This Week at Work

HR Helper: Just Add AAIM's Secret Sauce!

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On This Week at Work, we’re serving up something special - HR Helper: Just Add AAIM’s Secret Sauce! Phil and Kris Gfell are revealing the top HR outsourcing moves of the year, ranked and explained. From policy panic to comp confusion, we’re breaking down why more organizations are saying “no thanks” to HR headaches and tapping into expert help - by the hour.
Click here for key takeaways from this episode: https://shorturl.at/tT6Vo 
Timestamps: 00:00 – Show Intro00:08 – Phil’s Phired Up: Outsourcing HR00:40 – What to Expect This Episode01:39 – Juneteenth and the Working Majority02:55 – Guest Introduction: Kris Gfell Joins the Conversation05:04 – Why HR Compliance Often Gets Pushed Aside10:03 – Prioritizing Compensation in Outsourced HR12:08 – Quiz Time: Phil Gets Put on the Spot13:15 – Top Member HR Support Requests Revealed17:03 – The Real Reasons Companies Outsource HR24:48 – Helping the HR Team of One29:26 – Final Thoughts and How to Get Support

Paying Competitively is a Trap in Today’s Talent Game | Special Guest: Michael Maciekowich!

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Today, we’re facing a tough truth about compensation: if your strategy is built on averages, the best you can do is attract and retain average talent - because your stars won’t stick around. As roles become more complex and job titles lose clarity, pay certainty becomes your new competitive edge. The real question is - can we build a strategy so effective that pay never shows up in the exit interview?
Get your download of key takeaways from this week's episode: https://shorturl.at/zOFdg
Timestamps:
10:11 – Phil’s Phired Up
12:47 – Is the 52% Stat Misleading
16:13 – Rethinking Pay Strategy
17:48 – Competitive vs Fair Pay
20:09 – Hybrid Roles and Compensation
22:22 – Burning Questions: Preventing Poaching
26:01 – Burning Questions: Pay and Exit Interviews
27:20 – The Manager’s Role in Retention
31:17 – Lawyer on the Clock: No Reverse Discrimination
36:10 – BLM Apron Case and Workplace Expression

Byte‑Sized Jobs, Big‑Picture Pay: Compensation in the Age of AI

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As AI redefines how work gets done, what does it mean for compensation? On this episode of This Week at Work, we explore how employers can rethink pay strategies in a world of task-based roles, gig-style contributions, and rapid workforce shifts. Join hosts Phil and Burt as they unpack the big question HR leaders need to ask, “How do we build a compensation strategy that helps us stay competitive and attract talent during this workforce shift?”
Timestamps:
1:31 - Introduction
2:58 - 50% of White Collar jobs may be eliminated by programming in 1-5 years
4:03 - Burt's Take on the 50% elimination
5:00 - Phil's Phired Up: AI and Compensation
6:30 - AI Robot Malfunction
7:40 - Burt on AI helping in the workplace
9:50 - The Lamp Lighter Article Analogy
11:00 - Burt on AI, Robotics, and the Manufacturing Industry
17:29 - Burning Question: How to build a compensation strategy to stay competitive
18:37 - Become an AAIM Member
24:12 - Lawyer on The Clock: DOJ Eliminating DEI
26:50 - OFCCP Elimination, Budget Cuts, Vets Program and the Department of Labor
32:20 - Wrap Up

Rethinking Compensation: Pay Well, Not Competitively

Download your compensation cheat sheet here: https://shorturl.at/OcOYG
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Ep. 329 This Week, Are you paying to win or just to survive? In this week’s episode of This Week at Work, Phil and Burt flip the script on “competitive pay” and reveal why average compensation is costing you top talent. They’ll unpack why your well-meaning raises might be fueling turnover, how inflation is sabotaging morale, and what it really takes to build a compensation strategy that retains your best people. Join us as we challenge outdated pay norms and share actionable steps to rethink, realign, and actually reward your workforce. It's not about paying more, it's about paying smarter.
Timestamps:
00:53 – Intro & Episode Theme: Benchmarking Pay in 2025
03:18 – Why Phil’s “Phired Up” About Compensation
06:13 – Competitive Pay vs. Paying Well
09:17 – The Three-Part Quiz: Defining and Implementing "Paying Well"
20:09 – Lawyer on the Clock: Missouri’s Paid Sick Leave Repeal
27:03 – Trump-era Firings & Supreme Court Decision
30:45 – Phil’s on Phire Cheat Sheet, Upcoming Compensation Events & Final Thoughts
31:58 – Wrap-up & How to Join the Movement

