Episodes - HR Happy Hour

Our shows

The HR Happy Hour Network is made up of the HR Happy Hour show, At Work in America, The Workplace Minute, H3 LIVE vlog, HR Means Business, The Play by Play, and System of Record.

All podcast episodes

You can listen to the latest shows here, or you can subscribe by searching for 'HR Happy Hour' on Apple Podcast, Stitcher Radio, Google Podcast, or your favorite podcast app.

The Hidden Cost of Cutting Employee Benefits

Major employers are reconsidering what they will fund in their benefits programs. Steve Boese examines Albertsons’ and Disney’s 2027 spouse-coverage restrictions, Deloitte’s reductions for certain internal support employees, and the 2026 withdrawal of weight-loss drug coverage at Starbucks, PepsiCo, and PwC. He explores the financial pressures, household consequences, retention and employer-brand risks, and whether escalating costs could strengthen business support for a broader government role in healthcare.

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Mervyn’s Take: Connecting the Trends Shaping Work

In this episode of HR Means Business, Mervyn brings together key insights from recent HR technology conferences, industry research, and conversations with workplace experts to explore the evolving relationship between AI, organizational culture, and workforce development.

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Can You Trust the Candidate? The New Hiring Fraud Challenge

From fabricated qualifications to interview stand-ins and stolen identities, candidate fraud is challenging how employers establish trust in hiring. Steve Boese examines recent research, explains why the threat has gained urgency, and explores responses from HCM tech providers like Oracle, SAP/SmartRecruiters, and iCIMS.

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When AI Changes How Experience Is Built: Trust, Data, and the Future of Work

On this episode of the HR Happy Hour, Trish Steed is joined by Michele Bodda of Experian Employer Services to explore how Experian is approaching some of the most consequential moments connecting employers, employees, consumers, and financial institutions.

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The AI Layoff Trap: Are Companies Cutting Too Far, Too Fast?

Steve examines the emerging evidence of AI’s impact on employment, particularly for younger workers, and explores the risks of cutting too deeply before organizations understand the consequences. From disappearing entry-level opportunities to employee burnout and lost institutional knowledge, this episode challenges HR leaders to take a more measured approach to AI-driven workforce transformation.

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The “Spooky” Side of Small Business Culture: Fixing Hidden Ghosts and Silos Before Year-End

In this episode of HR Connection, Sabrina Baker breaks down why small business leaders often default to silence and confrontation avoidance, sharing a jaw-dropping real client story of how conflict avoidance can backfire.

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The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Have Unionized. And It’s About Time

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have officially unionized. In this Workplace Minute, Steve Boese discusses their historic organizing victory and what it means for worker power.

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AI for Frontline Workers: Creating a Better Employee Experience

On this episode of the HR Happy Hour, Steve Boese is joined by Gretchen Alarcon to explore how AI can help organizations create a better experience for frontline workers while also helping managers make smarter workforce decisions.

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Making Change Stick: How HR Leaders Build Trust, Alignment, and Adoption

In this episode of HR Means Business, Mervyn is joined by Amanda Arrowsmith to explore what it takes to lead meaningful organizational change.

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The AI Productivity Trap: When Getting More Done Means Having More Work

Discover how AI is reshaping expectations at work, the hidden challenge of managing automated output, and what HR leaders need to know about the new AI productivity trap.

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