Best Chuck Simikian Podcasts (2024)

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: The Trolly Car Predicament for Saving Jobs 30:11

2d ago30:11

30:11

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today we have a couple of updates before we dive into the questions. White-Collar Exemption Update Can you keep gossip out of the workplace? Reasons companies aren’t hiring 50+ Today's episode goes into these questions: Do I need to get a new I-9 for an employee who just became a citizen?…

1
Testing the limits: when Honest Belief meets Workplace Reality. 52:12

9d ago52:12

52:12

An employee gets drug tested and the test comes back positive. Seems like an easy call to make... or so you think. This was the predicament that an Airgas employee found himself in after using hemp products during his cancer treatments. After trying to plead his case, that he had not been doing drugs, Airgas terminated him, claiming it was their ho…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Got a policy for your policies? 24:22

16d ago24:22

24:22

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Is there a type of policy an organization should have that shows the process of suggesting new ideas or policies? Our company is being bought out and there is a new perfect attendance policy. This feels like it will disproportionately impact work…

1
A Pig’s Head : I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse 38:05

23d ago38:05

38:05

This week, the team is uncovering the dark side of retaliation in the workplace, straight from a nightmarish case at Tosh Farms, Tennessee. A shocking number of EEOC claims involve retaliation. Listen in to hear the spine-chilling tactics used against employees and the impact on company reputation and legal standing. In the HR News segment, the tea…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Vulgar Vehicles, Restricted Workloads, PTO Negotiations, and Poor Performers 20:50

1M ago20:50

20:50

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Our handbook policy says we cannot wear anything vulgar, but we don’t have anything about vulgar bumper stickers on our personal vehicles. Can managers order individuals to cover vulgar bumper stickers on their personal vehicles? I have an HR fri…

1
What You Missed - Policy and Law Updates You Can't Afford to Miss 49:50

1M ago49:50

49:50

Join Chuck and John in this special episode where they replay their webinar they hold quarterly, updating HR professionals in all of the major industry law and regulation updates YOU CAN’T MISS! Stick around to the end for a special announcement From reviewing the big game changer policies of 2023 such as the I-9 changes, the PUMP Act, and religiou…

1
Exposed and Ignored: The Battle for Mother’s Rights Under the Golden Arches 49:05

2M ago49:05

49:05

In this week's episode, we delve into the critical yet often overlooked aspects of the PUMP Act, through the lens of two compelling stories from nursing mothers at McDonald's. Discover what happens when workplace policies fail to support nursing employees, and the crucial lessons HR can learn from these real-life experiences. We'll explore the impo…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! A Verbal Assault and a Disability Defense 20:07

2M ago20:07

20:07

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: We’re having trouble with a background check on a 15 year old intern. Is this even required? An employee verbally assaulted a new employee and she claims her autoimmune disease causes her to not think clearly and not act herself. What do you do i…

1
We Don't Know What We Don't Know 34:14

2M ago34:14

34:14

Dive deep as we peel back the corporate curtain, revealing the shocking disconnect between leaders' expectations and the harsh realities faced by employees. From unpaid overtime at Garnett News Company to deadly safety oversights, discover how policies fail in the face of middle management decisions and workplace culture. Are extensive policies eno…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: I'm tired of firing people. Help! 14:03

3M ago14:03

14:03

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: How many times/how often do you fire employees in your organization? What’s your take on who should talk during a termination? How long should you usually give an emplopyee to cash a check? If a check was lost and you re-issue a check and they ha…

1
Remote Work: The Failure to Return 55:31

3M ago55:31

55:31

It goes without saying (but we will anyways) that the pandemic drastically changed our ways of working as well as our expectations of a job. One of the most notable changes was the shift to remote work. While many companies embraced this change and have found a new way of collaborating, others have grown tired of it and are starting to pull back on…

1
Boundaries Beyond Borders: Navigating PTO, Relocations, and Rumors in Solo Departments 22:59

3M ago22:59

22:59

In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges faced by HR department of one employees. From managing PTO allocation to navigating a remote-first company culture spread across multiple states, listeners gain insights into the delicate balance of work-life boundaries and professional expectations. We explore practical strategies for addressing …

1
Breaking Legal Barriers: The Part-Time Secretary Who Rewrote Harassment Laws 51:47

3M ago51:47

51:47

Dive into a riveting episode of HR Stories Podcast, featuring the story of Sheri Minarsky's brave stand against workplace harassment. This episode, reveals Sheri's struggle as a secretary in Susquehanna County’s Department of Veterans Affairs, where she endured years of harassment in silence due to fear and isolation. Her story unfolds as a grippin…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! My Ex-Wife Is Claiming I Forced Her Out of the Company 20:12

