Podcast Episodes
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The Human Resources for Small Business podcast is the ultimate resource for HR
professionals and small business leaders. Join Xenium’s Brandon Laws as he chats with
guests from all sides of the industry—digging up tips, tools and insights you can apply to
your own small business. We’ll dig into a different HR-focused topic each episode—ranging
from business strategy and leadership to HR policy, legal updates and more.
Meet the Host: Brandon Laws
Brandon Laws is Director of Marketing at Xenium HR. He has a B.S. in Business Management & Entrepreneurship from Western Oregon University and regularly writes on various business, economic and leadership topics. He hosts Xenium’s “Human Resources for Small Business” podcast and participates in the “It’s About People” podcast. Brandon is a total bookworm, an avid podcast listener, and is borderline obsessed with watching Blazer games.
Podcast Episodes
A Unique Benefit Millennials Will Thank You For
A Unique Benefit Millennials Will Thank You For
Many millennials entering the workforce are burdened with student loan debt. And according to some articles, the average student in the class of 2016...
Finding Ways to Engage Employees
Finding Ways to Engage Employees
Every year, companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to increase employee engagement. But is it working? And why is it so important...
Bring Your Human to Work, with author Erica Keswin
Bring Your Human to Work, with author Erica Keswin
As humans, we’re wired to connect with others and build relationships. We spend most of our time at work, so it should be no...
How Managers and Employees Can Work Better Together
How Managers and Employees Can Work Better Together
MP3 | iTunes | StitcherRun Time: 39:25 Take our survey to enter a drawing for a free book! Brandon Laws: Hey, welcome...
One Business Owner’s Solution to Work Life Balance
One Business Owner’s Solution to Work Life Balance
Are you someone that works to live or lives to work? That’s what James Sudakow, business owner and author of the new book Out...
The Differences Between HR Consultants and In-House HR
The Differences Between HR Consultants and In-House HR
Paige Tamlyn, HR Generalist at Xenium HR, provides a first-hand look at the differences between in-house HR professionals and external HR consultants, told from...
Doing Good, Building Culture
Doing Good, Building Culture
There was a time when the only way you could give back at work was to work at a non-profit. Those days are over....
Planning for the Next Generation
Planning for the Next Generation
Every company experiences it at some point—the changing of the guard. And with the current generational shift from boomers in leadership to Gen-Xers and...
What’s Up in the Workplace 06: Trends in HR & Recruiting
What’s Up in the Workplace 06: Trends in HR & Recruiting
Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws discuss several interesting statistics from the Glassdoor Statistical Reference Guide for Recruiters, including why most millennials expect to leave their...
Good Things Come Back Around
Good Things Come Back Around
If you love someone, set them free. Old advice for the lovelorn, but also, a great way to treat your employees. Lee Caraher, author...
Developing Employees with Engaging Micro Learning
Developing Employees with Engaging Micro Learning
Continuous, active employee development is a crucial part of employee retention and success. But in our modern, technology-dominated world, it can be difficult to...
How to Prioritize Relationships in a Transaction-Based Business
How to Prioritize Relationships in a Transaction-Based Business
In fast-paced, commoditized industries, it’s easy to lose sight of bigger company values when we’re intently focused on getting to our next transactions. But...
Putting Your Ego to Work
Putting Your Ego to Work
Ego tends to get bad rap—especially in the workplace. So is the ideal employee the person with no ego? And is that even possible?...
A New Approach to Performance Management with Michael Bungay Stanier
A New Approach to Performance Management with Michael Bungay Stanier
Improving employee performance is such a big part of company success. But what tools and tactics really improve performance and what’s just getting in...
What’s Up in the Workplace 05: Voluntary Turnover and How You Can Fight It
What’s Up in the Workplace 05: Voluntary Turnover and How You Can Fight It
With the unemployment rate hovering at around 4% nationally, skilled employees are in high demand. Ultimately, that leads to a spike in voluntary turnover...
A Little Kindness Changes Everything
A Little Kindness Changes Everything
When you think about the things that drive business profit, does kindness come to mind? Linda Cohen, author and the Kindness Catalyst, certainly hopes...
Is it Time to Reconstruct Healthcare?
Is it Time to Reconstruct Healthcare?
Over the last 16 years, healthcare premiums have increased by 200%. Inevitable? Just how the system has to be? Not according to Michael Menerey,...
What’s Up in the Workplace 04: Why the Leadership Changes at Nike are a Lesson for Businesses
What’s Up in the Workplace 04: Why the Leadership Changes at Nike are a Lesson for Businesses
Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws discuss the recent shake up at Nike at the senior leadership level and why it’s a good lesson on...
