What The Hell Just Happened?!

How to Lose a Great Employee

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Discover why talented employees often find themselves in management positions for which they might not be suited and the unintended consequences that can arise from such decisions. Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson sit down to dissect the reasons behind these common practices, shedding light on the importance of recognizing different skill sets essential for effective management. Whether you're running a burgeoning startup or steering a large enterprise, understanding the Peter Principle and how to navigate its challenges is key to building a resilient and thriving work environment. Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge to make smarter, more effective managerial decisions.

Don't Poison Your Employees

Recently, Dairy Queen was in the news because one of their manager's "corrective action" sent people to the hospital. As managers, sometimes, actually fixing the issue is something we all want to avoid for one reason or another - let's be honest, it can be exhausting (especially if it's an issue you've already addressed a million times). Getting through to your employees is hard, and we're all human. The most important thing to remember (other than the fact that poisoning your employees is NOT the way to go) is that you need to keep your emotional response in check and, as we always say, attack the problem, not the person. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to hear Paul Edwards and Jennie McLaughlin talk about facing employee challenges head-on. 

Free Treatment: And I Have to Pay My Employees?

For this week’s episode, we are doing a re-release of one of our favorites (and one that is always highly requested!) Giving your employees in-house treatment as a benefit of employment is common, and a great way to increase employee retention! However, there are a lot of things to consider, especially when it comes to billing and how insurance carriers see things. Listen when Harley Hartliep and Paul Edwards sit down and talk about it in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!

Employee Wants the Money, Not the Benefit - Just Say No!

Buckle in, managers and owners! It's time for the next "What the Hell Just Happened?!"  In this episode, we answer two questions: one from the more than 10,000 HR questions the experts at CEDR receive each year and the second from one of our listeners. Our first question concerns an employee who corners their manager and wants more money: “Since I don't want or need your health insurance, I want the money, not the benefit.” This happens often, and we discuss why your answer should almost always be a resounding NO! Our second question concerns an employee who keeps making an unemployment claim during scheduled office closures and what the practice can do to prevent them. Keep those questions coming! Send them to podcast@wthjusthappened.com!

My Employee CAN do the Job, but Won't!

All employees fall somewhere on the skill versus will matrix, which is a tool that can help you objectively make tough decisions with employees. You have your ideal employees (those that can and will and those that can't and will), and then you have your less-than-ideal employees (those that can and won't and those that can't and won't). Have you ever stopped to think about where all of your employees land? From there, what to do with those that fall in the less-than-ideal category? Join Paul Edwards and CeCe Wilson in this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! as they go over the skill vs. will matrix and how to decide when it's time to coach, train, or fire, depending on where each employee falls.

You Can’t Pay Employees With a Free Lunch During Lunch & Learns

As your team gets the chance to sit down together and learn about something new during their break, and while eating a yummy lunch that they didn't have to buy, keep in mind the following: being paid for the time during that session isn't just a kindness, it is required by law in all circumstances. If you remember one of our previous episodes called "You Can't Pay People in Chicken," the same principles we discussed apply here! In that situation, Chick-fil-A got in trouble for trying to pay employees with chicken sandwiches, and in this situation, you will too! Sadly, providing lunch as pay, even if you add waffle fries, is a wage and hour violation. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! to hear Paul Edwards and Harley Hartliep go over one of the all too common wage mistakes made and how to avoid them.

”That’s Not My Job!” Let’s Talk About Job Descriptions

Job Descriptions... way more important than a lot of us realize. When you ask an employee to do something and get the "that's not my job" response, what do you do? Your biggest tool that you can use to combat that is a solid and well-thought-out job description! Find out how job descriptions not only play into the culture of your workplace but also how having an improper job description can make your employees' lives more difficult. Listen to this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, which is inspired by a listener-submitted question, to hear Paul Edwards and guest Ally Dagnino talk about the topic of using your job descriptions as a tool to help you manage your employees.

Ask Me Anything - Embezzlement, Kids in the Office, and Sick Leave Laws

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?! Paul Edwards and Jennie McLaughlin answer some listener-submitted questions. For this episode, the questions surround some complex scenarios that every person dealing with HR can relate to. This episode offers practical advice and real-world solutions, from how to handle anonymous tips about employee misconduct (such as embezzlement) to the intricate balance of allowing kids in the workplace. The discussion doesn't stop there – stay tuned for an essential breakdown of recent changes in sick leave laws across various states. Don't miss out – listen now and arm yourself with the knowledge to tackle any HR challenge that comes your way!

Help PREVENT Burnout - Multitasking Has a New Best Friend

Are you always looking for excellent multitaskers when you're hiring? Well, we've got some news for you. Everyone these days is an excellent multitasker, it's almost impossible not to be with how much the world throws at us. What should you be looking for instead? Someone who's a great sequencer! We know, you must be wondering what the heck that even means. Well, let's just say it may be one of the main ways to prevent burnout in the workplace - seriously! Join Paul Edwards, CeCe Wilson, and Amanda Rishor as they discuss the difference between sequencing and multitasking, along with giving guidance on how to find someone who knows how to sequence their tasks (and finding someone who doesn't!)

HR Nightmare - The Cost of Mismanagement

In this week's episode of What the Hell Just Happened?!, Jennie McLaughlin and CeCe Wilson from CEDR HR Solutions highlight a very recent case where the DOL decided not only to fine a practice but also to go after the office manager and fine them personally for $25k in damages! The worst part, it could have been avoided. Whether you're an experienced HR professional or new to managing people, this episode provides valuable lessons in employment law, management best practices, and understanding state-specific regulations. Don't miss out!