stories submitted by the HR community in the Philadelphia area.  The names were changed to protect the innocent AND the guilty.  We'll also discuss lessons from these cautionary tales.  Enjoy!

Business, Engagement, Human Resources, Management, Thought Leadershi...

Recently, DEI initiatives have faced significant challenges in boardrooms, state legislatures, and college campuses. Since 2023, 81 anti-DEI bills targeting college programs have been introduced in 28 states and in Congress, with eight signed into law in states like Texas and Florida.

Despite these challenges, a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 52% of employed U.S. adults participate in DEI trainings or me...

With the prevailing mentality that workers should “leave life at the door”, it’s no wonder that the struggle to balance the demands of family and career has only gotten more difficult. This is especially true for employees who care for others such as children, elderly parents, and family members at home who are sick or have disabilities. According to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Caregivers are the fastest-grow...

Political factors can have a significant impact on how HR manages an organization’s culture, talent, and other areas. Politically motivated trends either brought upon by the C-Suite or employees can leave HR in a precarious position to manage expectations of organizational change in relation to these movements.

In this episode, recorded during the 2024 Philadelphia SHRM Symposium, our podcast hosts got the perspective fro...

There’s a significant gap between the skills of today’s workers and the complex skill sets needed for the future of work. A recent report by Korn Ferry states that by 2030, more than 85 million jobs could be unfilled because there aren’t enough skilled people to take them.
 Often thought of as a staple of trade careers, apprenticeship programs are becoming a tangible solution for companies searching for new talent.

In...

What does it mean for HR leaders to bring their whole self to work when their identities are not the majority?
Being an HR leader is already challenging, but being the only one who looks like you only amplifies those challenges.

On this episode of HR Fresh Take, we’re revisiting the conversation from our June 2023 event “The Black HR Experience”, hosted by Philly SHRM and the National Association of African Americans i...

Within the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion in the availability of and interest in artificial intelligence-based tools to perform HR tasks such as hiring, training, benefits, or employee engagement.
However, the use of AI in HR raises concerns given AI’s potential for problems in areas such as data privacy and bias. These concerns are further amplified in the HR context where decisions can have significant impacts...

The proverbial saying around the holidays is that "it's the most wonderful time of the year!"  But for HR professionals, it can be a time of stress in the workplace.  Every December, HR is faced with the difficult task of adequately acknowledging the various religious and secular holiday traditions within an organization.

In this episode, we'll talk with Nina Boe, Senior Workplace Program Associate at ...

Halloween is around the corner.  It's time for spooky stories, tricks and treats.  But for HR professionals, scary stories from the workplace happen all year round.

It makes us wonder with all the laws, rules, and regulations in place, why are businesses and the people in them still making head-scratching, face-palmed decisions that could potentially get them into a house of horrors of litigation.

In this epi...

How are companies developing leaders in today’s fast paced business world?

Consider these statistics:

While 83% of organizations believe it’s important to develop leaders at every level of the company, only 5% of businesses have implemented leadership development at all levels. In addition, only 48% of employees view their company’s leadership as “high quality.” and 79% of employees will quit due to a lack of appreciation. 

As a follo...

The importance of mental health awareness has never been so prevalent in the public consciousness. Employers who realize how critical this concern is to employees and potential employees will engender not only loyalty in their current people but will gain meaningful interest in those they seek to attract. 

Conversely, those employers who ignore the importance of mental health as immaterial or who dismiss its significance by relying ...

Historically, human resources professionals are not considered thought leaders within their organizations.  Stereotypes of HR of only a "support" function can get in the way.  However, human resources professionals are well positioned to take on the role of thought leader and can have tremendous impact on people, organizations, and even society, including inspiring innovation and championing change. 

As we concl...

How we work has changed dramatically over the past few years. That change has lead to new work models, emerging workforce trends, and constantly evolving technology to sustain an organization’s operations. The uncertainty surrounding the future of work will be the most disruptive and definitive business challenges of the next decade.

In this special supersized episode, our podcast hosts got the perspective from 9 of our nationally a...