3M ago20:12

20:12

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Question #1 – Does your company do anything to compensate exempt employees if they travel/work on weekends or holidays? Also, if they travel home on a work day, but they get to town with 4 hours of work day left, do they have to go into the offic…

1
Failure to Follow Direction Leads to an Employee Death 42:24

4M ago42:24

42:24

When a piece of equipment with a history of related injuries claims the life of a high school student picking up hours over the summer, is it just a freak accident, or was this a preventable situation? How did the company respond to the OSHA recommendations? In today’s episode, Chuck and John dive into a heavy story about the death of an employee a…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! How to Make Them Swipe Right on Your Job Posting 22:22

4M ago22:22

22:22

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: Does anybody have good ideas to make your Indeed postings stand out and look less “basic” and “dry”? As a Manager, how do you create an environment where employees can be brave and have no fear of speaking up? Could you share some examples if you…

1
2023's Top 10 Listener Questions 53:01

4M ago53:01

53:01

What a year it has been, not only in the world of HR, but for The Team at HR Stories! This year, we kicked off a new episode format called Listener Q&A where we answer questions submitted by YOU! This has been a great opportunity to discuss a variety of issues, from hygiene to employees illegally recording others. Thank you for joining us each week…

1
Rudolph and Kringle Inc.- Unwrapping HR Lessons at the North Pole 38:12

5M ago38:12

38:12

In this special holiday edition of the HR Stories Podcast, join John and Chuck as they delve into the enchanting yet enlightening tale of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This episode offers a whimsical exploration of serious HR topics, including workplace discrimination, ADA implications, and the responsibilities of management in fostering an inclus…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! She Was Recording Her Coworkers! 23:18

5M ago23:18

23:18

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: My new employer is sending me on training in Los Angeles. Can I bring my significant other? I recently discovered an employee is recording her teammates when she leaves the room to find out what they are saying about her when she is gone. Any oth…

1
No Age Limitations: Old Workers Rebel against Employer Bias 51:00

5M ago51:00

51:00

The ADEA, or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, is meant to protect older workers from disadvantages in job searching and while employed. Whether it's assumptions about technology skills or desires to see a longer tenure from a new hire, older people in the workforce face several hurdles that can result in discrimination allegations. In toda…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! Mergers, Holidays, and Status Changes 18:35

5M ago18:35

18:35

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: From an HR perspective, what do we need to keep in mind during a merger? Which would be better received by staff - a Friday or Tuesday as a day to observe a holiday? If you have an employee requesting to move from full-time to part-time, do you a…

1
Something Illegal Brewing at Starbucks 55:16

6M ago55:16

55:16

Who ordered the Venti Peppermint Mocha Latte topped with discouraging of union activity? Anyone? In today’s story, Chuck and John ‘spill the beans’ on a an issue that ‘brewed’ among a group of employees at Starbucks. This story goes into the ripple effects that can spread when basic communication breaks down and employees have collective issues wit…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! Prioritize, Performance Evaluations, and PTO 23:03

6M ago23:03

23:03

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: As a new HR Team of One, where do I start? What would you do if an employee uses PTO suddenly, then silently quits? Would you pay out the time off? What is HR’s role in performance evaluations? Do owner partners count toward your total employee c…

1
What Employees Want 55:27

6M ago55:27

55:27

We’ve all had those days at work where we just can’t give 100%. Maybe we were staying up late to watch the end of the big game. Maybe we had trouble finding childcare for the week. Whatever the reason, there are guaranteed times that employees will struggle with stress and other negative factors that impact overall work production. How can we take …

1
From the Vault: Accommodation Fails - All he wanted was to be treated equally 26:04

6M ago26:04

26:04

Today, the team dips into the vault and resurfaces an episode from 2020. See how UPS could have avoided big legal trouble by following accommodation procedures. When a deaf employee was required to attend meets, leadership tried to find every way around hiring an interpreter. Revisit the importance of ADA and how to properly accommodate individuals…

1
Age and Generation Discrimination 55:04

6M ago55:04

55:04

"Okay, Boomer! Turn those hearing aids up and listen in." Even when said in jest, statements like these can easily create a situation of age or generational discrimination. In today’s episode, Chuck and John dive into stories of employees who have felt discriminated against due to their age, whether through comments, application processes, or press…

