HR Stories Podcast - A Lesson in Every Story!

Hosted by John Thalheimer, MS Org Leadership and Chuck Simikian, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

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Episodes

198

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the HR Stories Podcast — making work better one story at a time. Every workplace has stories. Some are about organizations that got it wrong. Others are about leaders who got it right. And sometimes, the most important lessons come from the everyday decisions that shape how people experience work. Your storytellers, John Thalheimer MS and Chuck Simikian SPHR, SHRM-SCP , use real workplace stories as the teaching tool. LISTEN to what happened. LEARN from the decisions, successes, mistakes, and warning signs. ACT on practical ideas that can make your workplace better. Each episode starts with a story — a court case, a leadership challenge, an HR misstep, an employee experience, or an organization trying something different. John and Chuck then break down what happened, why it matters, and most importantly, what we can learn from it. Sometimes that means understanding an employment law or avoiding an expensive mistake. Sometimes it means becoming a better leader, building trust, improving communication, or creating a workplace where people can do their best work. That balance is what HR Stories is all about: practical HR, thoughtful leadership, and real-world lessons you can use. John and Chuck have spent their careers helping HR professionals, business owners, and leaders navigate the people side of business through consulting, training, coaching, and thousands of live learning experiences. Their goal with HR Stories is simple: Tell good stories. Find the lesson. Make work better. John is the Founding Director of True Star Leadership™, which focuses on helping managers and leaders learn performance management principles. Chuck is the Founding Partner of Alliance HR Partners, which provides HR consulting and training to businesses nationwide. Together, they have over 40 years of experience navigating the challenges of HR and recently published their book, The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklist Edition. Go to https://ultimateguidetohr.com/ for more information, download a free sample, and watch their webinar on the Secret Power Behind Successful Businesses.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 3, 2026Episode 17930 min

Ep179: EEOC Criminal Background Check Guidance Rescinded

Send us Fan Mail The EEOC is moving to withdraw its 2012 guidance on how employers should use arrest and conviction records in hiring. The proposal isn't final, but it matters for anyone who hires. In this episode of the HR Stories Podcast, Chuck and John explain what the change could mean for HR professionals, small business owners and managers. They’ll cover: What may change: The EEOC has sent a rescission notice to the White House for review. The guidance was never law, and withdrawing it doesn't repeal Title VII. Disparate treatment vs. disparate impact: Why a blanket "no criminal records" policy can create legal risk, including a discussion of the Dollar General case. The three Green factors: the nature and seriousness of the offense, how much time has passed, and whether the offense relates to the job. Fair process: Why you need a pre-adverse action letter and a chance for candidates to explain or correct their background report. Second chances: How rehabilitation-focused hiring can pay off. Federal vs. state law: Why private lawsuits and state laws still apply, even as federal enforcement of disparate impact theories shifts. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

October 27, 2026Episode 17844 min

Ep178: Fired for Asking to Break His Ramadan Fast

Send us Fan Mail A barista at a New York City coffee shop asked for a temporary earlier shift during Ramadan so he could break his fast at sunset. He found a coworker to swap shifts with him, and the manager allegedly refused the swap. The next day, according to the EEOC lawsuit, he was fired. In this episode of the HR Stories Podcast, Chuck Simikian, SPHR, and John Thalheimer go through the federal court complaint. They explain what HR professionals, small business owners and managers can learn from it about religious accommodation, retaliation risk and manager training. What you'll learn: How to respond to a religious accommodation request: stop, listen and call HR. What "undue hardship" means under the law. A manager being inconvenienced doesn't meet that standard. Why you can't deny a schedule change or shift swap just because you don't want to change the schedule. How to tell a legitimate operational reason (overtime costs, skills, staffing) from ego. Why punishing initiative discourages employees from speaking up. How leaders can set the "sandbox": clear boundaries for the decisions employees can make on their own. How psychological safety helps teams perform better. Why manager training and a strong HR–manager partnership reduce legal risk. Timestamps: 0:00 Catching up: decision quality, HR training and a 10-year leadership model 6:30 What's coming: 5 ways HR supports managers, and 5 ways managers support HR 10:00 The Hungry Ghost Coffee story 15:00 What the federal court complaint says 19:30 Bringing solutions, not just problems 32:00 Undue hardship and the three EEOC claims 36:00 Initiative, the "sandbox" and manager ego 41:30 Psychological safety and encouraging the behavior you want Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

October 6, 2026Episode 17747 min

Ep177: What does real and successful DEI look like?

