What the Heck Is Happening in HR?

Hosted by krexconsulting and USF Corporate Training and Professional Education

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239

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to What the Heck Is Happening in HR?—a lively podcast from krexconsulting and the USF Office of Corporate Training & Professional Education (CTPE). 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 usf.edu/corporate-training and krexconsulting.com. Follow us on LinkedIn!

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60 recent

June 15, 20264 min

Promotions Are Becoming Riskier Than Firings

Promotions used to feel like a reward. In today’s workplace, they often feel like a risk. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad explores why more employees are hesitating to move into leadership roles and why organizations are struggling with promotion decisions that carry long-term consequences. From accountability without authority to lack of management training and burnout fears, this conversation examines the hidden costs of promoting employees without proper support. Because the real danger is not promoting the wrong person—it’s creating a workplace where no one wants to lead.#LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementTraining #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #Leadership #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #PeopleManagement #HumanResources #OrganizationalCulture

June 8, 20263 min

Hiring Is a Marketing Problem

Most organizations think they have a hiring problem. Kelley Rexroad argues they actually have a marketing problem. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley breaks down why outdated job postings, poor candidate communication, and confusing hiring processes are damaging employer brands and driving talent away before interviews even begin. From ghosting candidates to vague salary ranges, this conversation explores how hiring has become a direct reflection of organizational culture and credibility. Because candidates are evaluating companies long before they ever become employees.#Hiring #Recruiting #EmployerBrand #TalentAcquisition #CandidateExperience #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #HumanResources #FutureOfWork #ProfessionalDevelopment #RecruitmentMarketing

June 1, 20264 min

Ghost Jobs Are Gaslighting Job Seekers

What happens when job postings aren’t actually real? In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad takes a hard look at the rise of “ghost jobs” and the growing trust crisis inside modern hiring. From fake openings used to build resume pipelines to postings designed to create the appearance of growth, this conversation explores the emotional and professional toll on job seekers navigating an already exhausting market. Kelley also unpacks emerging legislation, employer accountability, and why transparent hiring practices matter more than ever.#Hiring #Recruiting #JobSearch #GhostJobs #FutureOfWork #HRLeadership #WorkplaceTrends #EmployeeExperience #TalentAcquisition #CareerDevelopment #Leadership #HumanResources

May 25, 20263 min

AI Didn’t Take the Job - Your Manager Did

Everyone’s talking about AI replacing jobs, but this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR challenges a deeper issue: bad management. Kelley Rexroad explores why employees were leaving long before AI became the headline—and why leadership quality still shapes retention, trust, and performance more than technology ever will. AI can automate tasks, but it cannot replace human leadership, presence, or judgment. Smart organizations are using AI to reduce administrative noise so managers can focus on people. Because when uncertainty rises, employees remember how they were led—not what software was implemented.#ArtificialIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #ManagementSkills #HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipMatters #PeopleManagement #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureOfLeadership

May 11, 20264 min

Burnout Isn’t What You Think It Is

Burnout is one of the most talked-about workplace issues—and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad challenges the idea that burnout is caused by workload or a lack of resilience. Instead, she reframes it as a systems issue driven by lack of control, unclear expectations, and inconsistent fairness. When effort no longer feels meaningful or sustainable, disengagement follows. This episode breaks down what burnout actually signals and how leaders and HR can address the root causes, not just the symptoms.#Burnout #WorkplaceWellbeing #EmployeeExperience #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #OrganizationalHealth #PeopleStrategy #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment #HRStrategy

May 4, 20264 min

Leadership Accountability Isn’t Optional

Accountability is often listed as a core value—but employees are increasingly seeing a different reality. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad explores the growing gap between expectations placed on employees and behaviors modeled by leaders. When accountability flows only downward, trust erodes quickly. This episode unpacks how inconsistent leadership behavior impacts culture, engagement, and retention—and why accountability, when modeled visibly and honestly, strengthens leadership credibility rather than weakening it. #LeadershipAccountability #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeExperience #OrganizationalCulture #FutureOfWork #ManagementSkills #TrustInLeadership #PeopleStrategy #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment

April 27, 20267 min

Feedback Is Broken (But Not for the Reason You Think)

Feedback is one of the most important tools in the workplace—and one of the most avoided. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad breaks down why feedback feels delayed, inconsistent, and emotionally charged in today’s organizations. The issue isn’t feedback itself—it’s the outdated systems around it. Annual reviews, unclear expectations, and fear-driven conversations have turned feedback into a source of anxiety instead of growth. This episode explores how to make feedback timely, clear, and actionable so it actually supports performance and builds trust. #PerformanceManagement #EmployeeFeedback #HRLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #EmployeeExperience #OrganizationalDevelopment #HRStrategy #ManagementSkills #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment

April 20, 20265 min

The HR Reckoning

HR is being rewritten in real time—and the expectations have never been higher. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad explores the growing tension within the role as it expands across strategy, compliance, culture, and leadership. As visibility increases and trust becomes harder to earn, HR is no longer operating behind the scenes. This episode breaks down why credibility, judgment, and courage are becoming essential, and what it means for professionals navigating a role that now sits at the center of organizational decision-making.#HumanResources #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalStrategy #HRStrategy #EmployeeExperience #BusinessLeadership #WorkplaceTrends #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment

April 13, 20266 min

Psychological Safety Is Not Soft...It’s Performance

Psychological safety is often misunderstood as a “soft” concept but in reality, it’s a critical driver of performance. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR, Kelley Rexroad breaks down what psychological safety actually means and why it matters more than ever in today’s complex work environment. When employees don’t feel safe to speak up, organizations lose insight, innovation, and early warning signals. This episode explores how leadership behavior shapes safety daily—and how creating it leads to stronger decisions, better collaboration, and more resilient teams. #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalCulture #TeamPerformance #ManagementSkills #PeopleStrategy #CorporateTraining #ProfessionalDevelopment

April 6, 20267 min

Return to Office: Is It About Collaboration or Control?

Return-to-office policies continue to spark debate across organizations, but the real drivers behind these decisions are often more complex than leaders admit. In this episode of What the Heck is Happening in HR?, Kelley examines why many return-to-office conversations aren’t actually about collaboration or culture—they’re about uncertainty, visibility, and control. She explores how remote work challenged traditional assumptions about productivity and why poorly explained mandates can damage trust. This episode offers a candid look at how leaders and HR can approach workplace flexibility with greater clarity, transparency, and intention.#FutureOfWork#ReturnToOffice#HybridWork#Leadership#HRInsights#WorkplaceStrategy#WorkplaceCulture#PeopleLeadership#EmployeeExperience#OrganizationalLeadership#Management