Engagement 2.0: Redefining What It Means to be Productive

Send your burning questions to hrask.org Ep. 328 This Week, Phil and Burt tackle confusion in the new workplace: Are we measuring the wrong things? As discussed last week, employees are happier with flexibility, yet engagement, and productivity, are trending down. It’s time to rethink what productivity really means in the age of remote work. Join us for a provocative conversation about redefining success, aligning expectations, and building a culture that supports both autonomy and accountability.
Timestamps:
01:46 – Intro: Productivity vs. Activity in a Hybrid World
03:22 – Gallup & Forbes Stats: Why Manager Trust Is Broken
04:54 – Why Measuring HR Productivity is So Hard
07:20 – Visibility Bias: Why Remote Work Breeds Distrust
08:54 – How to Fix Broken Productivity Metrics
09:53 – RECAP: Missouri Paid Sick Leave Law Fallout
11:47 – Employer vs. Employee Perspectives on Policy
16:46 – Burning Question: Should You Share Personnel Files?
19:58 – HR Strategy Lightning Round: How Should We Define Productivity?
26:13 – In-Office vs. Remote Resentment and How to Handle It
27:56 – Lawyer on the Clock: No Tax on Tips, Independent Contractors, EEO-1 Data Cautions
35:19 – Final Thoughts and How AAIM Supports Your HR Team

Unveiling the 5 Top Challenges of Remote/Hybrid Work

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Ep. 327 Remote and hybrid work are no longer the exception, they’re the expectation. But even after years of experimenting, employers are still navigating some tough waters. In today’s episode, we’ll quiz Burt on the top five challenges HR professionals report in managing hybrid models, and reveal why solving those doesn’t mean the job is done.
00:48 - Introduction from Phil
02:15 - Look back at AAIM Leadership Conference
05:09 - Remote Work and Engagement
06:06 - Survey of Remote Work at AAIM
08:30 - Burt on Remote Work
10:40 - Phil's Tough Truth
14:17 - Burt's Work from Home Policy Thoughts and Remote Work Agreements
15:39 - Phil on Bending Work from Home Policy
18:08 - AAIM Membership
18:40 - Lawyer on the Clock
19:15 - No Tax on Tips
24:50 - 8th Cricut EEOC Case of Deaf Truck Driver
30:15 - More thoughts on legal issues from Burt
35:05 - Pop Quiz with Burt on Remote/Hybrid Work

This Week at Work: What Surveys Reveal About Trust After Covid and an Update on Missouri Prop A

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Ep. 326 In this episode of This Week at Work, Phil Brandt, President & CEO of AAIM Employers Association, and employment attorney Burt Garland take a look at trust in the workplace through a post-covid lens. They also break down Missouri's new Paid Sick Leave law taking effect May 1st and what HR professionals need to know now, how to prepare for the rest of 2025, and why trust is the foundation of employee engagement and productivity.
We also explore:
- Surprising ADA accommodation trends linked to return-to-office policies
- The impact of transparency and leadership on trust
- Shocking case: 110-hour workweeks lead to hospitalization
- "Lawyer on the Clock" with urgent compliance deadlines
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction from Phil Brandt & Nick Barton
02:00 – Missouri Paid Sick Leave Is Official: What HR Needs to Know
05:06 – Strategy Tip: Interim Policies Until Dec 31
07:00 – Predictions: When Will Employees Use Their First Sick Hour?
08:00 – Leadership Conference Preview: AAIM’s Premier Event
10:08 – Why Trust in the Workplace is Broken
13:25 – Ways to Rebuild Workplace Trust Post-COVID
16:00 – Hybrid Work & Trust: What Really Works
18:00 – Trust & Turnover: The Hidden Link
22:47 – Upcoming AAIM Course: Conflict Resolution (May 21)
22:55 – Lawyer on the Clock: EEO-1 Reporting Surprise
24:56 – ADA Accommodation Surge & Remote Work
29:12 – Extreme Example: 110-Hour Workweek Backfires
32:47 – Final Thoughts + See You at the Conference!