Send us Fan Mail Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not what you really should be questioning. The real question is what actually helps people work better together and what quietly gets in the way. Chuck and John cut through the slogans, challenge assumptions, and break down what the research really says about team performance, psychological safety, inclusion, and cohesion. If you’ve ever wondered whether DEI is helping, hurting, or asking the wrong question entirely, this conversation offers a research-informed framework for thinking about it more clearly and building a stronger workplace. Discover why similarity can make teamwork easier, why demographic diversity does not automatically create cognitive diversity, and why diverse teams can experience both better information sharing and more relationship conflict. Real DEI is about changing day-to-day behavior, not just checking a box. The takeaway is simple but powerful: diversity is only valuable when the culture, leadership, and systems allow it to work. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

September 29, 2026Episode 17633 min

Ep176: Don't ask for feedback if you're not ready for the answer

Send us Fan Mail The most dangerous employee survey is the one with great scores when nobody felt safe telling the truth. Chuck and John unpack a Golden State Warriors lawsuit to reveal why asking for honest feedback and then punishing honesty can quietly destroy trust, engagement, and your early warning system. What starts as a story about an NBA-wide employee satisfaction survey turns into a hard lesson for every leader and HR team: feedback is a promise, not a checkbox. Chuck and John break down what happens when leaders shift from asking, “What can we learn?” to “Who said this?” and why that one move can turn a confidential survey into a fear test. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why survey response rates matter less than whether employees believe anything will change How managers can create retaliation risk by getting defensive over criticism The difference between normal performance management and unlawful retaliation Why “people operations” still needs strong HR judgment, not just better branding How psychological safety shows up in real workplaces, not just theory Chuck offers a practical reset for HR: before the next engagement survey goes out, ask what you will do if you do not like the answers. John adds the leadership perspective, arguing that teams only improve when leaders can hear criticism without making it personal. If you care about employee engagement, retaliation risk, or building a workplace where people can speak freely without calculating the consequences, this episode is essential listening. A quiet workplace is not always a healthy one—and the cost of silence can be far higher than a bad survey score. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

September 22, 2026Episode 17546 min

Ep175: Is AI Making the Workplace Better?

Send us Fan Mail AI can save hours, but it can also create bias, bad decisions, and new HR headaches if you hand it the wrong job. Chuck and John unpack the real question leaders need to answer now: not whether AI works, but who gets the time it creates, who owns the outcome, and how to keep trust intact as the workplace changes. Chuck shares how AI has given him back time, improved the quality of his communications, and helped him move faster without sacrificing the human context that matters in HR. John pushes the conversation further with a practical framework for using AI at work: set clear intentions, define boundaries, verify everything, and never confuse speed with accountability. You’ll discover: Why AI often creates capacity instead of simply making people faster The tension between employee benefit and leadership expectations when time is “saved” How to use AI for resumes, email, and research without outsourcing judgment Why AI can sound confidently wrong and how to challenge it before it costs you The hidden risk of bias when AI learns from your organization’s past decisions What “meaningful human oversight” really looks like in HR and beyond John also explains why AI is pursuit-oriented, not self-aware, and why that matters when tools are given broad access to systems and data. The conversation gets real about confidential information, workplace trust, and the difference between using AI as a toy versus using it as a serious business tool. If your organization is already experimenting with AI, or if you’re responsible for people decisions, this episode gives you a practical way to think about the upside, the risk, and the guardrails you need before things get messy. Essential listening for HR leaders, managers, and anyone trying to make work better without losing control of the process. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

September 8, 2026Episode 17418 min

Ep174: From the Vault - Off-The-Clock Behavior and the Impact on Workplaces

Send us Fan Mail This week we revisit an episode from September 2025 where the team discusses out of work behavior and what implications that can have on workplaces. ---- We've seen it in the news and around social media - someone did something controversial and they went viral for it. Next thing we hear, they've either tastefully resigned from their job or the company has issued a statement saying they do not stand by the actions and the person has been removed from the company. If you have an employee that goes viral for all of the wrong reasons, what response is within your legal rights? And more importantly, can you set yourself up to be more protected as a company from ill-perceived behavior that employees may take part in outside of work hours? Yes, you can! Join Chuck and John as they go through important steps to take to avoid being in a legal battle and how to make sure employees are aware of expectations. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

September 1, 2026Episode 17340 min

Ep173: From the Vault - Listener Q&A!

