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3 Company Culture Strategies From SPARK HR

In an age where only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged at work, HR professionals have the heavy burden of figuring out how to create a company culture that engages employees. After all, an unhappy workforce leads to an unproductive and unsuccessful organization. Business is on the line. However, there are 3 strategies that HR […]

Faces of HR: How MasterClass’s CPO Turned Missteps into HR Masterstrokes

Melanie Steinbach is a driving force in Human Resources (HR), currently serving as CPO of MasterClass and CBO of MasterClass at Work. In this role, she shapes HR strategy and operations, spearheads recruitment, and champions culture initiatives. Her career is marked by a consistent thread: the strategic alignment of talent and business. A Career Forged in […]

Company Culture Is What You Tolerate: Why Consistency Matters More Than Slogans

Most organizations can describe their company culture, but fewer can prove it. Culture isn’t what’s written on a careers page or stated in a company all-hands, but what gets rewarded, ignored, corrected—or tolerated. Culture Lives in the Gray Areas The biggest threat to a healthy culture is inconsistency. When some behaviors are addressed and others […]

Culture Change Champions: Four Leaders Who Transformed Their Workplace

Culture isn’t a document or a mission statement at an organization—it’s how people behave when no one’s watching. Because it’s built over time, reshaping culture can feel like turning a cargo ship: slow, sensitive, and full of resistance. But it can be done. Here are four business leaders who faced the challenge head-on—and came out […]

Phantom Ownership: How to Use Phantom Units to Incentivize Star Employees

Businesses often face the challenge of attracting and retaining star employees. It can be tempting to offer star employees ownership in the business to prevent the hardship of losing star employees after investing time, money, and resources into training and onboarding. The main drawback of offering ownership is potentially relinquishing some control in the business. […]

rewards

Revisiting Your Recognition System? 5 Research-Backed Ways to Make It Actually Work

There are five common pitfalls that prevent well-meaning recognition programs from connecting with employees in meaningful ways. I explore that topic in Part 1 of this article series. Now it’s time to shift gears and explore what does work. Based on decades of research into motivation, emotional needs, and applied neuroscience, these five practices will […]

No Payout Needed If Unlimited PTO Is offered

Q           If we offer unlimited paid time off (PTO) and employees don’t accrue PTO, do we have to pay anything out at termination? Generally, the answer is no, but there is limited case law on this question, and the answer may change based on how the unlimited PTO is administered. Under Colorado and other state laws, […]

Closing the Engineering Skills Gap: Building a Sustainable Workforce

The engineering industry faces a critical challenge. Demand for energy and technology infrastructure solutions is rising, while skilled engineers remain scarce. This nationwide talent shortage risks firms’ ability to meet growing needs, making retention and engagement crucial. Human resources professionals, with support of and in collaboration with company leaders, must implement innovative strategies that go […]

Survey Shows Increase in Workplace Political Conversations

Political conversations at work aren’t new—but they are becoming more common, more complex, and harder to ignore. According to a recent Kickresume survey, nearly half of employees (49%) have noticed an uptick in political discussion at work, with 72% reporting interest in politics overall. The most commonly discussed topics? Taxes, corruption, and economic issues—subjects that […]

Retirement Ready: Building a Better Transition Through HR Leadership

As America’s workforce continues to age, HR leaders face an unprecedented challenge: supporting the psychological well-being of retiring professionals. While most organizations have robust financial preparation programs, retirement’s emotional and psychological dimensions often go unaddressed, leading to significant wellness concerns for retirees. My recent research with senior leaders who successfully navigated retirement transitions reveals a […]