Season 1

The Golden Toots and Coal-filled Boots of 2024
Toot or BootDecember 17, 2024x
30
00:40:09

The Golden Toots and Coal-filled Boots of 2024

2024 was a challenging year. We saw the implementation of six-day workweeks, so many layoffs, return-to-office (RTO) mandates, and DEI rollbacks. SHRM removed the E from DEI and Silicon Valley CEOs and VCs seemed to want a return to days of HR past (or no HR at all. We also had some progress with pa...

Elon to X remote work, RTOs as retaliation, and what employees really value
Toot or BootDecember 09, 2024x
29
00:28:50

Elon to X remote work, RTOs as retaliation, and what employees really value

In this episode, we dive into Elon Musk's and Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial task force, cheekily named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their mission? To slash federal workforce numbers by targeting remote and hybrid work—impacting up to a million federal employees. We unpack the im...

Managers' toxic positivity, the legacy of Steve Jobs' leadership style, and a 2025 quitting spree?
Toot or BootDecember 03, 2024x
28
00:30:25

Managers' toxic positivity, the legacy of Steve Jobs' leadership style, and a 2025 quitting spree?

This week I'm joined by Vijay Pendakur, an author and HR advisor and consultant, to dive into toxic positivity, toxic leadership and more. First, we chat about managers glossing over bad news, creating an atmosphere of toxic positivity, and losing employee trust. Next, we talk about the leadership s...

Employee wellbeing and trust in leadership declines, and Meta fires staff over meal vouchers
Toot or BootNovember 25, 2024x
27
00:25:50

Employee wellbeing and trust in leadership declines, and Meta fires staff over meal vouchers

Lindsey Caplan joins us again to discuss the stats showing that fewer than one in three employees trust their senior leaders. Next we talk about the employees fired by Meta for misusing their meal credits and what it means about org culture, trust, and how we write and implement our policies. Then, ...

The Trouble with SHRM
Toot or BootNovember 19, 2024x
26
00:50:48

The Trouble with SHRM

On this week's episode, we're doing something a little different. I invited Morgan Williams, Tracie Sponenberg, and Sarika Lamont to go in-depth on one topic - SHRM. SHRM has been the talk of HR news a lot over the past year - they dropped the E from DEI, are facing a lawsuit from a former employee ...

Polyworking, AI surveillance of workers, and why HR is getting tougher
Toot or BootNovember 14, 2024x
25
00:23:48

Polyworking, AI surveillance of workers, and why HR is getting tougher

In this episode, we talk about a new HR buzz word “polyworking” – juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. But is it just hustle and grind culture 2.0? Then, we explore recent moves by the CFPB to extend consumer protection into employment data and cautioning businesses about surveiling employees. ...

Workday wellness check, supercommutes, and Dell's last minute RTO
Toot or BootOctober 22, 2024x
24
00:33:42

Workday wellness check, supercommutes, and Dell's last minute RTO

Is the supercommute making a comeback? In this week’s episode, Cassidy Edwards joins as we dive into the story of a man who *loves* his 7-hour daily trek. We also unpack the chaos caused by Dell's sudden return-to-office (RTO) mandate, and explore why HR needs to rethink how they roll out major chan...

Parental leave and the case of stolen valor
Toot or BootOctober 16, 2024x
23
00:37:49

Parental leave and the case of stolen valor

This week Kim Rohrer and Cassandra Babilya are back to discuss parental leave and policies and practices that support parents. We start off by discussing a lawsuit where a former employee of a law firm alleges that the company’s leave policy violates civil rights law because it offers an additional ...

The HR Leadership exodus, flat hierarchies and the 25-year high of EEOC disability discrimination charges
Toot or BootOctober 08, 2024x
22
00:22:55

The HR Leadership exodus, flat hierarchies and the 25-year high of EEOC disability discrimination charges

Are we on the verge of losing key HR leaders due to burnout and lack of strategic support? Tara Turk-Haynes, founder of Equity Activations, joins us to discuss the possible HR leadership exodus along with the EEOC’s 25-year high in disability discrimination charges and how flat hierarchies may be ke...

Amazon's RTO, more tech layoffs, and the myth of in-office culture
Toot or BootOctober 01, 2024x
21
00:30:41

Amazon's RTO, more tech layoffs, and the myth of in-office culture

This week on Toot or Boot, Tara Turk-Haynes, founder of Equity Activations, joins us to break down Amazon's RTO mandate and the myth of in-office culture-building. Then we dive into the latest tech layoffs—is it the economy, real estate, or the upcoming election driving them? And we ask: Does simply...