Transform Your Workplace

In the latest episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws interviews economist Mallory Vachon, who shares her expertise on the current state of the labor market and what lies ahead. Vachon, a senior economist with LaborIQ, sheds light on key trends like the evolving expectations of Gen Z, the challenges with compensation amidst labor shortages, and the reality of hybrid work becoming a long-term staple. HR leaders, this episode is a must-listen to stay ahead in a changing workforce — tune in to better understand how you can adapt to these trends and meet the evolving demands of today's labor market.

TAKEAWAYS

• The labor market is stabilizing post-pandemic, with job additions slowing to meet steady workforce needs.

• Gen Z values purpose, quality of life, and mission-driven work over traditional motivators like pay and promotions.

• Wage growth will likely stay above pre-pandemic levels due to talent shortages and inflation pressures.

• Remote and hybrid work are likely here to stay as flexibility becomes essential to attracting talent.

• Competition for local talent has intensified, with remote work expanding hiring possibilities.

• The gig economy is growing as workers seek greater control, flexibility, and work-life balance.

• Despite concerns, the labor market is largely stable, with gradual rehiring in many industries.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Emily Etherington, an HR business partner at Xenium, discusses managing substance abuse in the workplace. She explains that with substance abuse affecting one in ten people nationally, workplaces need structured approaches to support affected employees. The discussion covers two main support frameworks: company assistance programs for employees who self-disclose, and last chance agreements for cases involving policy violations or performance issues.

TAKEAWAYS

• Organizations should balance zero-tolerance policies with supportive resources and structures for employee recovery
• Success requires both employer willingness to support and employee commitment to engage in treatment
• Using third-party management for cases helps maintain professionalism and protect sensitive health information

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Sit down for a timely conversation between host Brandon Laws and guest Mitch Warner, co-author of Leadership and Self-Deception. Warner reveals how self-deception is often the hidden root of workplace challenges, and leaders who help their teams shift from blame to accountability unleash creativity and collaboration. Sharing insights from the fourth edition of his book, Warner emphasizes that true transformation isn't about implementing more tactics but about changing the way people see one another and themselves.

TAKEAWAYS

• Most team challenges come from people dynamics, not technical problems, and resolving these is crucial for progress.

• Team members often struggle to recognize their role in problems, which keeps conflicts unresolved.

• Lasting transformation happens when people change how they view themselves and others.

• Understanding others' perspectives strengthens relationships and promotes growth within teams.

• The need to be "right" often leads people to ignore their own contributions to problems, which can hurt relationships and team goals.

• Recognizing how each of our actions impacts colleagues leads to better work quality and a more connected, supportive workplace.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Chris Deaver, a people leader at Roblox and co-author of Brave Together, shares his experiences working with some of the most creative teams at Apple, Disney, and beyond. He dives into how co-creation and collaboration are key to overcoming the impossible. Chris also touches on the importance of humility, creativity, and empathy in leadership, offering insights on how to shape the future by co-creating with others. Tune in to hear about turning pain into power, reimagining the mundane, and building a culture that sparks creativity and connection.

TAKEAWAYS

• Collaboration and co-creation are crucial for achieving challenging goals, especially within innovative teams.

• Traditional, siloed work structures can lead to friction and burnout.

• Humility and empathy in leadership help to build stronger, more connected teams.

• By transforming meetings into collaborative, question-led experiences, leaders can increase engagement and creativity within their teams.

• Great companies see themselves as builders and prioritize creativity as a key driver of innovation.

• Personal challenges can be reframed into opportunities for growth and leadership.

• Success in the modern world isn't about being self-made, but about co-creating a future with others, emphasizing teamwork and shared goals.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Shastina Young has been heavily envolved with Xenium HR's equity team since its inception in 2018, starting with external consultants and evolving into an internal volunteer-based equity team structure. The organization operates through three main pillars: "Invest in Our People," "Look Beyond Our Four Walls," and "Cultural Belonging and Career Support."

