This Week at Work: An HR and Employment Law Show

The only show to offer employers and Human Resource professionals practical and timely insights into the workplace

Powered by AAIM Employers’ Association and Ogletree Deakins. A Feature Group USA production.

This Week at Work is the only show about the workplace that offers you front row seats AND a microphone, featuring human resource professionals and experts in employment law to bring you practical, timely and accurate insights so you can more effectively lead your organization.

Join Phil, Burt, and other subject matter experts every Thursday at 7:30 am Central, for topics ranging from people management and compensation trends, to decoding the federal and local laws affecting your organization.

This Week at Work was proud to be the premier news source and sounding board for human resource professionals and business owners who fought for their businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feedback our podcast received was humbling - and you better believe we’ll be on the front line helping you build an even stronger workplace during the next crisis.

Episodes

Aug 14, 2025

37 min

Have questions? Submit them at hrask.org.Download the key takeaways from this episode:https://tinyurl.com/vtx2du4a 
Phil and Burt unpack the essential best practices for using AI in HR - and why not all AI tools are created equal. We’ll spotlight Aaime Hart, AAIM’s AI-Driven HR advisor. She’s loaded with real employer survey data, compliance resources, and the expertise of AAIM Employers’ Association and their partners. From asking the right questions to protecting confidentiality and blending AI insights with human judgment, we’ll give you the insider’s guide to making AI a valuable partner for your workplace.
00:01:01 – Introduction: Phil Brandt opens the show with big AI usage stats00:02:03 – Catching up: Travel, SHRM events, and upcoming law update00:05:49 – Why this year’s Employment Law Update is bigger than ever00:08:02 – Lawyer on the Clock: DOJ’s sweeping new DEI guidance00:16:25 – Crypto in your 401(k)? Big changes ahead00:21:05 – Meet AAIME Hart: AI HR assistant for safer workplace answers00:28:28 – Protecting confidentiality when using AI00:30:18 – State and local variations: Why specificity matters00:33:36 – Is ChatGPT making us stupid? Overreliance & the GPS analogy00:35:56 – How to use AAIME Hart & register for the Employment Law Update

Aug 7, 2025

30 min

Have questions? Submit them at hrask.org.Click the link below to download your key takeaways from this episode:https://tinyurl.com/mv96xx68
Boeing’s union strike is making national headlines but what does it mean for the rest of us? Phil and Burt unpack the strike, share lessons from inside the negotiation room, and explore how employers can build trust, improve morale, and stay union-optional. Whether you're unionized or not, this episode is a must-listen for HR pros and business leaders alike.
00:00 – Intro & Teaser: Boeing Strike & Unions01:04 – Live from Missouri SHRM Conference03:52 – Lawyer on the Clock: EEOC, NLRB, & Political Gridlock09:50 – Illinois’ New Paid Nursing Break Law12:32 – Court Revives Religious Rights vs. Gender Identity Case19:08 – Burning Questions: Are You Missing Union Red Flags?21:46 – Forced Overtime: A Unionization Trigger?25:59 – How Unionization Impacts Business Costs27:36 – Supervisor Training: The Ultimate Union Prevention Tool

Jul 31, 2025

33 min

Have questions? Submit them at hrask.org.
Be sure to download your key takeaways from this episode: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwt9m3
This week on This Week at Work, Phil and Burt dive into Missouri’s evolving paid sick leave situation—where laws were passed, rolled out, and then quickly rolled back. They unpack how HR leaders can manage unused leave, protect morale, and build flexible policies that hold up when legislation shifts. Even if you're outside Missouri, the lessons here are universal. Don't miss this essential conversation for every HR professional.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Missouri’s Paid Sick Leave: Passed, Implemented, Repealed
0:47 – HR Chaos: Now What Happens to All Those Policy Changes?
2:46 – Meet AAIME Hart: AI-Powered HR Assistant in Action
4:04 – Prison to Programmer: Can You Really Work Remotely From Jail?
8:19 – The Legal Fallout of Missouri Prop A Repeal
9:17 – Lawyer on the Clock: EEOC Sued Over LGBTQIA+ Protections
14:13 – DOL’s Self-Audit Program Returns: What It Means for Employers
17:13 – Prop A Breakdown: What’s Changing for Missouri Employers
23:04 – August 28th Deadline: What Happens to Accrued Sick Time?
31:04 – Employment Law Update Preview & Registration Detai

Jul 24, 2025

35 min

Have questions? Submit them at hrask.org.
Download our "READY. AAIM. PHIRE!" takeaway sheet for all the key insights from this episode. Click the link below: https://tinyurl.com/3zs43mhu On This Week at Work, we’re exploring how to integrate AI - and Aaime Hart - into an everyday workflow that benefits your organization. Lauren demos how Aaime can unlock powerful insights from exit interview data, and we unpack why leaders must take ownership of both their organization’s AI strategy and their personal conduct, especially in light of the recent CEO/HR dating scandal.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to This Week at Work00:46 – AI Strategy: From Tools to Transformation01:41 – Recapping AI & HR Week with Lauren Patel03:13 – Meet AAIME Hart: Safe AI for HR Professionals05:16 – Hot Topic: Coldplay Scandal & Leadership Ethics07:22 – Creative Ways HR is Using AI Today09:58 – Transforming Exit Interviews with AI15:08 – The Real Story Behind "Training" Feedback24:10 – From Data to Action: AAIME’s Turnover Reduction Plan26:06 – One-Pager for Leadership: AI-Powered Insights

