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In episode 104 of “The JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast,” JoDee and Susan catch up on some of the listener questions they’ve received over the years.

First, a listener asks about unique incentives being offered by employers who can’t beat larger companies’ salaries; JoDee suggests offering flexibility. Next, Susan shares her suggestions for mid-career people trying to enter the HR field – if possible, she believes the easiest way to do it is inside the company you’re currently working in. JoDee’s advice for a listener wanting to help an employee with time management is to focus on goals and try using a timer.

Susan suggests that a listener looking for more feedback from their boss set regular check-in meetings to discuss their strengths and opportunities. Next, a listener asks about dos and don’ts of networking, and JoDee discusses avoiding forced networking and trying to ask questions of people. Susan’s advice for a listener whose boss wants them to do something illegal is to find another (legal) way to accomplish what the boss wants to do.

JoDee and Susan both weigh in on a listener’s question about changes in the college recruiting experience over the years; they don’t think it has really changed much at all. Susan shares an interesting activity she’s recently read about with a listener looking for icebreaker ideas. Then, she encourages a listener looking for tips on handling transitioning transgender employees to talk to the employee, be communicative, and treat them with kindness and respect.

JoDee advises that a listener getting stuck in overlong conversations with a manager stand up, and try setting an end time at the beginning of the conversation. Susan suggests that a listener trying to patch a broken professional relationship reach out and apologize a few times, and if that doesn’t work, move on. A listener asks about activating coworkers to foster a more inclusive workplace, and JoDee thinks they should ask that question to their coworkers.

JoDee and Susan answer listener questions about negative impacts of COVID-19 on the economy, whether companies will fix the wage decreases, how organizations will adapt to supporting a remote workforce, and how organizations who dropped the ball at the beginning can regain trust. Susan suggests a listener looking to be promoted from an entry level HR position focus on being a great performer in their current job and volunteer to help with other HR tasks. JoDee’s answer to a listener wondering if yelling in the workplace is considered abuse is that it depends, but the listener should talk to the person about it. Susan encourages a listener worried about managing terrible performance alongside an intermittent FMLA event get advice from a labor law consultant, because it’s a sensitive issue.

In this episode’s in the news segment, an article from ATD’s The Buzz shares a study showing the future of work will be flexible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• Purple Ink Coaching
• SHRM
• HRCI
• Episode 14, “Time Management Strategies”
• HireVue
• Episode 58, “SHRM Credit: Team Building”
• Episode 76, “Transgender Employees in the Workplace”
• Episode 86, “SHRM Credit: FMLA – A Practical Approach to Leave Management”
• Indy HR Professionals Facebook group
• HR Magazine
• “Study Shows the Future of Work Will Be Flexible”

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