POPS! The People Ops Podcast

Should small business leaders plan to acknowledge and celebrate the holiday, even if they haven’t in the past?

On this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Chief Operating Officer Issac Vaughn joins Danny Speros for a conversation about what Juneteenth is, how it’s celebrated, and the importance of acknowledging it—even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. You’ll hear how talking about Juneteenth plays into broader DEI efforts and why everyone benefits when small businesses foster inclusive workplaces.

Additional Resources: 

• Celebrating the Juneteenth Holiday: Ways Your Business Can Support Juneteenth: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/celebrating-the-juneteenth-holiday-ways-your-business-can-support-juneteenth/
• Racial Equity and Justice at Work: How to Keep the Conversation Going Beyond Juneteenth: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/racial-equity-and-justice-at-work-how-to-keep-the-conversation-going-beyond-juneteenth/

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [01:07-02:42] Meet Issac Vaughn, Zenefits’ Chief Operating Officer
• [03:00-03:54] What Juneteenth is
• [04:02-06:05] How people celebrate Juneteenth today
• [06:06-08:03] The importance of supporting Black-owned businesses in celebration of Juneteenth
• [08:08-10:49] Why acknowledging Juneteenth is good for business
• [10:49-12:36] Why inclusion is the glue that holds diversity efforts together
• [13:07-15:10] The key to acknowledging Juneteenth for the first time: authenticity
• [15:11-17:29] How HR leaders can get employees involved in Juneteenth
• [17:30-19:42] The impact of DEI efforts and how it can drive engagement

Juneteenth is the oldest known holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. With it being right around the corner, are you ensuring your employees are making the most of the holiday?

Nadene Evans, Senior Manager of Organic Growth Marketing at Zenefits joins the show to share ways businesses can help celebrate and support the Juneteenth holiday, as well as help your DEI efforts.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:42] Background on Juneteenth
• [03:35] Ways to incorporate the holiday in your organization
• [04:54] States that celebrate Juneteenth

While poor performance plays a part, cultural mismatch is often the culprit of high turnover.

Dan Marzullo, Founder of Drafted, shares how to optimize your talent strategy for cultural match. From leveling up your job posts to supporting current employees, there are a lot of simple ways to find and keep the people who fit your organization best.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:30] Optimizing job posts for cultural fit
• [02:00] Preparing effective interview questions
• [03:00] Supporting current employees

It’s summertime! And you know what that means? Internships. This means organizations are going to have to do some rethinking to ensure they are set up for success. As the workforce shifts to the virtual world, we have to consider whether interns should as well. There’s a lot to take into consideration, and to help do that is Dan Marzullo, CEO and Founder of Drafted.

In this episode, he lays out the pros and cons of remote internships to help you make the best decision for your organization just in time for your summer programs.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

The annual rate of inflation in the United States hit 6.8% in November 2021, the highest in more than three decades. Should you raise your employees’ salaries to keep up?

David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, shares what you need to know about inflation and advice on how to handle pay accordingly.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:30] The state of inflation in the U.S.
• [01:00] How companies are handling compensation
• [01:30] Metrics to monitor

Everyone knows it's illegal to discriminate against a candidate because of their demographics, but that doesn't mean biases don't still exist.

David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, joins the show to share questions you should ask yourself to avoid age discrimination in your hiring and select the best new teammates for your organization.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:00] Potential unconscious age biases
• [02:00] Benefits of age diversity on a team
• [03:00] Questions to ask yourself about candidates

Staffing is the tightest it’s been in years, forcing many to you may be focused on keeping their heads above water, not preparing for the future.

However, with a little planning, you can set yourself up for future success in the future while also meeting your current needs.

Corey Berkey, SVP of People and Talent at Jazz HR, joins the show to share his advice for building your talent pipeline in a candidate’s market, bolstering your employer brand, and leveraging technology in your recruiting process.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:30] Understanding what a talent pipeline should look like
• [02:00] The importance of your employer brand
• [03:30] Managing the candidate experience
• [04:45] Leveraging technology to build a talent pipeline
• [06:30] Creating in-person connections with candidates

The AARP recently found that 48% of Americans age 55 and older have zero retirement funds at all. To combat this massive gap, some states will require employers to provide retirement plans for their employees.

If your state requires you to offer a retirement plan this year for the first time, where do you start?

Nicole Wilson, Director of Retirement Consulting at Guideline, shares what you need to know to choose the best plan for your small business and how to get started.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:30] What the 401K access gap is
• [01:30] Which states have retirement plan deadlines in 2022
• [02:45] Administration considerations
• [03:30] Cost considerations
• [04:30] Plan design considerations
• [05:00] What to look for in a 401K plan

We don’t have to tell you anxiety is on the rise, but levels may be even higher than you’d expect. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America found 75% of employees say their stress interferes with their personal and professional lives.

As a leader, it’s your job to take care of your people through an emotionally and mentally challenging season.

Ankur Patel, Director of Product Marketing at Zenefits, joins the show to share his insights on leading with empathy, including:

• Potential stressors for your team
• How to recognize anxiety at work
• Ways to create safe spaces for conversation
• Tips for encouraging good mental health practices

Tune in to learn how to help your team fight the anxiety crisis head-on, one step at a time.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:00] What’s causing additional anxiety today
• [05:00] The importance of leading with empathy
• [06:00] How to spot anxiety in the workplace
• [07:00] Developing safe spaces for conversation
• [09:00] Encouraging mental health practices

After you listen:

• Related stats about how stress affects work and personal life: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://adaa.org/workplace-stress-anxiety-disorders-survey&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1650392584526543&usg=AOvVaw1FypmzFGX7xrGZ5ytYhkpj
• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

Despite the progress many organizations have made, at many companies equal pay is still not a given.

David Watson, Product Marketing Manager at Zenefits, shares some questions we need to ask ourselves about pay to not only protect ourselves but ensure our people are compensated fairly.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [00:30] The consequences of violating equal pay
• [01:15] Tips for evaluating your company’s pay practices
• [01:45] How to provide opportunities for everyone in your organization