TAKEAWAYS

• Xenium HR created a volunteer-based equity team with three focused subcommittees, each with specific missions and action items.
• Success comes from leadership buy-in combined with employee passion and ownership over initiatives.
• Regular, accessible programs like Zen Connects help maintain ongoing engagement with EDIB topics through voluntary participation and educational resources.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws interviews Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, diving into the idea of "intelligent failure" and the importance of fostering psychological safety within teams. Edmondson, author of The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, shares insights on how stepping into unfamiliar territory often brings failure but also opens the door to critical learning experiences. Tune in to discover how leaders can cultivate an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, address mistakes openly, and drive ongoing growth and innovation.

TAKEAWAYS

• Failure can lead to valuable insights if approached thoughtfully.

• Creating an environment where employees feel safe to voice concerns and admit mistakes is essential for fostering innovation and improvement.

• Teams that embrace failure as a learning opportunity are more likely to develop new ideas, improve processes, and grow from their experiences.

• Encouraging employees to take calculated risks without fear of judgment is critical to driving creativity and progress in the workplace.

• While fear can sometimes be helpful in dangerous situations, interpersonal fear in the workplace can stifle communication, prevent learning, and create unnecessary barriers.

• It's important to take the time to reflect on failures holistically, gathering insights from all team members to understand what went wrong and how to improve.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Annie Oxenfeld discusses disaster preparedness for companies with multi-state employees. She emphasizes the importance of having contingency plans, flexible work arrangements, and support systems in place. The conversation covers communication strategies, employee assistance programs, and ways to maintain operations while prioritizing employee safety and well-being during natural disasters.

TAKEAWAYS

• Develop and regularly update disaster preparedness plans.
• Offer flexible work arrangements and support resources for affected employees.
• Integrate safety and disaster preparedness into company culture.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Josh Durham, founder of Gamut Project Solutions, to explore his leadership philosophy and the importance of relationships in the workplace. Durham shares valuable insights on building trust and empathy while fostering psychological safety in the workplace and beyond. Listen in for practical advice on building meaningful relationships and leading with purpose.

TAKEAWAYS

• Relationships are the most important element of effective leadership.

• Self-awareness combined with personal development is essential to building meaningful connections.

• Without mastering key leadership principles such as communication, trust, agreements, and ownership, relationships within teams and organizations will struggle.

• Positive transformation can only occur when basic needs for survival and belonging are met.

• Adopting a positive mindset and spreading goodwill often results in building positive relationships.

• Successful negotiations go beyond facts and figures; they require empathy to understand the other person's broader circumstances.

• Leadership is more effective when leaders focus on guiding and empowering their team rather than trying to solve every problem themselves.

• Fostering trust and psychological safety in teams is best achieved through authentic, purpose-driven leadership, rather than relying on superficial or defensive leadership behaviors.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Nicole Blevins discusses key voluntary benefits trends for 2025. The conversation covers supplemental health benefits, legal plans, identity theft protection, life insurance, long-term care, and pet insurance. They emphasize the importance of offering diverse benefits to meet employee needs and retain talent, noting that 63% of employees would consider changing jobs for better benefits.

TAKEAWAYS

• Supplemental health benefits are gaining popularity due to increased awareness of health risks post-COVID, helping employees cover gaps in traditional insurance.
• Identity theft and cybersecurity protection are becoming more critical as data breaches increase, with employers considering adding these benefits to address employee concerns.
• Pet insurance is a rising trend, with many employers already adding this option to support employees who view pets as family members and want to ensure their care.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, entrepreneur and Speakers Alliance co-founder Terry Beard opens up about his journey from avoiding public speaking to becoming a confident leader in the speaking community. Terry shares how confronting his fear of the spotlight changed his life, helping him build the communication skills and confidence that have since empowered him to guide others on a similar path. Tune in for valuable insights into the transformative power of finding your own voice.

TAKEAWAYS

• Facing fears like public speaking can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

• Discovering and using your voice is the key to expressing yourself authentically and effectively in all areas of life.

• Authentic leadership means empowering others to face and conquer their own challenges.

• A support system is critical on their journey to overcoming fears.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️

Host: Brandon Laws 📋

his own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.