Miller-Merrell delivers an inspiring message for HR: “Be the change you want to see and challenge those around you to be inclusive and supportive.” HR has a critical role to play in workplace wellness, including leaning into conversations about domestic violence. “Normalize these topics,” she says and create systems to get employees what they need. Swapnil Prabha, Vice President of Workforce Wellness Solutions at Unum Group, moderates the discussion. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning...
Dec 07, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Tune in to hear Boese review his 15 years at the HR Tech conference and the innovative ideas he’s seeing at this year’s Pitchfest, where startups bring new ideas to the fore. According to Boese, one of the top challenges for HR in 2024 is embracing technology more meaningfully. “AI can’t teach us how to love,” he says, so we must find ways to use technology while preserving the human touch. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR ...
Dec 06, 2023•8 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Schooling takes listeners into the macro-level conversations she’s hearing at this year’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition. HR practitioners are finally showing more interest in technology, she says, but they must keep exploring ways to effectively and responsibly use those tools. Those who don’t may get left behind in 2024. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition , held October 10–1...
Dec 06, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 36
How can we modernize outdated performance management processes? Listen as Aitken discusses strategies to improve employee performance and in turn strengthen the performance of the company. One example: equipping managers with the tools to become more effective coaches. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition , held October 10–13 in Las Vegas. Listen as HR Trends host Clare Morin and others in...
Dec 05, 2023•16 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Listen in as Bussing discusses pay equity and the gender gap. She shares advice from her conference session about looking at the work — comparing “skills, effort, responsibility and working conditions” — to get the pay right. To help employees thrive in 2024, she says, HR pros need to be more efficient and intentional. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition , held October 10–13 in Las Vegas....
Dec 05, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Fresh off his standing-room-only talk at the Workday Rising and HR Tech conference session, Lappin explores the real-time data integrations offered to Workday customers through Unum Total Leave and Unum HR Connect. Tune in to hear how the constantly changing workforce and complex compliance landscape have increased the importance of employee leave in 2024. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposit...
Dec 04, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Hear Zalis talk about the five dimensions of a well-rounded life and how to protect those “slices of the pie” to succeed in work and at home. Learn about “life-stage accommodation” and why it is so important for employers to offer inclusive policies that show empathy and care. “When purpose meets passion,” Zalis tells HR, “you are unstoppable.” Chelsea Lugiano, Customer Engagement Manager at Unum Group, moderates the discussion. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast stu...
Dec 04, 2023•10 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Every HR organization is undergoing perpetual transformation. “We live in a world where change is no longer the enemy — it has to be the strategy,” Averbook says. “Building an agile muscle is a mindset HR has to have in 2024.” Listen as he explains how tools like generative AI can help us rethink everything we do if we’re ready to “perpetually unlearn.” Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition...
Dec 01, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 31
With five generations in the workforce, HR teams are grappling with how best to support their diverse employees. Tune in to hear Youssef share advice for fostering authentic, meaningful connections that will help employees thrive as well as ways to better support women in the workforce. Swapnil Prabha, Vice President of Workforce Wellness Solutions at Unum Group, moderates the discussion. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Te...
Dec 01, 2023•10 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Listen to Achille discuss this year’s Women in HR Tech Summit and how it has evolved to include broader diversity topics, such as pay equity and inclusion. With today’s multigenerational workforce, Achille says inclusion and belonging should be a major focus for HR in 2024. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition , held October 10–13 in Las Vegas. Listen as HR Trends host Clare Morin and othe...
Nov 30, 2023•11 min•Season 2Ep. 29
“People are struggling,” says Dr. Conrad. “IQ is down since the ‘70s; emotional intelligence has been going down; chronic conditions are on the rise. We need to figure this out because these are our people, our employees, our customers.” Hear why he believes HR needs to get more sophisticated at understanding people on an individual level.Erin Casey, Vice President of Platform Partnerships at Unum Group, moderates the discussion. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast st...
Nov 30, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Along with Polly Nicholas, Senior Vice President of Unum Solutions at Unum Group, Williams explores the challenges HR will face in 2024, including the multigenerational workforce, burnout, and how “40% of employees can’t come up with $400 today.” He urges HR to be bold: “We can’t go in the boardroom meek; we need to go in with ROI and a point of view.” Listen to learn about HR tech solutions that help meet this mandate. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on th...
Nov 29, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Organizations change every 90 days, says Stelzner, and transparency and consistency will be key to helping employees thrive in 2024. If organizations are open about what they do and don’t know, who they are and who they aspire to be, employees can self-direct and HR can enable. Listen to learn how HR can lean into leadership this coming year. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition , held Oct...
Nov 29, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 26
With generative AI and cutting-edge technology, HR professionals have an opportunity to reimagine the world of work for future generations. However, Von Bank believes HR professionals must first change their mindset and become business transformation agents. Listen as she reflects on emerging technology and how HR can lead a revolution to fuel change. Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exposition ,...
Nov 28, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 25
According to Harris, the most important question for 2024 is “Do we have the data?” Hear about Sapient Insight Group’s newest research and why Harris believes transformational leave management is a key HR priority this coming year. “Don’t just do change management,” she says, “manage the change. Employees are burning out. Give your executives a reality check.” Unum took its Gartner Marketing Award-winning HR Trends podcast studio on the road (again) to the 2023 HR Technology Conference & Exp...