Send us Fan Mail Revisit this episode, originally from summer of 2025! ----- Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Can you terminate an employee just for a bad attitude? What should you do when an employee walks off the job mid-shift? Can quid pro quo harassment happen between coworkers? Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

August 25, 2026Episode 17234 min

Ep172: Perfectly Documented Terrible Decisions

Send us Fan Mail Bad documentation can create a bigger mess than no documentation at all. Chuck Simikian and John Thalheimer break down why the real goal is not paperwork for paperwork's sake, but creating a record that protects decisions, clarifies expectations, and makes the workplace better. Chuck shares a real HR moment that could have gone sideways fast, until one email proved exactly what was communicated and when. From there, he and John unpack why documentation matters most in the moments managers usually want to rush past: benefits changes, attendance issues, performance concerns, and the ADA interactive process. What you'll learn: Why "document, document, document" is only useful if the record is actually clear and useful How one email can answer a compliance question before it becomes a problem What the ADA interactive process should show in writing, including requests, discussions, options, and undue hardship analysis Why a vague or emotional note can become exhibit A for the other side How to write documentation so someone who was not in the room can understand what happened later We all know documentation gets treated like an annoying extra task unless leaders explain why it matters. There's a simple rule that turns documentation into a leadership tool, not just a legal shield - write it so a judge, jury, auditor, or future manager can understand it months later. The team also gets into the difference between being audit proof and audit secure, and why checklists, standard operating procedures, and consistent follow-through matter long before anyone asks questions. The episode closes on a bigger truth: documentation should capture good judgment, not manufacture a defense after the fact. Essential listening if you manage people, coach managers, or want practical HR advice that reduces risk while building a fairer, more accountable workplace. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

August 18, 2026Episode 17137 min

Ep171: Doing Discipline Right

Send us Fan Mail When employees mess up in the workplace, accountability and consistency is crucial to maintaining employee trust. But what is the right move when things go wrong? In today's episode, Chuck and John go through the ins and outs of discipline in the workplace while recapping a story that shows what happens when you don't document behaviors properly. THE DISCIPLINE CHECKLIST So if you are sitting in HR—or you are a manager working with HR—and you are trying to decide the appropriate level of discipline, here are the questions I want you asking:  How serious was the conduct?  What does our policy actually say?  What is the employee’s prior record?  Is this the first occurrence, or is there a pattern?  How have we handled similar situations before?  Did the employee accept responsibility?  Does the employee understand the impact of the behavior?  Do we believe the conduct can realistically be corrected?  What impact has the incident had on the other employee and the rest of the workplace?  Is there a safety concern? And then maybe the biggest question of all:  Can I confidently put this employee back into the workplace? Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

August 11, 2026Episode 17035 min

Ep170: Engagement and Management - how to get your team back

Send us Fan Mail Managers are carrying too much, employees are feeling less connected, and AI is about to expose every weak workplace system that already exists. Chuck from HR Stories and leadership expert John Thalheimer break down Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace findings and reveal what they actually mean for 2026. The headline number is hard to ignore: global employee engagement fell to 20%, costing the world an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity. But the real story is not just disengagement, but rather what is driving it, from overwhelmed managers and broken processes to unclear priorities, poor systems, and workplaces that ask people to care without giving them a reason to. Chuck and John unpack why engagement is a result, not a goal you can simply demand. They dig into the manager decline, the emotional burden of leadership, and why so many organizations keep promoting high performers into roles they were never trained to handle. You’ll hear why “pizza party” perks do not fix culture, why agency matters more than inspirational posters, and why meaningful choice, contribution, and progress are the real ingredients of better work. Support the show Our new book... The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits. Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it! Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries. The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.