Perks and benefits are nice, but they aren’t enough to retain the best talent. According to Jon Franko, co-founder of Gorilla 76, employees want transparency, growth opportunities, and a culture that supports their lives outside of work. In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte speaks with Jon about how building a culture based on core values and empathy can drive stronger employee retention. Jon shares how his Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis shaped his approach to supporting his team. Key takeaways:How to create a workplace people don’t want to leaveStrategies for building high-trust environments at workWhy HR can steer the organization in the right directionKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Jon Franko(03:13) The MS diagnosis that changed Jon’s leadership perspective(05:00) Hire people better than you(08:41) How Gorilla 76 encourages people to give back(13:53) Transparency that attracts top talent(17:00) Evaluating the impact of your benefits package(21:59) Retention and engagement metrics to trackKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Powerful Benefits of Transparency in Business”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creating-transparency-in-workplaceRead BambooHR’s blog, “Perks At Work: What Benefits Make Your Employees Happy?”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creative-benefit-ideasDownload BambooHR’s guide, “Learn How to Retain Top Talent in 2025”: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/definitive-guide-to-employee-retentionSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfranko/Learn more about Gorilla 76: https://www.gorilla76.com/
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26:57
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26:57
Lee Rubin's Blueprint for Belonging in the Workplace
Building a sense of belonging at work starts with intentional effort. It’s shaped through consistent moments of connection, shared ownership, and a clear focus on community.In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte sits down with Lee Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO of Confetti. They explore practical ways HR leaders can move beyond surface-level engagement and create a stronger culture. Lee shares how to simplify employee participation, support managers in leading culture, and use feedback to show real impact.Key takeaways:How to design engagement that feels personalWhy culture should be owned beyond HRWays to show the business value of connectionKey topics:(01:12) Introducing Lee Rubin(02:41) Common mistakes in engagement strategy(05:03) Rebranding engagement as true belonging(10:26) Revamping engagement ideas for established companies(13:25) Virtual events that build connection(17:19) Connecting burnout to a lack of engagement(21:00) Securing leadership buy-in for engagement(25:08) How better engagement drives business success(29:49) Redefining success for employee programs(32:21) Advice for building a more connected workplaceKey links:Download BambooHR’s guide, “Discover the 10 Best Ways to Measure Employee Engagement”:https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/how-to-measure-employee-engagementDownload BambooHR’s guide, “Are You Experiencing HR Burnout? Know the Signs”:https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/ebooks/hr-burnoutDownload BambooHR’s guide, “HR Company Culture Checklist”:https://www.bamboohr.com/pl-pages/company-culture-checklistSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community:https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubinl/ Learn more about Confetti:https://www.withconfetti.com/
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35:28
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35:28
Replay: How Employee Recognition Impacts Retention, Culture, and Employee Engagement
Words carry weight, and genuine appreciation goes a long way in making people feel valued and motivated.In this replay episode, BambooHR’s Anita Grantham and Vanessa Brulotte chat with Trevor Larson, CEO at Nectar. They discuss how thoughtful recognition fuels employee engagement and helps retain your best talent. Together, they share simple ways to start a recognition program and how to make recognition a natural part of an organization’s culture.Key takeaways:How recognition influences productivity and performanceWhy executive buy-in drives recognition program successWhat your employee recognition program should includeKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Trevor Larson(02:34) The power of employee recognition (07:57) How recognition reduces turnover (13:28) Common challenges in implementing recognition programs(18:23) Recognition 1.0 vs. 2.0(22:05) Getting the executive team to prioritize recognition(27:08) How to show appreciation for remote teams(30:23) Making recognition a consistent habitKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “5 Simple Ways to Make Employee Recognition More Meaningful”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/meaningful-employee-recognitionRead BambooHR’s blog, “How to Celebrate Success: 20+ Creative Employee Recognition Ideas”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/employee-recognition-ideasSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevordegnlarson/
