What the Heck Is Happening in HR?

Hosted by Kelley Rexroad and Krexconsulting

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram

Episodes

250

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Welcome to What the Heck Is Happening in HR?—a lively podcast from krexconsulting. Each episode features engaging guests and dives into one timely HR tidbit—practical, candid, and straight to the point. Have an idea? Send it to kelley@krexconsulting.com. Learn more at krexconsulting.com.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 7, 20263 min

You Don’t Have an HR Problem. You Have a Manager Problem.

Organizations often look to HR when turnover rises, engagement drops, or workplace complaints increase. Kelley Rexroad argues they may be looking in the wrong place. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , Kelley examines the critical role managers play in shaping employee experiences and organizational outcomes. Drawing on years of research and workplace trends, she explains why manager effectiveness remains the strongest predictor of retention, engagement, and performance. The good news? Unlike many workplace challenges, manager capability is a problem organizations can actively improve. #Leadership #Management #HumanResources #HRLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #TalentManagement #ManagerDevelopment #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

August 31, 20262 min

High Performers Are Quietly Opting Out of Leadership

For decades, organizations assumed top performers naturally wanted to become managers. Today, many are saying no. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , Kelley Rexroad explores why high-performing employees are increasingly opting out of leadership roles. They're watching stressed managers, unclear decision-making authority, growing accountability, and limited support—and deciding the tradeoff isn't worth it. Kelley examines what organizations can do to make leadership more sustainable, why alternative career paths matter, and how succession planning must evolve to meet changing workforce expectations. #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #SuccessionPlanning #HumanResources #Management #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #TalentManagement #CareerDevelopment #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

August 24, 20263 min

Gen Z Isn’t Quietly Quitting. They’re Telling You What’s Broken.

Is Gen Z really disengaged, or are they exposing workplace issues other generations learned to tolerate? In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , Kelley Rexroad challenges common assumptions about the newest generation in the workforce. She explores how Gen Z's expectations around feedback, flexibility, transparency, and meaningful work may be less about entitlement and more about clarity. Instead of viewing Gen Z as a workplace problem, Kelley argues leaders should see them as a signal—one that reveals what employees across generations have wanted for years. #GenZ #Leadership #HumanResources #FutureOfWork #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #Management #HRLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceTrends #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

August 17, 20262 min

HR Is Being Asked to Fix Problems It Doesn’t Control

HR is often held accountable for employee engagement, retention, culture, and workplace trust. Yet many of the decisions that drive those outcomes happen elsewhere. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , Kelley Rexroad explores the growing authority gap facing HR professionals. From damaged trust and unresolved manager issues to leadership decisions made without HR input, organizations frequently ask HR to solve problems after the damage is done. Learn why involving HR earlier creates stronger outcomes and why HR works best as a strategic multiplier, not a repair crew. #HumanResources #HRLeadership #Leadership #Management #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalDevelopment #PeopleStrategy #EmployeeRetention #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

August 10, 20263 min

Employees Don’t Want Flexibility. They Want Predictability.

For years, workplace conversations have centered on flexibility as the key to employee satisfaction. Kelley Rexroad challenges that assumption. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , she argues that what employees truly crave is predictability: clear expectations, consistent communication, and the ability to plan their lives with confidence. Using unlimited PTO as a powerful example, Kelley explores how ambiguity often creates more stress than structure. Learn why clarity reduces anxiety, strengthens trust, and may be one of the most overlooked drivers of employee engagement and retention. #Leadership #HumanResources #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #Management #EmployeeEngagement #HRLeadership #WorkplaceWellbeing #OrganizationalDevelopment #TrustAtWork #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

August 3, 20263 min

Culture Can’t Be Engineered...But It Can Be Destroyed Overnight

Most organizations talk about culture as if it can be built through mission statements, values posters, and team-building exercises. Kelley Rexroad argues that culture works differently. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR , she explores how culture is shaped by the behaviors leaders reinforce, ignore, and excuse every day. From overlooked complaints to promotions that send the wrong message, small decisions can have a lasting impact on trust. Learn why culture is less about what organizations say and more about what they tolerate. #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #HRLeadership #HumanResources #OrganizationalCulture #TrustAtWork #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #Management #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceTrust #WhatTheHeckIsHappeningInHR

July 27, 202611 min

The HR Profession’s Best-Kept Secret? Inside the National Human Resources Association

In Part 2 of Kelley Rexroad’s conversation with Stephani Dutcher, Vice President of HR Strategic Business Partnerships at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the discussion shifts to the National Human Resources Association (NHRA)—one of the nation’s longest-standing professional organizations dedicated to advancing HR. Stephanie shares the organization’s fascinating history, its roots dating back to 1944, and why its focus on practical learning, meaningful connections, and leadership development continues to resonate with HR professionals today. Learn how NHRA is helping shape the future of the profession through community, collaboration, and people-first leadership. #HumanResources #NHRA #HRLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #PeopleFirst #HRCommunity #FutureOfWork #Networking #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #HumanResourcesAssociation

July 20, 202611 min

How HR Leaders Are Built: A Conversation with Stephani Dutcher

In this special interview episode, Kelley Rexroad sits down with Stephani Dutcher, Vice President of HR Strategic Business Partnerships at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, to discuss her journey into human resources, the evolving role of HR business partners, and what it takes to build a people-first culture at scale. Stephani shares insights on leadership, employee engagement, curiosity, and the skills future HR professionals need to succeed in an increasingly complex workplace. Whether you're considering a career in HR or leading teams today, this conversation offers practical lessons from an experienced HR executive. #HumanResources #HRLeadership #PeopleFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerGrowth #HRBusinessPartner #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #HRCareers

July 13, 20268 min

The Next 250 Years of Work: A Crystal Ball for HR

In the final installment of the 250th Birthday Series , Kelley Rexroad looks ahead instead of back. What will work, leadership, and HR look like in 25, 100, or even 250 years? From AI-driven workplaces and skills-based hiring to portable careers, evolving labor laws, and the future of human connection at work, this episode explores the trends shaping the next era of employment. While technology will transform how work gets done, Kelley argues that the core challenge will remain the same: creating meaningful work with dignity, fairness, and purpose. #FutureOfWork #HumanResources #HRLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #WorkplaceTrends #LeadershipDevelopment #SkillsBasedHiring #FutureOfHR #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerGrowth #FutureOfLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment

July 6, 202610 min

The Presidents Who Built the Workplace (and the Ones Who Changed It)

As part two of the special 250th Birthday Series, Kelley Rexroad explores the presidents whose decisions shaped the modern American workplace. From Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal reforms to the Civil Rights Act, OSHA, the ADA, FMLA, ACA, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, this episode traces the legislation and leadership that transformed work over the last century. Whether expanding worker protections, redefining labor relations, or reshaping compliance responsibilities, these decisions continue to influence HR and employment practices today. #HRHistory #FutureOfWork #HumanResources #EmploymentLaw #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #LaborHistory #HRLeadership #AmericanHistory #WorkforceDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureOfLeadership