What AI and Economic Shocks Mean for Work in Europe

Hosts: Mervyn Dinnen

Guest: Julius Probst, Senior Economist at Appcast

Summary

In this episode of the HR Means Business podcast, Mervyn explores the latest European labor market trends with Julius Probst, Senior Economist at Appcast. Together, they cover economic shocks, AI impact, wage dynamics, and strategic HR responses.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Complex European Labour Market

02:14 Impact of Oil Prices on the Economy

05:16 Understanding the Current Economic Slowdown

10:09 The Role of AI in Shaping Job Markets

14:10 Job Seekers' Responses to Market Changes

18:20 Wage Trends and Their Implications

21:53 Negotiating Power in a Changing Market

27:05 Emerging Trends in Employee Benefits

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

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Mastering Influence in Small Business HR: 4 Proven Strategies

Hosts: Sabrina Baker and Marie Rolston

Summary

This episode of HR Connection isolates the core constraint in small business HR: lack of influence. Workload is misdiagnosed as the problem; it is the downstream effect. The discussion breaks down why HR is structurally positioned to be ignored in SMBs and outlines specific behavioral shifts that convert HR from reactive support into a driver of business decisions. Marie and Sabrina provide 4 shifts that HR practitioners can make to raise their influence inside their org. But a word of warning, this does take time. The defining difficulty in SMB HR is not execution load. It is operating without a voice that drives action. Influence is not positional; it is constructed through repeated, strategic interactions.

Key Topics

• Influence from the middle in HR
• Changing perception of HR roles
• Connecting HR work to business outcomes
• Building relationships before you need them
• Using storytelling and data to influence

Find out more about the upcoming cohort designed for HR Departments of One HERE

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is proudly sponsored by Workhuman. The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you’ll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It’s why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That’s HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Why “Love” Is the Missing Metric in Employee Experience

Host: Steve Boese

Guest: Marcus Buckingham, Leading Researcher on Strengths, Engagement, and Human Performance

Summary

On the latest At Work in America podcast episode, Steve Boese and Marcus Buckingham discusses the transformative power of love in the workplace. They explore how designing experiences rooted in love can drive productivity, loyalty, and human flourishing. Discover practical strategies to operationalize love and create environments where people thrive. Listen in!

Chapters

01:54 The Importance of Designing Positive Experiences

05:40 Understanding Love as a Business Driver

10:37 The Curvilinear Relationship of Experiences and Outcomes

17:52 The Language of Love in HR

20:18 The Future of HR

23:58 Measuring Employee Sentiment

29:44 The Five Feelings that Lead to Love

34:50 Creating Flourishing Work Environments

Learn more about Design Love In HERE

Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you'll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It's why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That's HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Thanks for joining us.

March Madness: Who Will Rise To Cut The Net

Hosts: Jack McFarlane & Nick Schlemmer

Summary

In this episode of The Play By Play, hosts Jack McFarlane and Nick Schlemmer dive into the excitement of March Madness, sharing their top players, upsets, Cinderella teams, and bracket predictions. This conversation is perfect for basketball fans eager to get insights and have some fun with bracketology. Thanks for joining us. Listen in!

Chapters

01:11 Introduction to March Madness

02:24 Player Spotlights

08:50 Upsets and Strategies for Bracket Picks

12:22 Cinderella Stories and Surprises

17:21 Final Four Picks

18:55 Champion Predictions and Reasoning

22:56 Early Upset Predictions

27:29 Quote of the Show

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is proudly sponsored by Workhuman. The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you’ll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It’s why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That’s HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Replay: Championing Diversity and Empowering People with Disabilities

Hosts: Steve Boese, Trish Steed

Guest: Lloyd Lewis, CEO, Arc Thrift Stores

Summary

This week we met with Lloyd Lewis from Arc Thrift Stores in Colorado to talk about embodying inclusion by employing persons with intellectual and development disabilities. Discover how inclusive hiring boosts business success, enhances morale, and creates community impact.

