POPS! The People Ops Podcast

Effective remote engagement is not a one-and-done situation. Yet, it’s easy to fall into the out-of-sight-out-of-mind trap and assume your people are doing fine. As the work environment continues to be in a state of flux, how do you keep your remote staff engaged?

In this POPS! episode, Zenefits Director of Product Marketing Ankur Patel discusses three simple steps you can take to create positive ongoing engagement with your people.

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode you’ll hear:

• [01:18-01:52] How to give your employees a voice
• [01:53-03:14] Make sure you understand your employees' needs
• [03:15-04:45] How to make sure you take action

What do effective manager coaching and manager promotion look like in a remote environment? 

For Amy Dalebout, VP of People and Culture at MotoRefi, effective management is a skill that can be developed, but not by accident. 

Amy joined MotoRefi the first day the entire organization transitioned to working from home. Despite the shift, the team has tripled since Spring 2020, and Amy has implemented intentional practices to set their management team up for success in a remote-first environment. 

From Amy’s perspective, at the end of the day, it’s all about supporting people and not allowing them to be stagnant, keeping them learning and growing their skills. On the People Ops Podcast, Amy joins Didi to talk about her experience building a team remotely, and sharing the three core competencies of effective management.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [03:23-07:15] – What does manager coaching look like
• [07:16-08:40] – How do you hire manager-ready talent
• [15:13-18:37] – What is the purpose of a “manager pod”
• [21:27-25:49] – The Three C’s of effective management
• [25:49-27:37] – What does it mean to ask powerful questions
• [28:17-31:08] – Employee mailbag with Rob

While remote work in some form isn’t going anywhere, some companies are considering returning to an in-person work environment. For those organizations, can they require employees to get the COVID vaccine before returning to the office?

In this POPS! episode, Zenefits HR advisor Lora Patterson discusses the different scenarios employers need to be aware of, along with additional resources they can use to navigate the decision. 

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Additional resources: 

• “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”

Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding look different in the remote work environment. As companies begin hiring again, many are realizing that the old ways are no longer effective, and it’s not enough to convert old methods to virtual mediums. 

What do you need to do and think about when looking to locate, hire, and train new talent in a distributed workforce?

In this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Sr. Director of People Danny Speros breaks down the process in detail and offers insights to help you make the right decisions for your organization.

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:15-03:00] Looking for candidates
• [03:02-04:22] Conducting interviews
• [04:22-06:05] Making an offer
• [06:09-07:00] Onboarding your new-hire
• [07:03-08:12] Remote compliance validation
• [08:15-09:58] Orientation, training, and connection
• [10:01-14:30] Sustainable remote management

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, how do you move from best intentions to best practices? In this PIVOT episode, Janine Yancey, founder of Emtrain, shares how small businesses can move past ideas and take action all in the effort to help build healthier workplace cultures.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [02:58-07:39] How to challenge the conventional ways of thinking
• [11:55-16:12] Moving the needle from intentions to practices
• [17:29-20:32] What are the best ways to get started?
• [20:33-23:30] Takeaways and insights for small businesses with Tracy Cote

With many companies embracing remote work long-term, more people are relocating to different states. What’s the best way to prepare for changes to minimum wage as a result?

In this POPS! episode, Zenefits HR advisor Lora Patterson describes best practices for when employees move across state lines, and why it’s crucial to understand what changes to minimum wage mean for both hourly and salaried employees.

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Additional resources: 

• Minimum Wage Updates for 2021

Performance reviews are imperative to keeping employees engaged and productive. But what’s the best way to evaluate performance and provide a review remotely?

In this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Sr. Director of People Danny Speros describes why “performance alignment” is a better way to frame reviews, and how to have conversations around feedback that will help people achieve their goals.

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Additional resources: 

• Tips for Conducting Virtual Performance Reviews | Workest 

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:11-02:14] Rephrasing the term “performance review”
• [02:15-03:48 ] Make sure you measure things that matter
• [04:29-06:25] Why constant feedback is more valuable than retrospective feedback
• [06:26-10:04] Ways to make reviews more conversational 

It’s no secret that motivation is the precursor to high performance, so why do organizations still struggle to motivate their employees?

According to Neel Doshi, Co-founder of Vega Factor and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Primed to Perform, it's because many have yet to unlock TOMO, or “total motivation” in their people. 

On this episode, Neel joins the People Ops Podcast to talk about six fundamental motivators of human behavior, how to optimize the right ones to create TOMO, and why motivation is critical to adaptability in a post-pandemic future.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:29-04:01]  What inspired Neel to master the science that governs motivation and performance
• [04:19-08:54] How remote work is impacting motivation and leadership
• [10:45-13:30] The three direct motivators organizations should maximize
• [13:31-15:12] The three indirect motivators that organizations should minimize
• [17:01-19:09] Why people who are driven by indirect motivators are less adaptable, and why that’s a problem
• [23:33-26:07] How small business and startup leaders can create motivating environments
• [35:35-37:49] Why it’s crucial to get motivation right to thrive in a future of hyper-competition and change

When is the best time to update the employee handbook?

In this episode of POPS!, Zenefits HR advisor Lora Patterson shares why now is the best time to update your employee handbook, and policies to consider adding as the pandemic stretches into 2021.

Do you have a question for our experts? Click here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Additional Resources: 

• Handbook Builder: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/employee-handbook-builder/

Many states are legalizing recreational marijuana, how do you respond?

In this POPS! episode, Zenefits Sr. Director of People Danny Speros answers this question— examining key themes for acceptance and use, how it impacts remote environments vs. on-site, incidents and policy vs. guidelines.

Do you have a question for our experts? Click here: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Additional Resources:

• Should Your Company Have a Marijuana in the Workplace Policy?