The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show

#93 - Unmasking RTO Motives & Social Media Bias - Presented by CalendarPA

Welcome to Episode 93 of The HR Morning Show, part of the Purple Acorn Network! In this packed episode, hosts Joel Lalgee, Danielle Farage, and Serge Boudreau pull back the curtain on the real motivations behind five-day return-to-office (RTO) mandates, exposing how executive ego and "CEO groupthink" often overrule data-driven productivity metrics. The team also breaks down the heavy legal and compliance implications of highly subjective corporate social media policies, using a recent high-profile lawsuit involving an Alaska Airlines flight attendant to highlight how inconsistent disciplinary enforcement can trigger costly Title VII discrimination claims. Later in the broadcast, the hosts dive into a fascinating discussion on technical architecture and scaling operations with industry veteran Alan Seales, Founder and CTO of the Broadway Podcast Network and the creator behind the AI-first scheduling platform CalendarPA.com. Seales shares his journey from managing a performance-and-compensation review system for over 180,000 employees at Google to building an enterprise-grade AI assistant that aims to eradicate the interview-scheduling "black hole" for talent acquisition teams. To round out the morning, Serge delivers a special weather report detailing LinkedIn’s new Creator Marketplace ecosystem and its potential to revolutionize brand-to-creator connections across the professional network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#92 - Court Blocks $100K H-1B Fee, a Massive Win for Skilled Talent - Presented by CalendarPA

Hosts Serge Boudreau and Dan Riley tackle the massive legal and technological shifts disrupting the workforce in mid-2026. The episode kicks off with two major headline stories. First, the team breaks down the recent nationwide block of a $100K H-1B fee, which a federal court struck down as an unconstitutional tax—delivering immediate relief to tech, healthcare, and higher education employers. Next, they dive into "The Great Regret," exploring a new report revealing that 55% of employers regret their AI-driven layoffs, with nearly a third quietly rehiring human workers after automated systems failed to manage complex workflows and triggered costly public relations crises. The core of the episode features a deep-dive interview with Chris Russell, the Founder of RecTech Media and the "Mad Scientist of Online Recruiting". Chris brings his extensive expertise to the table to discuss the erosion of traditional job search widgets in favor of conversational ChatGPT-driven interfaces, the flaws of rigid Applicant Tracking System (ATS) architectures in talent acquisition analytics, and how federal contractors can navigate OFCCP compliance amidst heightened scrutiny on automated screening tools. He also breaks down why talent attraction must be treated as a marketing function and analyzes the shift toward automated AI sourcing campaigns. Closing out the show, Serge delivers the Weather Report segment, examining the 2026 landscape of Talent Acquisition careers based on recent ERE insights. Sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR, this episode offers a highly tactical look at the balancing act between automation and human judgment in modern HR. Presented by Talent Tech PR and CalendarPA.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#91 - The Deprioritization of SHRM & Uber’s Big HR Overhaul - Presented by CalendarPA.com

In Episode 91 of The HR Morning Show, hosts Adam Posner, Brian Fink, and Robin Schooling break down major structural shifts shaking up the HR profession. The team dives into findings from HR Dive’s 2026 Identity of HR survey, revealing a massive pivot away from traditional credentials like SHRM and HRCI in favor of niche, skills-based certifications in areas like artificial intelligence, executive coaching, and workplace neurodiversity. The headlines segment, featuring guest Trish Steed during the "Talk Nerdy with iCIMS" block, also addresses Uber’s massive operational overhaul—a restructuring push cutting 23% of its People and Places division. Strikingly, Uber explicitly stated that AI was not a factor in these senior-level layoffs, choosing instead to target internal fragmentation while simultaneously rolling back remote-work privileges by enforcing a strict three-day in-office mandate for remaining HR staff. The episode's guest lineup provides deep operational and recruitment insights, starting with Brittany Truszkowski, who explains why organizational dysfunction is an operational warning sign rather than a personality problem, urging growing companies to audit their people and systems instead of just their numbers. Next, JJ Owen of the Skilled Careers Coalition challenges traditional talent acquisition methods by discussing how community, narrative, and hands-on mentorship are capturing Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Highlighting data from a successful @SkillsJam TikTok pilot that generated over 466,000 career-exploration visits, Owen argues that America doesn't have a worker shortage but a connection shortage, proving that HR must leverage platforms like TikTok and YouTube to meet the next generation at the point of career formation. Sponsored by CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR, this episode underscores the vital role of employer branding as a corporate necessity for modern talent acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#90 - Why Remote Work (Not AI) is Killing Entry-Level Hiring - Presented by CalendarPA.com