Hard Talks, Real Results: How to Have Difficult Conversations

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Ep 325. This week on This Week at Work, Phil and Burt dive into one of HR’s most uncomfortable but essential responsibilities: having difficult conversations. Inspired by a viral workplace scenario where a manager struggled to address an employee’s provocative attire, we'll unpack how to approach sensitive topics, whether it’s dress code, performance, or conflict, address it without damaging relationships or morale. Tune in for expert strategies, real-world examples, and a few laughs to help make those tough talks a little easier.
 
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & Show Overview
01:30 – Live from Las Vegas: Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategy Seminar
02:40 – The Cost of No Training: Phil’s Son’s Experience as a New Manager
07:00 – HR Scenario Q&A: Handling Difficult Conversations
13:00 – Preparing Managers for Sensitive Talks: Tools & Frameworks
20:00 – Supporting Managers: HR as a Partner in Performance
21:00 – Lawyer on the Clock – Missouri Proposition A Update
24:00 – Paid Sick Leave Policy Advice: Interim Solutions
26:00 – Federal Executive Orders: DEI, Disparate Impact, and Legal Trends
30:00 – Final Thoughts: HR Leadership & Legal Foresight
 
Brought to you by AAIM Employers Association, your partner in HR support, compliance, and professional development.

Communicating Change Without Losing Your Team

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How do you lead your team through uncertainty without losing trust, momentum, or top performers? In this episode of This Week at Work, Phil Brandt (President & CEO of AAIM Employers Association) and employment attorney Burt Garland (Ogletree Deakins) dive deep into how HR leaders can communicate change effectively — and empathetically.
Discover practical strategies to guide your team through role changes, restructures, and even layoffs while keeping morale and culture intact.
Also in this episode:
- The potential repeal of Missouri’s Paid Sick Leave Act
- How to respond if ICE visits your workplace
- A Supreme Court decision that changes how performance reviews could be seen legally
This is a must-watch episode for HR professionals navigating a rapidly shifting workplace — brought to you by AAIM Employers Association, your go-to partner for leadership development, legal compliance, and workforce strategy.
Timestamps:
The Danger of Delaying Paid Sick Leave Compliance – 00:03:03 – 00:06:08
What to Do When ICE Shows Up at Your Workplace – 00:06:33 – 00:09:35
Performance Reviews as Discrimination? – 00:09:58 – 00:14:25
How to Communicate Change Without Losing Your Team – 00:22:25 – 00:24:54
Supporting Your Team During Layoffs: What HR Gets Wrong – 00:30:02 – 00:31:03
Brought to you by AAIM Employers Association — your partner in HR support, compliance, and professional development.
#HRCompliance #MissouriLaw #ChangeManagement #AAIMEmployersAssociation #HRLeadership #WorkplaceStrategy #EmployeeEngagement #OgletreeDeakins #LaborLaw #PaidSickLeave

Change Happens, HR Makes It Work: 5 Ways to Master Change

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Change is constant—but how you lead through it makes all the difference. In this episode of This Week at Work, Phil Brandt, CEO of AAIM Employers Association, is joined by change expert Tanya Zion to explore the most effective strategies HR professionals can use to manage organizational transformation.
From the neuroscience of employee resistance to actionable tactics for leading with empathy, this episode dives deep into how HR can be the driver—not the victim—of change. Plus, discover details about AAIM’s new change management program tailored for HR leaders launching on April 24th.
Learn how to:
- Build trust in times of transition
- Apply the SCARF Model for smoother change adoption
- Use communication to reduce fear, increase buy-in, and boost engagement
- Equip your HR team with the tools to lead change successfully
Whether you’re facing a return-to-office shift, restructuring, or cultural transformation, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.
Timestamps:
00:01:00 – Introduction
00:02:21 – Guest Tanya Zion joins to talk about workplace change
00:04:52 – The evolution of trust in the workplace 00:10:21 – Are your leaders trained in change management?
00:13:08 – Lawyer on the Clock – Quick legal insight on HR's change responsibility
00:20:09 – The SCARF Model: 5 Keys to Mastering Change
00:31:05 – Burning Questions – How can HR lead through complexity?
00:31:48 – On-demand & Live show reminders
#ThisWeekAtWork #ChangeManagement #HRLeadership #AAIMEmployersAssociation #HRStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalChange