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Faces of HR: How Annie Drapeau is Engineering Success at Ascend Learning

From the trading floors of JPMorgan to the cutting edge of biotech at Moderna, Annie Drapeau has spent three decades proving that the secret to business performance isn’t just in the numbers—it’s in the people. Now, as the CHRO of Ascend Learning, a healthcare and learning technology company, she’s using her unique background in finance […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: How NASCAR Uses Employee Listening to Drive Performance

In a world where many are questioning the future of DEI, NASCAR is doubling down on a different approach: radical honesty. During a recent panel on “Building Belonging Without Backlash,” Tyrese Manigault, Senior Manager of Employee Engagement at NASCAR, shared how the organization uses “We Engage”—a core part of their performance strategy—to foster a true culture […]

When is Travel Time Compensable?

Q: Our technicians travel to different jobsites with company-provided vehicles, and they don’t typically drive to a central company location but rather drive from site to site and then home at the end of the day. Is the travel time to the first worksite and then back home at the end of the day compensable, […]

Failure: The Secret Sauce of Gen AI Strategy 

Generative AI rewards those who embrace constant iteration. Instead of fearing errors, treat them as essential data. Every strange output reveals how the system thinks, providing the edge you need to master the tool.   AI offers the rocket fuel that propels innovation forward and enables organizations and teams to overcome challenges and manage risks. This is especially true […]

EntertainHR: The NFL’s Real Offseason was at the Bargaining Table 

While most of the football-loving world was busy analyzing free agency and the new draft class, the most impactful event of the summer took place at the collective bargaining table when the National Football League (“NFL) and the NFL Referees Association (“NFLRA”) reached agreement on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that will run through […]

ICE Updates I-9 Inspection Guidance

Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made unannounced changes to their Form I-9 inspection guidance. Employers are required to verify the identity and employment authorization for all employees through the completion of the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as outlined in 8 U.S. Code §1324a, employers can be […]

HRDA Frankly Speaking: Stop Leading on Autopilot

Sarah Devereaux, HCI Leadership Coach and Advisor, and former Head of Executive Development at Google, highlighted an unexpected visual during her SPARK HR session: a racehorse wearing blinders. Blinders help a horse run fast and stay focused, but they strip away its natural 360-degree vision—the very thing it needs to sense threats and survive. How […]

Why “Build Your Own Benefits” Is Reshaping Total Rewards Strategies

Employers have made meaningful strides in expanding benefits in recent years, from IVF and menopause-related care to adoption support. Yet even as the range of offerings increases, the underlying structure of employer benefits has remained largely unchanged: standardized plans, fixed packages and limited flexibility for individual needs. At the same time, workforce expectations are becoming […]

Consider These Tips for Complying with EEOC Priorities

Employers would be well-served to review their policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that they are in line with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) current focus and priorities.  Pay Attention to EEOC’s Targets The watch words of “equity versus equality” underpin the EEOC’s targets for enforcement actions. According to official and unofficial statements made […]

Faces of HR: How Kim Marsh is Rebuilding the Blueprint for Modern Hiring

Hiring is no longer just about finding a resume that fits; it’s about solving complex, cross-border puzzles in real-time. For Kim Marsh, the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Pebl, this is where she thrives. Known for stepping into high-pressure environments and instantly creating clarity, Marsh has made a career out of leading talent functions […]