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37:05
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37:05
How to Get the Right People in the Right Seats
Hiring the right people isn’t about luck or gut feelings. It starts with a clear, consistent process and a solid understanding of what success looks like in each role. In this episode, Vanessa Brulotte talks with Jonathan D. Reynolds, CEO of Titus Talent Strategies. They discuss why most hiring efforts fall short and how to define measurable outcomes before bringing someone on board. Jonathan also explains why accountability after the hire matters. Key takeaways:Why your hiring strategies might not be workingThe importance of an objective hiring processHow to address underperformance promptly and fairlyKey topics:(00:00) Introducing Jonathan Reynolds(04:03) Common hiring mistakes companies make(09:45) The head, heart, and briefcase approach (16:23) Who should be accountable for the success of new hires? (21:45) Importance of onboarding and integration in helping employees become successful (27:56) Setting clear expectations for success(32:00) Handling underperformance and difficult decisions(34:25) Define and quantify every role(36:45) Embracing AI while maintaining human connectionKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “How to Build Candidate Profiles for Better Job Descriptions”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/candidate-profilesRead BambooHR’s blog, “Recruit Better Candidates with These Outside-the-Box Ideas”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/creative-recruitment-ideasSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/hrheroesworkspace/shared_invite/zt-21ad3f1r8-dkWC2EdmyhxUAHw9cGLdQwBambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanreynolds/ Read Jonathan’s Book, Right Seats, Right People: A Leader's Guide to Hiring and Developing Top Performers: https://www.amazon.com/Right-Seats-People-Developing-Performers/dp/1642256404 Learn more about Titus Talent Strategies: https://www.titustalent.com/
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41:54
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41:54
How to Intentionally Map Your Career and Growth in HR
Many of us fall into our roles without actively planning our career paths. But just because you’re in a role today doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever. In this episode of HR Unplugged, host Vanessa Brulotte is joined by returning guest Kelsey Tarp, Director of HR Business Partners at BambooHR, and executive coach Maria Kyriakos. Together, they discuss how HR professionals can take control of their career growth and mindfully plan their next steps.They share valuable insights on how to spot when you’re off track, the importance of experimenting in your career, and how to make bold moves even if you’re unsure of the next step. It’s never too late to pivot, and this episode will help you take the reins of your growth.Key takeaways:How to align career growth with personal and professional goalsTips for pivoting your career at any stageWays to build a diverse skill set Key topics:(00:00) Introducing Kelsey Tarp & Maria Kyriakos(05:18) Reflecting on what excites you at work(09:51) One-way or two-way door decisions(12:48) Growing faster through actionable feedback(17:30) Self-leadership and limiting beliefs(21:33) How to advocate for yourself at work (28:48) Assessing your goals and current situation(34:16) Spotting opportunities for growth(37:57) Benefits of lateral career transitions(41:12) Using reflection to move forward with purposeKey links:Read BambooHR’s blog, “4 Simple Steps for Better Employee Development Plans”: https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/employee-development-plansSubscribe to HR Unplugged Series: https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/podcasts/hr-unplugged/Join HR Heroes Slack Community: https://www.bamboohr.com/about-bamboohr/customers/hr-community/BambooHR Homepage: https://www.bamboohr.com/Connect with Kelsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseytarp/ Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-kyriakos/ Read Maria’s Book, Work it!: How to Rock Your Career Intentionally: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Rock-Your-Career-Intentionally/dp/B0DRHTXSKZVisit the Leader Assist website and sign up for their newsletter: https://leader-assist.com/
HR Unplugged is a show for HR and business leaders unafraid to ask the tough questions needed to tackle the competing challenges posed by today’s complex global economy. Each highly interactive episode will feature unfiltered conversations with HR professionals answering the most pressing questions in people leadership — including many sent in by listeners like you. Whether you’re seeking to re-engage your workers, navigate social justice issues, or simply learn the secrets to competitive pay — if you care about your people, you’ll find a home in our community.
New Zealand