When Work Works

Closing the Gap Between AI Investment and Adoption

AI may be moving fast, but adoption is a very different story, especially on the frontline. So what happens when leaders are eager to invest, but employees are still unsure how AI will affect them? In this episode, host Julie Develin sits down with Karina Monesson and Marcus Erb of Great Place to Work to explore the real barriers slowing down AI adoption. Together, they discuss the disconnect between executive ambition and employee reality, why peer-to-peer learning and manager behavior matter so much, and what organizations need to do to make AI feel useful rather than threatening. From governance to psychological safety and frontline relevance, this conversation gets to the heart of what it takes to turn AI from a company initiative into something in the hands of employees.

How to Develop Impactful Frontline Managers

If frontline managers are responsible for some of the most important moments in the employee experience, and the consequences of poor management are significant, then the question is clear: What is your organization doing to develop managers right now? In this episode, host Julie Develin is joined by Sharlyn Lauby, writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of HR Bartender, for a conversation about what frontline managers really need to succeed. Together, they unpack why management and leadership are not the same thing, how communication shapes trust and performance, and why conflict management, problem solving, and change navigation are essential frontline skills. They also explore what organizations can do to better support manager development, from stronger onboarding to peer learning. So if you are ready to kick-start your manager development program, listen to this first.  Read UKG’s newest white paper on training frontline managers HERE [https://www.ukg.com/learn/resources/white-paper/training-frontline-managers-four-critical-skills-success]

Building a Business Case for Workforce Tech That Scales

How do you know when it’s the right time to invest in workplace technology? If you’ve been asking yourself that question, When Work Works has answers, plus a surprising tool that can help you build the case. In this episode, host Julie Develin is joined by Dr. Leslie Hardin, Chief Operating and Human Resources Officer at KC CARE Health Center, and Trevor White of Nucleus Research, an expert in measuring the ROI of workplace technology. Together, they break down the real impact of adopting workforce tech, how to get buy-in at all levels of the organization, and finally, the influential stories data can unlock.  For both Trevor and Leslie, the heart of the story is managing change, discovering your team’s biggest time vampires, and then bringing in technology where it stands to make the biggest impact. And the return on investment? It just might make your finance team very happy. If you’re considering a workplace technology purchase, press play, because your roadmap starts here. Find UKG’s Value Estimator here [https://www.ukg.com/products/small-business/estimator].

Operating in Real Time: The New Blueprint for Frontline Efficiency

Frontline teams can’t run efficiently on effort alone. So what happens when leaders do not have the visibility they need to make the right decisions at the right time? In this episode, host Julie Develin sits down with Jaronika Dancy, Manager of HRIS Operations at Amsted Industries, and Mike St. Clair, Chief Operating Officer of Wheel at Amsted Rail, to unpack the real reasons frontline efficiency breaks down and what it takes to build it back in a sustainable way. Together, they discuss why leadership and insight matter as much as output, how burnout, absenteeism, and skill gaps signal deeper operational challenges, and why HR and operations need to work in lockstep to solve them. They also explore the difference between having more data and having the right data, along with the role technology and AI can play in helping leaders act with greater clarity and confidence.

Turning Global Payroll Data into Strategic Advantage

When you look at a balance sheet, company to company, can you guess the single largest common denominator when it comes to cost? Spoiler alert: it’s payroll. Which raises an important question — how can organizations get this critical part of their business right? In this episode, Julie is joined by Dimitris Papageorgiou, Partner and Global Payroll & Workforce Management Lead at KPMG, to explore why payroll is finally moving out of the back office and into the strategic spotlight. Drawing on insights from the KPMG–UKG Global Payroll Survey, Dimitris explains why payroll is no longer just a transactional function, but a critical source of trust, data, and insight across the enterprise. Together, they unpack why organizations continue to struggle with payroll execution despite having “strategies,” and how inefficiencies quietly drain labor spend. If you’re curious about the future of payroll, tune in as Dimitris offers his perspective on whether payroll truly belongs among the C-suite, and what it would take to get it there. Find the KPMG–UKG Global Payroll Survey HERE [https://www.ukg.com/learn/resources/analyst-report/payroll-tipping-point-case-c-suite-elevation?ecid=701Qn00001CC0BOIA1&elqCampaignId=43542&utm_source=Quill&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=cfopayroll&utm_campaign=FY26-SOC-Partner-Global-Payroll-Survey-Report-KPMG].