In episode 193, Coffey talks with Terri Swain about recent HR news items including return-to-office mandates, “illegal DEI”, and whether it is Alt+Ctrl+Delete or Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
They discuss SHRM's report showing significantly higher workplace incivility in companies with return-to-office mandates; challenges with remote work including leadership development and communication skills; the "over-employment" phenomenon where remote workers secretly hold multiple full-time jobs; the Trump administration's position on DEI programs and the EEOC's new guidance; how political affiliation affects hiring decisions; the importance of rebranding DEI efforts while maintaining their core purpose.
Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP193 and include the following topics:
- SHRM: How Return-to-Office Mandates Are Affecting Workplace Civility
- Business Insider: Secretly Working 2 Remote Jobs, RTO Could Hurt Overemployment - Business Insider
- HR Dive: EEOC Outlines How DEI Might Be ‘Unlawful’
- HR Morning ‘Illegal DEI’ Explained: 12 Warnings in New EEOC Guidance
- EEOC: What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work
- EEOC: What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work
- Reddit: [OR] Not Hiring Trump Supporters
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About our Guest:
Terri is the founder and Chief Truth Seeker with DecipHR a Fort Worth based, human resources consulting firm specializing in Equal Employment Opportunity investigations, employee relations and interim HR leadership. The company was founded in 2022 after the sale of her 24 year old company, The HR Consultant in 2021.
DecipHR has a nationwide and diverse client base, specializing in solving complex employee relations issues and providing interim HR leadership to growing companies. Prior to her consulting role, she had Fortune 200 human resource leadership experience in the areas of employee relations, human resource planning, and training and development.
Terri began her career in human resources via government compliance as an investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In her spare time, she enjoys a good book, a brisk walk, loud live music and travel to new places.
Terri Swain can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terriswain
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate return-to-office policies based on business needs rather than blanket mandates.
- Implement performance management systems that effectively monitor productivity regardless of work location.
- Develop inclusive workplace initiatives that comply with legal requirements and meet business objectives