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Rethinking the Modern Workforce with Freelancers, Gig Workers, and Consultants

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s businesses face faster timelines and shifting skill needs, flexible talent has become a core part of the modern workforce — not a backup plan. Sunita Solao, CPO of Upwork, the freelance marketplace to hire top talent, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-SCP, to unpack what that shift means for HR pros, how organizations can use flexible talent strategically, and why freelancers and contractors are rewriting the rules of talent planning

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nbsp; This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires January 1, 2

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Building a Better Employee Handbook

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pdating your employee handbook isn’t just about compliance — it’s about connection. With major workplace law changes coming in 2026, now’s the time to refresh your policies. Kiri Grant from SHRM’s HR Product Solutions team joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to explain how HR professionals can get ahead of upcoming changes, make their handbooks more engaging, and use SHRM’s Employe

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Handbook Builder to ease the stress of updates.  Subscribe to Honest HR to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional r

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s delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz   —  Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters

The Legal Tightrope Between Employee Politics and Employer Rights

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s politics continue to dominate the headlines, HR professionals find themselves on the front lines of free speech at work. Can employees be fired for expressing political opinions — or does the First Amendment protect them? Attorney Tom Spiggle joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to unpack the legal limits, HR policy challenges, and real-world scenarios workplaces must navigate when politics and employment collide

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nbsp; For SHRM members tuning into this episode, we have an exclusive bonus: a SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor answering real member questions about political expression in the workplace, direct from the SHRM HR Knowledge Center!  View the Honest HR Q&A: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/hr-answers/ask-an-advisor

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avigating-political-affiliation-and-activity This podcast is approved for .5

Caught in the Middle: Supporting Sandwich Generation Caregivers

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any employees juggle significant responsibilities beyond their professional roles. Those in the “sandwich generation” are balancing careers alongside caring for children and supporting aging parents, managing a complex and demanding load. Marvell Adams Jr., CEO of the Caregiver Action Network, speaks with host Marjorie Morrison to discuss the emotional and financial strains often faced by this growing segment of the workforce, how their competing responsibilities can affect productivity, and the steps HR can take to recognize and support employees who may be struggling to “do

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t all.” This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen

When Old Ideas Refuse to Die: Confronting Zombie Leadership

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hen outdated leadership ideas linger, they don’t just slow progress — they shape how people think, act, and connect at work. Alex Haslam, co-author of “Zombie Leadership: Dead Ideas That Still Walk Among Us,” joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to uncover why these poor leadership practices keep coming back and what it takes to break the cycle. Together, they unpack the myths, behaviors, and cultural patterns that haunt organizations. As an extra trick-or-treat for this episode, Belyna joins some of her SHRM colleagues for “HR Horror Stories”: real jaw-dropping moments submitted by our subscribers to make you laugh, cringe, and

The Evolving Role of Internships in a Shrinking Entry-Level Market

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s entry-level roles shrink, internships are filling the gap and reshaping how businesses grow talent. Ranked number one on Yello’s Top 100 Internship Programs of 2025, engineering consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., demonstrates how a well-designed program can fuel long-term success for both interns and employers. Lane Greene, Kimley-Horn’s college recruiting leader, joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to share how HR leaders can make internships more inclusive, valuable, and sustainable for the future workf

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ce.  This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end.