Jul 17, 2025

35 min

Have questions? Submit them at hrask.org. This week, we share the results from AAIM's phase 1 of “trying it”. because in doing so, we found a real opportunity to align AI with our services. Introducing Aaime Hart - an HR chatbot built on reliable sources our members already trust. She will actually help YOU align AI with YOUR COMPANY. #aaimehart
Timestamps: 
0:00 – Welcome to AI & HR Week: Phase 2 – Align It
1:35 – AI vs. AI: Who's Really Hiring Who?
3:25 – Candidates Using Bots to Apply & Interview
5:15 – The Ethics of AI-Powered Applicants
6:22 – Meet Aaime Hart: AI Built for HR Pros
9:50 – How Aaime Hart’s Sources Make Her Trustworthy
12:15 – Aaime’s Strengths, Limits, and Safe Use Tips
14:40 – Demo 1: Create an HR Audit Checklist with Amy
17:45 – Demo 2: Build a High-Potential Employee Plan
22:00 – Create Justifications, Find Training & Go Strategic
Get Key Takeaways From This Episode: tinyurl.com/2rhs4k9f

Jul 10, 2025

37 min

Send your burning questions to hrask.org
Join us for a special episode where we dive into the evolving relationship between HR and AI. You’ll get a fast-paced preview of what’s ahead during AI in HR Week, along with expert insights on how AI is transforming hiring practices, reshaping compliance strategies, and helping leaders make smarter, more strategic decisions.
Whether you're just starting to explore AI or already integrating it into your workflow, this episode will show you how to use AI with HR, not instead of it. Learn how to lead the way in an era where technology can enhance, not replace, the human side of HR.
 
Timestamps:
2:51 – Welcome Back: Why AI Is Changing the HR Landscape
4:45 – AI Across Generations: Lessons from an 80-Year-Old
7:12 – AI Tools for HR Pros: GREE Launch Teaser
11:42 – Phil’s Phired Up
16:22 – Burning Questions
21:53 – Lawyer on the Clock
24:43 – Microsoft Saves $500M, Slashes Jobs with AI
29:05 – Trade Schools on the Rise Among Gen Z & Alpha
33:22 – Upskilling or Replaced? White Collar Risks Ahead
36:01 – Wrap Up: Try It, Align It, and Get Ready for What’s Next
 
Click the link to download key takeaways from this episode: https://tinyurl.com/33ty9pf6
 
#AIinHR #ThisWeekAtWork #FutureOfHR #HRAutomation #AILeadership #HRLeadership #HRTech #AIinHRWeek #HRInsights #AIDoesNotReplaceHR #LeadershipDevelopment #HRStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #AAIMEA #OrganizationalChange #HR

Jun 26, 2025

33 min

Send your burning questions to hrask.org
New data shows that 1 in 5 full-time workers has a side gig, and 60% are thinking about starting one. Whether you’re seeing signs of distraction or just want to get ahead of the curve, this episode will help you move from reaction to strategy, so you’re not caught off guard.
Phil and Burt also discuss legal considerations around dual employment, and even OSHA heat standards. Plus, a Lawyer on the Clock spotlight on SCOTUS rulings and a lawsuit involving…Chucky the doll?
 
Timestamps: 
00:00 – Welcome & Side Gigs Overview
00:44 – What is Moonlighting Today?
03:32 – Phil’s Personal Experience with Side Hustles
05:01 – Why Employees Moonlight: Passion or Paycheck?
08:03 – Working Two Jobs at Once
10:20 – Employer Handbook Gaps on Outside Work
13:34 – Need for Updated Workplace Policies
15:20 – Phil’s Phired Up: Manager Guidance on Side Gig Performance Issues
22:05 – Lawyer on the Clock: OSHA Heat Standards Explained
27:22 – SCOTUS Ruling on Gender Affirming Care for Minors
29:26 – The Chucky Lawsuit: Pranks & PTSD
32:12 – July 4th, Favorite Holidays & Wrap Up
 
Download key takeaways from this episode: tinyurl.com/545zz445
 
#SideHustle #GigEconomy #FutureofWork #WorkplaceTrends #ProactiveLeadership #OrganizationalChange #ThisWeekAtWork #AAIMEA #HRStrategy #PeopleFirst #TalentManagement #WorkLifeBalance
 

Jun 19, 2025

29 min

Send your burning questions to hrask.org
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

Jun 12, 2025

33 min

Send your burning questions to hrask.org
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

Jun 5, 2025

32 min

Send your burning questions to hrask.org
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

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