The HRLocker Podcast

Welcome to HRLocker Podcast, where we bring you conversations with experts in their field.

To highlight International Women's Day we were delighted to have Caroline O'Driscoll, partner with Deloitte and co-founder of I Wish as our most recent guest. In this podcast, we had an amazing conversation about women in leadership, the importance of gender diversity in teams and how to increase female representation in the more male-dominated roles.

Throughout her career, Caroline had recognised a ‘leaky pipeline’ of young women coming up the ranks in high-ranking jobs. This led her to become one of the I Wish community's founding members, an initiative to motivate teenage girls to embark on STEM careers.

Throughout the podcast, Caroline shares the critical challenges and opportunities in increasing female representation in STEM fields, which feeds into creating more gender-diverse teams in organisations.  

She emphasises the significance of mentorship, the impact of role models, and the essential role that education plays in those formative years. She discusses some recent initiatives she has been involved in, particularly the "180 days to make a difference" mentorship program, which underscores the commitment to empowering the next generation of female leaders.

This podcast episode offers an in-depth look into Caroline O'Driscoll's professional journey and her influential role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the STEM landscape. Her insights provide valuable perspectives on creating a supportive environment for women in technology and related fields.

We really hope you enjoy!

The Government of Ireland has introduced domestic violence leave under the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

On Monday, 27 November 2023, it became a legal requirement for employers to offer up to five days of paid leave over 12 months to employees affected by domestic violence. It is recommended that employers embed support measures with an organisational response to domestic abuse. 

In this episode,  we are joined by Sarah Benson, CEO of Women's Aid.  We will explore the legislation around the new Domestic Violence Leave Policy and the significant role that Women’s Aid played in shaping it. 

Join us as we dive into this important topic where Sarah will discuss the signs to look for, resources available, and practical strategies to help victims,  and learn how HR professionals can make a difference in the lives of their employees. 

On this podcast episode, we are joined by Terence Morgan, Director of Business Development and Ruairi Guckian, Owner of GHR Consulting. 

We run through the new legislation updates in Ireland, focusing on the new unpaid leave entitlements under the work-life balance Act 2023. During this show, we mention and discuss unpaid leave for Medical Appointments and Caregiving, extended Breastfeeding Entitlements, anticipated measures for Domestic Violence leave, the right to request Remote or Flexible Working and more.

GHR Consulting helps SMEs save on their HR and Recruitment costs by providing policy documents, recruitment and advice.

Find out more about what employers need to know about this new legislation, what challenges employers may face, what it means for your organisation and updating policies and handbooks.

In this podcast episode, we speak with Siobhan Sweeney, Senior Global Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Element. We explore the key challenges that companies face when embarking on DEI initiatives and discuss effective strategies to overcome them.

As well, we approach the role of the senior management in driving cultural change and fostering an inclusive environment that resonates throughout the organisation. For your company to thrive in the world of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion it is important to incorporate DEI initiatives into all aspects of the employee experience, from recruitment and hiring to training and development.

Unfortunately, misconceptions about DEI persist. We tackle some of the most common myths surrounding this crucial area and discuss how organizations can actively work to dispel them

Siobhan has a proven track record for delivery of best practice DEI Programmes, Culture Transformation, Engagement and Well-being, in major corporations, from strategy to implementation.

Element is a global provider of Testing, Inspection and Certification services for a diverse range of materials and products in sectors where failure in service is not an option.

This is a podcast for any company that really wants to make some meaningful changes to the organisational structure.

We really hope you enjoy it!