1
HR Q&A - We Answer Listener Questions! Requests, Referrals, and I-9 Forms 18:37

7M ago18:37

18:37

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: I got fired and now my ex-boss is asking for the whereabouts of important files. How should I respond? What do you do when asked for a reference? Would you require a new I-9 to be completed if there’s an incorrect document number? Support the Sho…

1
It Ain't Funny Creating a Hostile Work Environment 53:03

7M ago53:03

53:03

What do you get when you cross a comedian with a hostile work environment? Today’s story! When a complaint comes out against people on the Jimmy Fallon staff of The Tonight Show, people’s assumptions of it being a fun, positive place to work are challenged. The internal teams at NBC are challenged with the task of addressing issues with a lead pers…

1
HR Q&A - We Answer Listener Questions! Grumbling employees, PIPs, and Heavy Burdens 17:47

7M ago17:47

17:47

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today's episode goes into these questions: I have an employee who consistently makes comments that they aren’t getting the OT they are used to getting and the lack of consistent hours (being they get 37 and not 40 plus). These comments are harming them personally (how people are perceivin…

1
"You don't get to tell me how to do my F_ _ _ ING job!" said the boss. An NLRA Section 7 and 8 Story. 59:09

7M ago59:09

59:09

When a Pittsburg pizzeria’s kitchen staff raised a number of complaints about working conditions, they felt repeatedly unheard. After a heated exchange...and references to Nation Labor Relations Act Section 7 and 8 (NLRA) the fallout of the situation landed in the courts. Pulled from court documents, The Team digs deep into this story and breaks it…

1
HR Q&A - We Answer Listener Questions! Personal, Documentation, and Policy Hygiene 19:53

8M ago19:53

19:53

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode goes into these questions: Is it HR's Responsibility to address personal hygiene in the workplace? If an employee does not follow through on providing necessary paperwork from a doctor for a service animal, what is the employer’s role in that situation? What should be incl…

1
We are all Employees (Part 2) - Stories about Employee Rights that Managers and HR Pros Need to Remember 1:00:30

8M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Part 2 of our Employee Rights Series, Chuck and John dive further into how understanding employee rights can not only help your company avoid legal troubles but also improve employee retention. In one case, Amazon had exposed their employees to ergonomic hazards on an ongoing basis. When a situation like this is realized by an employee, what steps …

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! Establishing Policies 21:02

8M ago21:02

21:02

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode goes into these questions: How do you properly calculate travel pay for hourly employees? How do you communicate policies that are not in the employee handbook? Looking for direction on bereavement policies - do you offer pre-death (hospice care) leave, leave for the death…

1
We are all Employees (Part 1) - Stories about Employee Rights that Managers and HR Pros Need to Remember 49:46

8M ago49:46

49:46

Have you heard that you can get in trouble for discussing wages with other employees? This intimidation practice can not only be stressful or infringe upon employee rights but also illegal. There are a number of ways that employers can violate employee rights and this is part one of a two-part series all about those rights. It’s important to rememb…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! How far do we investigate? 27:34

9M ago27:34

27:34

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode goes into these questions: We have a full-time employee who is not reaching his minimum of 32 hours a week. What should we do if his leadership doesn’t have enough work for him? There is a department at my company that has loud cursing all day long. Is it considered a host…

1
Unveiling Shadows: A Tale of Third-Party Sexual Harassment 41:52

9M ago41:52

41:52

When a business decides to work with a vendor or other third party that is not an employee, they still must protect their employees from inappropriate or unlawful actions from those third parties. In today's episode learn what happened when a Manager for UPS in Boulder, Colorado turns down the advances of her Union Rep. Chuck and John also tell a c…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! FMLA Notes and Accommodations, Potential Age Discrimination, Leave of Absence Procedures 13:41

9M ago13:41

13:41

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode goes into these questions: We have an employee on FMLA who has been released back to work after surgery in about a month. Do we need to request a more current doctor's note closer to the return date or will the original note suffice? The employee is asking for an accommoda…

1
From the Vault: The Story of the Lost Employee - Onboarding and Orientation 31:05

9M ago31:05

31:05

In today's episode, we take a trip back to 2020 to revisit one of our most popular episodes - The Story of the Lost Employee. You only get one shot at a first impression and nowhere can that be felt more than the very first day at a new job. From unclear directions to stale information, there is a multitude of ways to have your new employee leaving…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! Paid Undue Money, Exit and Stay Interviews, and Fire Drills 20:21

