HR Unplugged

What’s stopping HR leaders from being heard in the boardroom?It’s not always about strategy or experience. Often, it’s about how they communicate their value and impact.Host Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Sara Jones, CEO of InclusionPro and acclaimed TED speaker. Together, they discuss how HR professionals can grow their influence through strategic framing, storytelling, and public speaking. Sara shares success stories from the leaders she’s coached, proving that with the right approach, HR’s influence can extend across the entire organization.Key takeaways:How to frame HR work in terms of business value and impactWhy storytelling is a powerful tool for influencing executivesHow to practice before stepping into high-stakes conversationsKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Sara Jones(02:54) Finding your voice (05:51) Evolving into a strategic partner(08:07) How to speak the executives’ language(09:35) Telling stories that highlight your accomplishments(15:27) Turning data into a memorable message(19:59) How to build confidence for public speaking(23:13) Easy tips for giving better presentationsKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Analyze Data That Measures HR Impact: Free HR Report Checklist”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/analyze-data-hr-report-templateRead BambooHR’s blog, “How to Get Over Fear of Public Speaking”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/fear-of-public-speakingSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradansiejones/

Are your employees just working, or are they growing, too?Many people feel stuck at work because no one’s ever asked them about their dreams. But what if you made space for that conversation?Kate Volman, CEO of Floyd Consulting and author of Do What You Love, joins host Vanessa Brulotte to talk about what it means to support employees as whole people with their own dreams. Kate shares why personal dreams belong in the workplace and how they can be a secret weapon for retention, culture, and performance. She also discusses how leaders can ask questions that boost engagement, build trust, and create a culture where people feel seen.Key takeaways:Why conversations about dreams help reduce turnoverWhat it means to be a great coach in the workplaceWhat HR teams can do today to support both personal and professional developmentKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Kate Volman(02:38) The link between disengagement and purpose(05:17) How leaders can support personal growth(07:09) Real stories from The Dream Manager program(10:46) Coaching vs. managing: what’s the difference?(14:28) Helping employees hit personal milestones(22:29) How to introduce dream conversations at work(31:24) A powerful story about trust and belongingKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “Leadership vs. Management: 5 Tips to Become a Better Leader”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/leadership-vs-authority Read BambooHR’s blog, “Transparency in Leadership: How Open Communication Builds Trust in the Workplace”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/importance-of-transparency-in-leadership Read BambooHR’s blog, “10 Management Styles, Ranked from Best to Worst”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/learn-management-style Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevolman/

What makes a workplace truly stand out to job seekers? It’s not just the perks or the pay. It’s the story you tell and the experience you deliver.In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Nancy Boyce, Senior Employer Brand Manager at BambooHR. They discuss what it takes to create an authentic employer brand that connects with the right candidates and reflects the real employee experience.You’ll learn the difference between corporate and employer branding, the role of employee reviews, and why alignment between brand and experience matters more than ever. Plus, Nancy shares actionable tips for tracking brand impact and creating a solid brand even with an HR team of one.Key takeaways:How to align your employer brand with real employee experiencesWhy employee reviews matter more than you thinkSimple ways to build an employer brand without a big budgetKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Nancy Boyce(02:09) What employer branding means (03:30) The shift in candidate expectations post-pandemic(07:22) Why recruiting and marketing must work together(11:49) How Glassdoor reviews shape first impressions(13:02) Brands that are innovating in employer branding(18:19) Metrics that show if your brand is working(25:07) Inside BambooHR’s new employer value propositionKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “Why Customers Care About Your Employer Brand (And Why You Should, Too)”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/why-employer-brand-mattersRead BambooHR’s blog, “How to Create Great Candidate Experiences”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-to-create-great-candidate-experiences Read BambooHR’s blog, “Want to Improve Employee Experience? Follow These 4 Steps”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/how-to-define-measure-and-improve-your-employee-experienceSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series:https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community:https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage:https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-boyce616/

What does “No Tax on Overtime” mean for your employees?With the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s changing. Colleen Rynne, Senior Manager of Payroll Services Compliance at BambooHR, joins Vanessa Brulotte to help us make sense of the new provisions on tax deductions on overtime pay and tips. This is a must-listen for those in HR and payroll, or for anyone who wants to understand their tax returns going forward.You'll learn how to prep for year-end reporting, what qualifies for deductions, and how to talk to employees about what’s changing.Key takeaways:What “No Tax on Overtime” and “No Tax on Tips” really meanWhy state taxes aren’t changingHow to prepare for year-end reporting under OB3Key topics:(00:00) Introducing Colleen Rynne(03:30) Who qualifies for deductions under OB3(06:47) Why overtime deductions are more complex(09:57) What counts as a qualified tip(15:24) Year-end reporting and IRS guidance tips(21:50) FSA changes and permanent tax creditsKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “What Are Payroll Taxes? A Guide to State and Federal Tax Withholding”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/payroll-taxes-guide Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Manage Employee W-2 Forms (And Go Paperless)”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/manage-employee-w2 Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Tax Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/tax-mistakes-to-avoid Read BambooHR’s blog, “Compliance Corner: Payroll Updates from Q2 2025”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/payroll-compliance-june-2025Subscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rynne-2978b332/

AI is shaking up industries everywhere, including HR. But how much influence should technology have over the hiring process?Nancy Boyce, Senior Employer Brand Manager at BambooHR, joins host Vanessa Brulotte to explore how companies are using AI in recruiting today. With 15 years of hiring expertise, Nancy reveals when AI can help recruiters work smarter and where the human touch is still essential. She also shares practical tips for using AI tools, spotting misuse, and creating a transparent AI hiring policy.Key takeaways:Common misconceptions about AI in recruitingHow to spot AI-generated responses in interviewsBalancing efficiency and humanity in recruitingKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Nancy Boyce(02:43) AI tools and processes that help recruiters(08:51) Transparency of AI use in hiring(11:57) Can AI conduct culture fit assessments?(14:29) BambooHR's guide to ethical AI use for candidates(18:57) Crafting your AI hiring policyKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “Guide to HR Automation: Benefits, Examples, and How to Get Started”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/hr-automationRead BambooHR’s blog, “HR Spotlight: What a Recruiter Really Thinks about AI, Talent Strategy, and More”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/hr-spotlight-recruiter Read BambooHR’s blog, “AI in HR: Using Technology to Focus on People”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/ai-hrRead BambooHR’s blog, “15+ Innovative Ways to Use AI in HR”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-hrSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-boyce616