HR Spot

What happens when you write up an employee—and the very next day they accuse their manager of bullying or harassment? Suddenly, what seemed like a straightforward performance issue becomes a much bigger HR and leadership challenge. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary Nigh break down how business owners and managers should respond when discipline and employee complaints collide. Using AZ HR Hub’s practical SLOW method—Stop and Listen, Log It, Outside Eyes, and Work Both Tracks—we’ll explain how to take a complaint seriously without abandoning legitimate performance concerns, avoid retaliation risks, coach the manager through the process, and keep both issues moving on separate tracks. If you manage people, this is one of those episodes you’ll want to hear before you find yourself in the middle of it.

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Most business owners aren’t intentionally making HR mistakes—but some of the most expensive people problems start with decisions that seem perfectly reasonable at the time. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary break down five common HR mistakes businesses may be making without even realizing it. From misunderstanding at-will employment and failing to document performance issues to misclassifying 1099 contractors, handling employee situations inconsistently, and waiting too long to involve HR, Linda and Gary share practical examples of where businesses can get into trouble. Plus, they tackle one phrase that should make every business owner stop and think: “We’ve always done it this way.” If you manage employees, this episode will help you spot potential HR risks before small issues turn into expensive problems.

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You may not have an HR department—but if you have employees, you already have HR responsibilities. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary discuss why small and growing businesses often wait too long to think about HR and the risks that come with managing it off the side of someone’s desk. From hiring and employee classifications to performance issues, compliance, manager support, and those unexpected employee situations, Linda and Gary share the warning signs that your business has outgrown DIY HR. They also explain why having HR support doesn’t necessarily mean hiring a full-time HR professional. The takeaway is simple: you don’t have to be a big company to need HR—you just need employees.

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Most problem employees didn't become a problem yesterday—so why do managers wait so long to address them? In this episode of the HR Spot Podcast, Linda Michaels and Gary discuss the real cost of holding onto an employee who isn't working out. From managers avoiding difficult conversations and coworkers picking up the slack to your best employees becoming frustrated and leaving, waiting too long can turn one employee problem into a much bigger business problem. Linda and Gary share how to recognize when coaching has turned into avoidance, why clear expectations and documentation matter, and three important questions every leader should ask before giving “one more chance.” The takeaway? Don't fire quickly. Address quickly.

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Having HR and actually using HR effectively are two very different things. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary Nigh discuss how business owners and leaders can get more value from HR by treating it as a true business partner—not just the department that handles paperwork, policies, and employee problems. They break down when HR should be brought into business decisions, how HR can help develop stronger managers, reduce risk, use workforce data, and shape company culture, and what leaders should expect from a great HR professional or consultant. They also tackle a common situation—“I want to fire this person”—and explain how the right HR support can help leaders move from frustration to a well-informed, well-documented decision. Whether you have 15 employees or 500, this episode will help you rethink what HR should be doing for your business.

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What happens when the problem isn’t the employee—it’s the manager? In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary tackle one of the toughest challenges business owners face: dealing with a manager who gets results but may be driving good employees away. We discuss how to recognize the difference between a demanding manager and a damaging one, why great employees don’t automatically make great managers, the warning signs leadership shouldn’t ignore, and how to address the problem through clear expectations, coaching, training, and accountability. We also explore what happens when the manager is a longtime employee or trusted friend—and why ignoring bad management can create a much bigger culture and retention problem. If good employees keep leaving the same team, it may be time to stop looking only at who left and start looking at who they worked for.

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You know an employee isn't working out—but can you just fire them? In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary tackle one of the most uncomfortable situations business owners and managers face: what to do when an employee isn't meeting expectations. They discuss the difference between performance and behavior problems, when coaching makes sense, why documentation matters, whether you really need a PIP, and how to recognize when it's finally time to part ways. You'll also hear about one of the biggest mistakes managers make—waiting too long to address a problem—and how that can affect the rest of your team. If you've ever thought, “I know this employee isn't working out, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do next,” this episode is for you.

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Great leaders don’t just tell people what to do—they help them understand why it matters. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda and Gary explore one of the most overlooked leadership conversations: explaining the “why” behind decisions, changes, policies, and expectations. They discuss what happens when leaders leave an information vacuum, the difference between compliance and true ownership, and why employees are more likely to trust and support a decision when they understand the context behind it. You’ll also learn a simple set of questions every leader should ask before communicating a change to their team. Whether you’re leading a company, managing a team, or supporting leaders through HR, this episode will challenge you to stop communicating only the “what” and start making the “why” part of every leadership conversation.

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You call them a contractor. You pay them as a contractor. They may have even signed an independent contractor agreement. But does that actually make them a 1099 contractor? In this episode of HR Spot, Linda Michaels and Gary tackle one of the most common—and potentially costly—mistakes businesses make: misclassifying workers. We break down the red flags that could mean your “contractor” should actually be a W-2 employee, why “they wanted to be a 1099” isn't enough, and why having an LLC or signed agreement doesn't automatically settle the issue. Plus, we put some common workplace scenarios to the test. If you have even one independent contractor working for your business, this episode may have you asking a very important question: Are they really a contractor…or have you been treating an employee like one?

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A toxic employee can impact far more than one relationship — they can damage morale, drive away great employees, disrupt productivity, and create unnecessary risk for your business. In this episode of HR Spot, Linda and Gary discuss how to recognize different types of toxic employees, why leaders often wait too long to take action, the importance of documentation, when a PIP makes sense, and how to handle termination professionally. If you’ve ever known an employee was hurting your team but weren’t sure what to do next, this episode is for you.

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