POPS! The People Ops Podcast

Measurably engaging both new and seasoned employees is something that is still heavy on many leaders’ minds. Candice Saffer, Senior HR Director at virtual events company Social27, recently had the added challenge of hiring, onboarding, and engaging 150 new employees—at the same time. In this episode of PIVOT, you’ll hear how Candice standardized people ops processes to listen and learn from team members around the world.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [02:27-04:41] How the pandemic caused a reframe in thinking about people ops
• [04:42-09:11] The benefits of a holistic approach to hiring and onboarding
• [09:26-10:14] The challenges of hiring fast and in bulk
• [10:14-13:43] How HR can encourage healthy work schedules in “high season”
• [14:01-17:01] How Social27 does performance reviews and gathers employee feedback
• [17:54-19:09] How Candice’s team puts together packages for overseas employees
• [19:10-21:34] The “secret sauce” to connecting across time zones 
• [21:43-22:55] Why up-to-date employee handbooks are more crucial than ever before
• [22:56-24:15] Processes and programs to have in place before hiring more employees
• [24:16-25:40] What to automate to optimize recruiting efforts
• [25:40-26:57] How to build an empathetic organization

After you listen: 

• New Way to Approach Performance Reviews: https://www.zenefits.com/learn/new-way-to-approach-performance-reviews/
• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 
• Submit your People Ops questions: https://www.zenefits.com/workest/ask-a-question/

HR has a lot on its plate. On top of hiring, retention, terminations, and employee relationships, HR is also responsible for compliance with city, state, and federal laws. How can HR departments stay up-to-date with ever-changing laws and regulations?

On this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Senior People Ops Advisor Lora Patterson shares tips and resources for compliance with labor laws. You’ll hear more about laws HR should have on its radar—including the new federal vaccine mandate—and what could happen if you don’t follow them.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [00:26-01:07] What is HR’s role in implementing state and federal laws?
• [01:07-05:50] The consequences of failing to comply with federal laws that apply to most employers 
• [05:51-08:16] Resources to ensure compliance with state and federal laws
• [08:16-09:18] What to know about the new federal vaccine mandate

Did you know that Zenefits’ go-to guide on all things people ops debuted as the #1 HR book on Amazon this summer? People Operations, the debut guide for all things HR and small business, is now available across three different formats—for the first time! On this episode of PREVIEW, Didi shares where to get your copy and how to access the growing body of resources referenced in the book.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast

Of the 12 million people who left their jobs between April and August this year, nearly a third resigned due to burnout. Employee mental well-being has been top-of-mind since the start of the pandemic, but employers are still struggling with how to get people the help they need. On this episode of PIVOT, co-founder and CEO of Boon Health Alex Simmons joins the show to discuss the resources for mental well-being available to employers today. You’ll hear why resilience is key to overcoming stigma attached to mental wellness and how to blend professional development with mental well-being in your organization. 

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [00:44-02:47] Why burnout is still a pressing problem in the workforce
• [03:02-04:14] Why resilience is key to overcoming stigma attached to mental wellness
• [04:22-06:23] The actual usage rate of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• [06:23-09:18] The convergence of professional development and mental well-being
• [09:27-11:25] Where to start in introducing professional development and wellness programs
• [11:25-13:20] The opportunities facing small businesses in light of The Great Resignation

After you listen: 

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

Why does shopping for benefits have to be so difficult? On this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Director of Product Marketing Christian Flaten shows you where to start the process and breaks down an easier way to manage benefits for your employees.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [00:55] - Knowing where to start is hard
• [01:40] - Find a broker
• [02:01] - Identify technology that works for you
• [02:19] - How can Zenefits help?

How are you handling parental leave? In the past, employers often relied on state or federal benefits when offering parental leave to employees. Now, many industries are going above and beyond. On this episode of POPS!, Zenefits Senior HR Advisor Lora Patterson breaks down the ways you can utilize state and federal benefits, and how you might consider using them to bolster your own benefits for your employees.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [01:22] The state and federal leave benefits available to new parents
• [03:12] What to consider if you have employees in different states
• [04:20] Who should be eligible?
• [05:42] How are you going to sustain operations while employees are on leave?
• [08:10] Can employees use PTO while on parental leave?
• [09:41] How should employees request leave?

As the nature of work continues to change, so too should the hiring process. The old way of hiring—for the role and the specific set of skills needed to do the job—just isn’t cutting it anymore. On this episode of PIVOT, you’ll hear how MotoRefi Director of Talent Acquisition Adrian Russo is approaching the candidate experience. Since the start of the pandemic, MotoRefi has grown from 65 to over 300 people and continues to hire about 30 people each month. Adrian joins the show to discuss how to create a sublime candidate experience, hire based on business needs, and form partnerships to bolster recruiting efforts.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• [01:05-02:25] How to match the right candidate to the right role
• [02:43-04:15] The changing requirements for smart talent acquisition
• [04:19-05:42] Why the traditional, dogmatic approach to hiring isn’t enough anymore
• [05:42-06:18] What is employee net promoter score (eNPS)?
• [07:29-08:58] How to write job descriptions and interview based on business needs
• [08:58-10:35] The soft skills needed in hybrid and remote workforces 
• [10:36-12:28] How to form partnerships for recruiting opportunities
• [12:28-14:50] How to develop employee “launch plans” for onboarding success 

  After you listen: 

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

Work—and the workforce—is changing faster than ever before. Are your company’s benefits programs keeping up? On this episode of POPS!, Workest.com contributor Riia O’Donnell breaks down the types of benefits people want—and don’t want—from their employers. You’ll hear how to determine what stays and what goes, and tips on asking employees for their feedback about benefits.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [00:32-02:13] The benefits the workforce wants from employers today
• [02:14-04:31] The kinds of benefits that are no longer “cutting it” with the workforce
• [04:32-05:47] The key challenge for HR professionals when it comes to benefits
• [05:47-06:30] Why healthcare benefits are more affordable than small businesses think
• [06:31-07:15] Why time off is good for the individual and the company
• [07:15-08:07] How to ask employees what they want

When it comes to employee terminations, there is always a risk of things going sideways. In this episode of POPS!, Zenefits HR advisor Lora Patterson explains how to reduce risk with clear company policies, regular performance discussions, and manager enablement.

Additional Resources:

• Order your copy of our book People Operations: Zenefits.com/pops-book
• Follow the podcast 

On this episode, you’ll hear: 

• [00:46-01:39] Mitigating risk with “at-will” company policies
• [01:39-02:37] What to know about disciplinary policies
• [02:37-05:03] How to manage employee’s performance
• [05:05-05:53] The importance of training managers
• [05:54-07:13] When to involve your legal team

How fast should you introduce automation into your HR processes? For Tom Houghton, Vice President at Bearded Builders, the answer was sixty days. That’s right, sixty days. When Tom started at Bearded Builders, HR was contained in a single neglected file cabinet with a few papers inside. While there was a clear opportunity and a need to update their practices, Tom knew starting small wasn’t an option. 

In this episode of PIVOT, Tom shares his approach to this impressive transformation and breaks down the business reasons behind the scenes.