– Arc’s mission

– How to implement your own IDD/DEI program

– Supporting people with disabilities in your organization

– Importance of skills that people with intellectual disabilities bring to the workplace

Thank you for joining the show today! Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you'll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It's why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That's HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Thanks for joining us.

AI, Trust, and the Human Role in the Future Workplace

Hosts: Mervyn Dinnen

Guest: Kyle Forrest, Future of HR Leader at Deloitte

Summary

In this episode of the HR Means Business podcast, Mervyn speaks with Kyle Forrest, a future of HR leader at Deloitte Consulting, about the key trends highlighted in Deloitte's 2026 Human Capital Trends Report. They discuss the importance of AI and automation, the evolving expectations of Gen Z and millennials in the workplace, and the challenges organizations face in fostering adaptability and trust during transformations. The conversation also touches on the concept of culture debt, the accountability gap in AI decision-making, and the need for organizations to break down silos to enhance collaboration and innovation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction toFuture of HR Trends

02:06 Key Priorities for Business Leaders

04:33 Insights from Gen Z and Millennials

07:36 Understanding Adaptability in Organizations

14:36 Trust Deficit in AI Decision Making

19:52 Shift from Change Management to Changefulness

23:43 Breaking Down Silos in Organizations

28:29 The Role of Humans in an AI-Driven World

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you'll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It's why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That's HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Thanks for joining us.

Building Resilient Workplaces in Politically Divisive Times

Hosts: Steve Boese

Guest: Kevin Rockmann, Asst Dean for Research, Professor of Mgmt, and the CGI Corporate Partner Faculty Fellow at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University

Summary

In this episode of the At Work In America show, Steve met with Kevin Rockmann to explore how workplaces can navigate political and social tensions. They talk about the importance of intentional relationship management within teams and creating inclusive cultures at work. They also discuss the role of leadership in fostering psychological safety amidst divisive issues. Join us for real talk that everyone can learn from!

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Political Tensions in the Workplace

03:07 The Complexity of Political Conversations

05:59 The Impact of Identity and Beliefs

11:59 Creating a Safe and Respectful Workplace

14:57 Proactive Steps for Managers

17:55 Recognizing and Rewarding Kindness

20:44 Building Relationships in the Workplace

23:52 The Role of Deep Questions in Understanding

27:06 Fostering a Collaborative Environment

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you'll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It's why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That's HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Thanks for joining us.

Building Resilience and Mental Fitness in High-Pressure Workplaces

Hosts: Mervyn Dinnen

Guest: Alexandra Kafka, Founder of Oxyzn & Mental Fitness Advocate

Summary

In this episode of the HR Means Business podcast, Mervyn speaks with Alexandra Kafka to explore how organizations can proactivetly support mental fitness to prevent burnout and sustain high performance. Alexandra shares practical strategies, insights into early warning signs, and the importance of nervous system regulation for leaders and teams navigating today's digital overload and complex work environments. They touch on the honeymoon phase of burnout and how to recognize the early signals before breakdown as well as the role of leadership in modeling mental fitness and creating supportive work rhythms.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Fitness

02:09 Why Proactive Mental Fitness Support Matters

04:20 Patterns of Stress and Burnout

07:20 Understanding the Honeymoon Phase of Burnout

12:05 How Organizations Often Midunderstand Recovery

16:38 Aligning HR Strategies for Mental Fitness

22:07 Measuring Mental Fitness

24:06 Can High Performance and High Wellbeing Coexist?

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

The role of HR is changing fast—and the leaders who move beyond administration into true business leadership will have the edge. Workhuman Live is where that shift becomes real. Four transformative days in Orlando built around the challenges HR leaders are facing now. With 65-plus standout speakers, you'll get practical, research-backed insights you can use immediately, honest conversations with leaders under the same pressure, and a human-first experience designed to energize – not exhaust. It's why 93% of past attendees left inspired—and why you need to be there this April 27-30. Register now at WorkhumanLive.com and use code HRHAPPYHOUR before March 31st to save 20%. That's HRHAPPYHOUR, all one word.

Thanks for joining us.