Today, we have another fantastic guest on the show: VP of Talent and Culture at CallRail, Whitney Bennett! In this episode, Whitney shares her wisdom and expertise regarding the current power shift in favor of the candidate and how companies can and should be responding to new expectations of safety, communication, and psychological support. We cover some interesting tools and strategies that can accumulate data in this area, and Whitney outlines the ways in which we can empower managers to have these conversations. Listeners hear about the changing landscape of HR, the new scope of mental health issues and societal injustices that fall under the responsibilities of HR, and just how they can do this: with grace and a human-based approach. We also touch on transparency, willingness, ensuing action, and a whole lot more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• We learn a little bit about Whitney and how she transitioned early on from sales to HR.
• Whitney talks about the importance of a first hire being a recruiter.
• Discussing scaling when hiring many new employees, especially those working remotely.
• How candidates' expectations have changed and how employee resource groups can support these needs.
• Why the great resignation isn't about money; it's more about company culture.
• Being honest with yourself about what you really need from a role, especially in tech spaces.
• Communicating with your manager if you want something more or different.
• Ways in which companies have to be more open and flexible.
• How creating a company culture of transparency and action also creates safety to speak up.
• Whitney asserts that empowering managers to have these conversations is crucial.
• Using other tools such as surveys to gather data on employees satisfaction.
• How Whitney sees the landscape of HR has changed; and where it still needs to.
• Using and giving grace to acknowledge the recent social injustices that are impacting an employee's mental health.
• How HR is transitioning and needs to provide more emotional support than ever before.

• How certifications and training in those softer skills are catching up too.

Tweetables:

"Especially in tech, you don't have to just take any job. There [are] a ton of jobs out there. That's why the great resignation is a thing. Don't compromise on what you want." — Whitney Bennet [0:12:28]

"Employees and candidates have much more power now than they ever did before. Not necessarily power to get all the money in the land, even though that is currently a thing, [but] power to hold their employers accountable to do the things they say they're going to do." — Whitney Bennet [0:05:36]

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Whitney Bennett on LinkedIn

CallRail

Talk Talent to Me