10M ago20:21

20:21

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode dives into several interesting questions: I left my former employer but they never termed me in their system. They ended up paying me wages on this payroll that I'm not entitled to. I've contacted the CFO and they have not gotten back to me. What do I do? How are you curre…

1
The Story of the Night Workers: Paying all Employees Right 49:34

10M ago49:34

49:34

Have you had that nightmare where you’re locked into your office and can’t get out? You check all of the doors and everywhere you go, you’re locked in and have no choice but to keep working. For a team at Home Depot doing overnight work, this was a reality. On top of the safety concerns with this, there were also violations of their break times occ…

1
Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions! Refusing to Work with opposite sex, Bringing someone out of their shell, Switching an employee to non-exempt 16:20

10M ago16:20

16:20

Welcome to another Listener Q&A with The Team at HR Stories! Today’s episode dives into several interesting questions How do you deal with an employee who refuses to work alone with a member of the opposite sex citing religious convictions? Any ideas how to bring an admin out of her shell? I hesitate to use the word anti-social, but I'm at my wits …

1
"I’m Going to Run You Over with this Forklift" - An Intense Tale of Sexual Harassment 51:27

10M ago51:27

51:27

When an employee consistently makes harassing comments and even threatens violence against another coworker, this company made missteps in responding and properly stepping in. In the HR News segment, the team touches on the following topics and more: E-Verify and I-9 requirements EEOC newly released sexual harassment guidelines EEOC weighing in on …

1
Listener Q&A...We Answer Your Questions! - Remote Workers, FMLA, and Age Discrimination, Oh My! 17:32

10M ago17:32

17:32

Welcome to the first Listener Q&A episode! Today, Chuck and John take on a batch of listener questions: How do you deal with an employee who refuses to work alone with a member of the opposite sex citing religious convictions? Any ideas how to bring an Admin out of her shell? I hesitate to use the word anti-social, but I'm at my wits end trying to …

1
The HR Stories Podcast Trailer 3:11

11M ago3:11

3:11

The Team at HR Stories is on a mission to help small business owners, non-profit leaders, and HR Professionals create better employee management practices. We do this through stories. In each episode of the HR Stories Podcast, management and HR consultants John Thalheimer and Chuck Simikian share stories where organizational leaders allowed poor de…

1
Spreading Sickness: The New Work Pandemic 35:48

11M ago35:48

35:48

You're sitting at your desk and the person next to you sneezes. A Few moments later, another sneeze, followed by the blowing of their nose. You start hearing some coughs thrown into the mix. We've all been in that position when we see someone in the office while they're under the weather, wishing they had stayed home rather than getting everyone el…

1
Pregnancy Discrimination Supreme Court Ruling - Geduldig vs Aiello - the ORIGINAL Pregnancy Supreme Court Case That Changed HR 56:15

11M ago56:15

56:15

Sylvia Aiello, was a pregnant woman who sought disability benefits under the California State Disability Insurance program. However, the program excluded coverage for pregnancy-related disabilities. Aiello argued that this exclusion violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The state, represented by Michael N. Geduldig, defe…

1
Did you get that signature? The High cost of NOT getting your I-9s right. 52:10

12M ago52:10

52:10

You get a knock at the door. Your heart is beating in your ears. You knew this day could come but you weren’t sure when. You approach the door, hand trembling to open it. Then you see the government officials asking you for I-9 documents! This doesn’t have to turn into a horror movie. In today’s episode, Chuck and John discuss the importance of I-9…

1
The AI in HR 44:13

12M ago44:13

44:13

“Hello! I'm ChatGPT, an AI language model trained to answer questions and provide information. As an AI myself, I believe that the use of AI in Human Resources has the potential to revolutionize the industry and bring many benefits, but it is important to approach it with caution and ethical considerations.” That message above was provided by one o…

1
Overcoming the HR Time Suck 53:11

12M ago53:11

53:11

You start out your day with a list of to-do’s. First, you start checking your emails. Then another colleague stops by and asks you to take a look at a document for them. A phone call comes in asking about a new upcoming project and a projected budget to be put together. A task, another, and another all pop up throughout the day and all of a sudden,…

1
Constructive Discharge: Constructing a Potential Lawsuit for your Company 54:04

1y ago54:04

54:04

Retaliation is a known issue when an employee reports a problem but did you know that indirect action to create an environment that would push someone out of the workplace has its own name? In this episode, Chuck and John talk about Constructive Discharge - how it can happen and how to avoid a lawsuit by preventing it. In the HR News segment, the t…

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