Creative Ways to Pay Your Key People
Creative Ways to Pay Your Key People
Compensation is a tricky subject, especially when it comes to your key players. If you’re wondering how to keep your top people committed, Kevin...
Bringing Energy into the Workplace
Bringing Energy into the Workplace
Creating a workplace where everyone is engaged and thriving is no easy task. For Linda Binns, it all comes down to the personal. An...
Turning Survey Results into Action
Turning Survey Results into Action
How’s your company culture nowadays? If you ask Eric Gregg, CEO and founder of Inavero, you should start by checking your Employee Net Promoter...
What’s Up in the Workplace 03: Email after Work, Miserable Managers, Pay Transparency
What’s Up in the Workplace 03: Email after Work, Miserable Managers, Pay Transparency
In episode three of What’s Up in the Workplace, Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws discuss how one city is trying to limit email after...
The Science Behind Decision Making
The Science Behind Decision Making
Ever thought about why you make the decisions you do? And how you know it’s the right one? From acting on intuition to weighing...
How an A-Team is Built
How an A-Team is Built
While a manager should be focused on helping people develop at work, that role is so often lost in the day-to-day shuffle. Whitney Johnson,...
How Technology is Changing the Way We Recruit
How Technology is Changing the Way We Recruit
Aman Brar, CEO of Canvas, a text-based interviewing platform, joins Brandon Laws for a future-oriented discussion about the impact technology is having on recruiting....
How to Handle Employee Complaints
How to Handle Employee Complaints
Complaints are an unfortunate but inevitable part of working in human resources. But not all employers know how to handle complaints and investigations into...
What’s Up in the Workplace 02: No A-holes, Severance Policies, and Running a Business Like a Gym
What’s Up in the Workplace 02: No A-holes, Severance Policies, and Running a Business Like a Gym
In the second episode of What’s Up in the Workplace, Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws discuss why one CEO is keeping “assholes” out of...
How to Prepare a Rising Star for Leadership
How to Prepare a Rising Star for Leadership
It’s a common mistake to promote star employees into leadership roles before they’re ready, or before they fully understand their new responsibilities. Both you...
How to Create a ‘Powerful’ Culture
How to Create a ‘Powerful’ Culture
Radical honesty, the importance of cultural fit—these terms are familiar to most of us. But when Patty McCord, Chief Talent Officer of Netflix, first...
One Company’s Approach to Team Building
One Company’s Approach to Team Building
Lain Hensley and Odyssey Teams are redefining the typical corporate team building program. And it came out of a need to bring people closer...
What’s Up in the Workplace: Bots, What New HR Pros Need to Know and One-on-Ones
What’s Up in the Workplace: Bots, What New HR Pros Need to Know and One-on-Ones
In the first episode of the series What’s Up in the Workplace, Lacey Partipilo joins Brandon Laws for a fun and engaging discussion on...
3 of the Best Ways to Prevent Harassment in the Workplace
3 of the Best Ways to Prevent Harassment in the Workplace
We’ve all been reading the headlines. There’s never been a more important time to talk about harassment & discrimination in the workplace. Suzi Alligood,...
HR Trends to Watch for in 2018
HR Trends to Watch for in 2018
In 2017, human resources had a heavy focus on compliance. This is typical in an inauguration year; a new administration in the White House...
The Benefits of Taking a [Sabbatical] Break
![The Benefits of Taking a [Sabbatical] Break](https://i2.wp.com/www.xeniumhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Lacey-Stock-21.jpg?resize=400%2C250)
The Benefits of Taking a [Sabbatical] Break
Ever wish you could take some time off from your job? Not just a vacation but a significant, life-resetting break? Lacey Partipilo, a Senior...
Enlisting Veterans into the Workforce
Enlisting Veterans into the Workforce
Veterans have shown their country dedication and commitment. So how do employers return the favor? Michael Weiss, an HR Account Representative at Xenium, joins...
Top Five HR for Small Business Podcast Episodes of 2017
Top Five HR for Small Business Podcast Episodes of 2017
As we head in to the new year, let’s take a look back at the top five downloaded podcast episodes of 2017 … These...
Diversity is More Than Just Quotas
Diversity is More Than Just Quotas
Diversity. It’s a hot topic in human resources right now. But it’s how you put it into practice that makes all the difference. Steve...
Creating Culture Through Communication
Creating Culture Through Communication
How do you turn your company culture into something that can build your business from the inside out? It’s all about communication. Victoria Dew,...
Developing Careers from the Ground Up
Developing Careers from the Ground Up
Finding the right people can be a challenge at every level, in any industry. One way to handle it? Create more entry level jobs...
Planting the Seeds of Great Leadership
Planting the Seeds of Great Leadership
What do landscaping and leadership development have in common? A lot more than you think. Jeff McManus, former landscaper and author of “Growing Weeders...