Hosts Mike Peditto and Ron Fish dive deep into the seismic shifts currently reshaping global talent networks. The episode kicks off with a critical look at a landmark Oxford working paper that turns popular AI narratives on their head, proving that remote and hybrid work structures—not automation—are driving the massive collapse in entry-level hiring. The hosts also break down the stark reality of the tech sector's "May Mayhem," exploring how over 28,000 workforce reductions in May 2026 alone point to a deliberate capital shift from traditional headcount to AI-driven infrastructure. The guest lineup brings heavy-hitting tactical strategy to the table. U.S. Marine turned multi-unit operator Justin Henshaw joins the show to discuss his frontline workforce management platform, GAGE, highlighting why traditional corporate ecosystems fail hourly workers. Later, management defense attorney Leah Stiegler joins Ron to untangle a web of high-stakes HR legal landmines. Stiegler delivers expert frameworks on building compliance around multi-jurisdictional "Fair Chance" hiring laws, shifting to active impairment saliva screenings over traditional cannabis testing, and rooting out toxic leadership before it triggers EEOC claims. The show wraps up with a unique look at the talent pipeline, featuring a weather report from Serge on why this summer's teen job market is shaping up to be the toughest in decades. Sponsored by Talent Tech PR and CalendarPA.com, this episode is an absolute must-watch for talent acquisition leaders and HR executives trying to navigate modern recruitment fraud, workplace political friction, and evolving employment laws. Make sure to visit our sponsors, CalendarPA.com and Talent Tech PR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

#89 - The 5-Day Office Mandate & The $42,000HR Compensation Disconnect - Presented by CalendarPA.com

Serge Boudreau [https://www.linkedin.com/in/serge-boudreau-861b267/] and Ron Fish [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronfish/] break down the shifting dynamics of corporate work mandates and a startling compensation reality check within the HR sector. The duo explores how Fortune 100 giants like TikTok and NBC Universal are leveraging strict five-day Return-To-Office (RTO) mandates to quietly trigger voluntary attrition. This corporate shift creates a unique opportunity for agile mid-market employers to weaponize flexibility and poach top-tier talent. Additionally, the hosts address a fascinating "meta" disconnect in the labor market: HR and talent acquisition leaders—the very professionals who design internal salary bands—face a massive $42,000 personal wage gap between their own expectations and current market realities. The episode also features two high-impact guest segments focused on specialized compliance and strategic global growth. Industry expert Kara D Kelley, SPHR, SHRM-SCP [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karadkelley/] joins the show to debunk the myth of the pandemic-driven healthcare hiring crisis, offering a blueprint for navigating multi-state compliance and structuring realistic 90-day onboarding periods for small practices. Later, remote work strategist Tiffany English [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyenglish-offshoring-australia/] discusses how modern global recruitment agencies are leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance, rather than replace, human talent. English shares her "people-first" philosophy on integrating offshore staff into cohesive, high-performing corporate cultures. Rounding out the broadcast, Serge delivers a timely "Weather Report" analyzing how the potential rescheduling of cannabis could impact workplace compliance and drug testing policies. The episode is proudly presented by the Purple Acorn Network and brought to you by marquee sponsors CalendarPA [https://www.linkedin.com/company/calendarpa/] and Talent Tech PR. Listeners can tune into Episode 89 on YouTube, LinkedIn, or any major podcast platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]