As technology and talent expectations transform what skills matter most, employees expect resources that push their careers forward. Employers who prioritize upskilling and reskilling have a distinct advantage over their competition and better position themselves for long-term success.

Plus, with skill gaps emerging as one of the biggest challenges in HR, reskilling and upskilling has the power to spread operational knowledge, boost employee engagement and truly align your employees — no matter when they started with your organization.

Join Dr. Michelle Weise, an award-winning author and Chief Impact Officer of the Kern Family Foundation, on this episode of the HR Break Room® as she discusses:

• common workforce skill gaps
• upskilling and reskilling priorities
• building talent development programs

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Listen to our conversation with Tom Gordon, CEO and co-founder of Slim Chickens, to discuss the meteoric rise of this fast-casual restaurant. Gordon walks us through Slim Chickens' growth from a garage in Arkansas to nearly 300 locations around the globe.

During the discussion, Gordon touches on how this bold growth plan was powered by automated tech that helped hire, onboard and develop a rapidly expanding workforce. As the franchise business continues to grow, Gordon also discusses how he and his leadership team are able to maintain Slim Chickens' core identity from store to store.

Finally, we touch on how Slim Chickens developed a succession plan to ensure continuity to this day.

This is a must-listen conversation for hospitality professionals and growth-minded leaders alike. Check out this episode of the HR Break Room®!

Employee wellness is becoming a topic that's garnering more attention than ever, and for good reason. Workplace wellness is a driver that can impact productivity, retention and even an employer's ability to innovate.

Dr. Jessica Sharp, founder of Sharp Brain Consulting, joins the HR Break Room® podcast to share her insights and experiences as a consultant who specializes in helping leaders build stronger employee wellness programs.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• the latest developments neuroscientists have found linking workplace stress, well-being and performance
• measuring the impact employee wellness initiatives have on performance and business goals
• emerging trends shaping the future of employee wellness in the workplace

Want to learn about the opportunities surrounding well-being in the modern workplace? Be sure to listen to this episode of the HR Break Room podcast.

It's important for U.S. employers to effectively manage Form I-9 compliance. And with increased immigration enforcement, the scrutiny organizations face could be higher, too.

Now is the perfect time to reconsider your strategy for preventing I-9 compliance fines and other penalties. From conducting an internal I-9 audit to ensuring you have the most effective software to enhance your approach, there's no shortage of best practices to help ensure your compliance.

Workplace compliance expert Dr. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, CEO of People Culture Data Consulting Group, joins HR Break Room® podcast host Ariana Stark to discuss simplifying Form I-9 compliance with:

• an overview of recent I-9 updates
• a breakdown of the most common I-9 errors
• tips and insight for ensuring I-9 compliance

Many companies face unnecessary complexity on a daily basis, wasting valuable time, adding to employees' stress and chipping away at the bottom line.

Often, leaders will implement policies that aim to make employees lives easier, only to discover that nothing changes. And while workplace technology can help reduce complexity, the wrong tech, or even too much tech, can add to the problem instead of subtracting from it.

What steps can organizations take to eliminate wasteful processes and introduce more automation in the workplace? How does simplicity enhance your culture, employee well-being and your financial outlook?

Lisa Bodell, CEO of FutureThink, joins HR Break Room® podcast host Ariana Stark to answer these questions and discuss how:

• organizations can implement real change
• workplace simplicity gives companies a strategic advantage
• automation unlocks HR's potential and improves the employee experience

In a September 2024 survey commissioned by Paycom and conducted by PSB Insights, 56% of HR professionals identified employee retention as their No. 1 priority in 2025. How can HR help retain employees?

One of the most powerful factors in retention is creating a sense of belonging in the workplace. Employees who feel valued and connected are more engaged, more committed, and more likely to stay. Organizations can build lasting relationships by fostering an inclusive culture of belonging that supports employees' professional growth as well as their personal well-being.

Organizational psychologist Dr. Jessica Sharp, CEO of Sharp Brain Consulting, joins HR Break Room® podcast host Ariana Stark to discuss how to create a sense of belonging in the workplace, including:

• practical strategies organizations can implement
• the role of effective communication
• key metrics to track for measuring belonging's impact

It's not enough to just get paid. For us to make the most informed decisions, we have to understand what makes up our pay on a deeper level. You've probably heard of "financial literacy," or our ability to effectively manage money. But boosting it requires another crucial piece: pay literacy.

Through pay literacy, we have a chance to understand every component of our compensation — from earnings and deductions to taxes and benefits. In this episode of the HR Break Room® podcast, you'll hear how it's more than just understanding the difference between net and gross pay. It's about access, management and knowledge.

And Jean Chatzky, bestselling author and former financial editor for NBC's Today show, will be your guide! Join her and host Ariana Stark as they discuss:

· the value of financial literacy

· what pay literacy means and why it matters

· how employers benefit from greater pay literacy

Over the course of her illustrious and varied career, Nicole Kidman has gained valuable perspectives which she applies to her daily life, both at home and at work. No stranger to winning, innovation, caring and service, Kidman is the embodiment of Paycom's values.

In this episode of the HR Break Room® podcast, Kidman discusses the pressures women face in the workplace, the importance of work-life balance and prioritizing compassion and empathy in our working relationships.

She also provides welcome insights on resiliency in the face of failure, admitting when you're overwhelmed and taking advantage of available employee wellness resources.

Join us as Nicole Kidman and host Trinity Thomas discuss:

• how failure leads to innovation
• leadership lessons from women
• the importance of work-life balance
• becoming well-rounded and self-sufficient

Technology isn't just changing how we work. It also has the potential to simplify our most basic tasks. One innovation that can streamline our workday is HR automation. Human resources pros are uniquely qualified for employee-centric work and organizational goal-setting, and automating HR workflows can make a positive difference in their workday and on the employee experience as a whole.

In this episode of the HR Break Room® podcast, Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant and founder of the HR Bartender podcast, discusses why organizations should automate repetitive tasks. Listen now to hear how you can make HR efficiency automatic as you move your organization forward.

Guest and host will discuss:

• Areas where automation can benefit HR
• Using automation to benefit organizational goal-setting
• How automation can positively impact the employee experience
• Why automation tools should be integrated into a single software

Every single person in your organization, whether they're part of the team for a year or their whole career, will move through the employee life cycle. Are you prepared to engage them at every stage?

Listen to this episode of the HR Break Room® podcast with Dr. Jessica Sharp, founder and CEO of Sharp Brain Consulting, to learn why it's important to consider employee life cycle management and how to set your organization up for success at every stage.

Dr. Sharp has spent years helping organizations take a neuroscience-based approach to strengthening cultures. Her insight and experience bring a unique perspective that may prove to be the catalyst your workplace is looking for as you craft a culture that attracts, engages and retains the people who help you succeed.

Dr. Sharp and our host will discuss:

· the importance of consistent training throughout the employee life cycle

· ways to sustain long-term engagement

· factors to consider around employee promotions

· tips for a smoother offboarding process