Nov 28, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Clare Morin speaks to Jenn Lim, bestselling author and speaker known for her work on happiness and workplace well-being, and Swapnil Prabha, Vice President of Workforce Wellness Solutions at Unum Group focusing on employee benefits and mental health. They discuss topics related to authentic leadership, mental health and workplace well-being. Authentic Leadership: Lim emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership in today's working world. She defines authentic leadership as being true to one'...
Oct 09, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Curt Burghardt and Denise Ferguson , Unum HR leaders and people analytics experts, explore how real-time data connectivity with leave and absence information transforms efficiency, transparency and downstream processes for employers managing leave in Workday.® People analytics is more than just basic reporting. [03:49] Real-time connectivity simplifies leave processes. [06:42] Simplicity saves time and creates a better experience. [08:33] Connectivity helps solve the challenge of intermittent le...
Sep 18, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 22
New research from LIMRA and EY shows that workplaces have reached a “generational tipping point.” Millennials and Gen Z employees now make up the majority of the workforce — and are on pace to constitute 60% by 2031.1 These younger workers (42 years old and under) have different benefit preferences from the Baby Boomers and Gen X cohorts for whom benefits have traditionally been designed, and greater needs when it comes to benefits education and enrollment. LIMRA’s Kimberly Landry joined John St...
Aug 24, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Two new reports illustrate that employee expectations are high and getting higher. A March 2023 Unum survey shows that 87% of employers recognize that their employees expect more from them in terms of care and understanding.1 And the latest “BEAT” study from LIMRA shows that employees overwhelmingly value paid time off and other leave and insurance benefits, even more than flexible work schedules.2 In this episode, two of the foremost U.S. leave experts — Unum’s Ellen McCann and Angel Bennett — ...
Jun 13, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Megan Rapinoe is the captain of the U.S. National Women's Soccer Team, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion. On March 2, she was named in TIME’s 2023 Women of the Year list of extraordinary leaders working toward a more equal world. In this episode, Megan joins Unum leave expert Ellen McCann for a frank and lively discussion on pay equity, inclusive leave policies and other ways employers can demonstrate care for employees facing challenging times. The call to “be more.” Afte...
Mar 08, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Belonging is one of the most important aspects of the employee experience in today’s world of work. We talk to two powerful HR leaders, Khady Gaye of United Airlines and Kimberly Bowen of Unum, on how you can help create a culture of genuine care.
Jan 26, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Leave has never been more important to employees than it is right now. But HR has also never had more on its plate. Listen as Unum leave experts discuss the policies, practices and technology that can make the difference between a best-in-class employee leave experience and one that misses the mark, putting your attraction and retention efforts at risk. · A perfect storm. Rising employee expectations, a tough labor market and increasing legal complexity are creating a perfect storm for leave man...
Dec 09, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Employee benefits have taken a huge leap in importance, according to two new studies from the insurance-industry research group LIMRA. Listen as LIMRA’s Kelly Landry and Unum Group’s Cindy Nevers discuss five mega trends expected to change the industry – and enrollment tips for employers to implement now. The full reports are available to LIMRA members, and previewed in this special episode for HR Trends listeners. The studies: The first annual BEAT (Benefits and Employee Attitude) Tracker study...
Oct 17, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 16
The HR Tech conference is no longer about the latest gadget – it’s about the end results. Listen as Steve discusses how businesses can draw a straight line from employee well-being to increased productivity, talent retention and absenteeism reduction – with programs and software that create huge impacts for employees and their families alike. He also discusses what’s next for HR tech in 2023.
Oct 10, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 15
“Employee leave needs to be revolutionized,” says Ellen McCann. Listen to this acclaimed national thought leader as Amanda Neely presents some key questions employers have about leave. We cover the vital importance of employee education, how digital access allows employees to do their own scenario planning, and how tech opens up holistic experiences like lactation rooms and mental health support.
Oct 10, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Jess believes we currently have an opportunity to remake work on more equitable terms. Employers need to remove barriers for people – working moms being a prime example – instead of always demanding that people overcome those barriers. She believes gender and race pay gaps should be considered corporate criminal behavior. And why does she says technology by itself is not the solution? Listen to find out.
Oct 10, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Burnout is at epidemic levels in the U.S. and innovative companies are tackling this problem head-on. Adam – a winner of the HR Tech Product of the Year – discusses the deeply personal stories that led to his company’s creation. “Time off hasn’t been touched in decades,” he says. “There has to be a better way to optimize and utilize it.” Listen to find out how is AI being leveraged to improve employee experience.
Oct 10, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Why is an insurance carrier at Workday Rising? Rich and Polly relate how Unum was the first carrier to become a software partner with Workday®, allowing the two systems to directly exchange data in real time without file feeds. Listen to learn how Unum HR Connect helps Workday users reclaim time spent on benefits administration, leave management and evidence of insurability.
Oct 10, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 14
As a talent expert, Tim weighs in on the high level of venture capital investment being directed at HR tech and what it means for the future of attracting and retaining employees. Listen to hear him discuss why HR needs to improve quantitative success metrics and devise new ways to access and develop talent in a labor shortage that is not going away anytime soon.
Oct 10, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Swapnil stops by to talk about keeping people at the heart of HR tech. She discusses how Unum’s Behavioral Health solution centers people by being a full lifecycle solution meant for those anywhere on the mental health spectrum. And she talks about the grit HR leaders will need as the new normal of work becomes more defined. Listen to learn more.
Oct 10, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 7
