Not every episode is an HR nightmare. Sometimes, it’s about the people coming next.

In this episode, Lisa talks about why HR Nightmares isn’t only about what goes wrong at work. It’s also about the people, careers, ideas, and opportunities that can make work better.

This conversation gives us a glimpse at the next generation of teachers, communicators, and professionals figuring out what they want, where they’re headed, and what kind of workplaces they hope to be part of.

And that’s something worth being excited about.

Episode 6 of HR Nightmares Season 5 is live now.

#futureworkforce #HR #HRnightmares

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What does the future workforce actually think about careers, college, AI, and life after graduation?

In this episode of HR Nightmares, Lisa and Beth sit down with Ruby Vogt and Ella Kober, two rising college sophomores with very different career paths and a surprisingly clear perspective on what comes next.

They talk about choosing a major when you are barely old enough to know what you want for dinner, the pressure to have your entire career mapped out, study abroad adventures in Prague and New Zealand, and why having the right college adviser can change everything.

The conversation also turns to AI. Ruby and Ella share how they are already using it in school, where they think it helps, and why there is still plenty of work that requires an actual human brain. For HR leaders wondering how the next generation will approach technology, communication, and the workplace, consider this your preview.

Plus, there is plenty of discussion about social skills, good manners, college roommates, sorority recruitment, part-time jobs, parenting, parking tickets, Disney uniforms, and the apparent return of the mock neck.

The future of work is not some far-off HR strategy exercise. It is already sitting in college classrooms, using ChatGPT, planning a semester overseas, and figuring out what kind of life it wants. And frankly, we think the future looks pretty good.

Have an HR nightmare of your own? Submit it at LeathHRGroup.com for a chance to have the team tackle it on the show.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Submit your anonymous workplace questions at LeathHRGroup.com. Subscribe and share this conversation wherever you get your
podcasts, and join us next time for more straight talk from the frontlines of HR on HR
Nightmares.

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We’re excited to share this week’s episode featuring the future workforce!

We talk about a teaching fellows program that sends students abroad early in their college experience, giving them a whole new perspective before they ever lead a classroom of their own.

Different cultures. Different schools. Different ways of learning.
And a lot to bring back home!

We love a career path that comes with a passport.

Episode 6 of Season 5 of HR Nightmares is out Thursday.

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FUN FACT: Beth Looney was on Jeopardy!

In this episode of HR Nightmares, our college-age guests go from talking majors and career plans to finding out Beth has game-show credentials, and their reaction is exactly what you’d hope for.

From fun facts to talking about the future of work with people who are about to enter the workforce, this week’s episode is one you don’t want to miss!

Subscribe to HR Nightmares today!

#HRNightmares #Workforce #careerpath

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Unlimited PTO sounds great, but does it actually work?

In the right company, it can. The key is making sure employees actually feel encouraged to use it, while still having clear expectations around longer stretches of time away.

In this week’s episode of HR Nightmares, the team talks about what unlimited PTO can look like in practice, why extended time off isn’t always a bad thing, and how one employee’s multi-week adventure ended up inspiring the rest of the company.

🎙️ The new episode of HR Nightmares is live now.

Listen to the full conversation and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

#HRNightmare #HR #UnlimitedPTO

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It’s time for another round of audience HR nightmares.

In this episode of HR Nightmares, Lisa Leath, Amy Conway, and Beth Looney tackle three workplace situations that HR leaders and business owners run into all the time: confusing PTO policies, an employee whose performance never quite improves, and a well-liked leader who isn’t actually leading.

First up: What should a modern PTO policy actually look like? The team breaks down traditional accrual, rollover policies, use-it-or-lose-it rules, unlimited PTO, company shutdowns, sabbaticals, and why smaller businesses should be careful not to overengineer time off. They also take a detour into bereavement leave and why policies surrounding loss could stand to be a lot more compassionate and human.

Then, an employer asks what to do about an employee who improves every time they’re coached…only to slide right back into the same performance problems a week or two later. Add frequent callouts and possible health concerns, and suddenly the employer is afraid to make a decision. The conversation covers separating performance issues from medical concerns, documenting expectations, exploring reasonable accommodations, and recognizing when continued patience is hurting the rest of the team.

Finally, what happens when you promote a longtime, well-liked employee into leadership and discover they’re much better at doing the work than leading the people doing it? Lisa, Amy, and Beth talk executive coaching, courageous feedback, accountability, nonprofit board responsibility, 360 reviews, and the difficult transition from doer to leader.

The bottom line? Take the vacation, have the hard conversation, and stop assuming every great employee will automatically become a great leader.

Have an HR nightmare of your own? Submit an audience write-in to Leath HR Group for a chance to have it answered on a future episode of HR Nightmares.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Submit your anonymous workplace
questions at LeathHRGroup.com. Subscribe and share this conversation wherever you get your podcasts, and join us next time for more straight talk from the frontlines of HR on HR Nightmares.

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How many times do you coach the same performance problem before enough is enough?

When an employee improves for a week or two, then falls right back into missed deadlines, frequent callouts, and the same excuses, the answer may not be “more coaching.”

And when health concerns are part of the picture, employers have to separate two very different conversations: performance expectations and reasonable accommodations.

In this week’s episode of HR Nightmares, the team gets into one of the hardest questions for managers and business owners: when is it time to stop coaching and make a decision?

🎙️ New episode drops tomorrow.

Subscribe to HR Nightmares on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.

#HRNightmares #HR #coaching

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Should bereavement leave include pets?

What starts as a conversation about PTO turns into one about dog bereavement policies.

In this week’s episode of HR Nightmares, the team talks about why bereavement policies may need to be a little less rigid and a lot more human.

🎙️ New episode drops Thursday.

Subscribe to HR Nightmares wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss the full conversation.

#HRNightmares #HR #bereavementpolicy

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You can love your work and still know it is time to change your life. Lisa, Amy and Beth are joined by Kelly Conway, a museum curator and glass historian whose career spans the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass, before she made a sharp turn into a PhD program at William & Mary. Now she’s on the edge of another shift, finishing her dissertation and preparing to re-enter the workforce, and she tells the truth about what that feels like when your professional identity has been your anchor for years.

We talk about the practical side of career transitions in the arts and nonprofit sector: how networking changes when you’re no longer in the room, why search firms matter for senior museum roles, and how “being in a hole” during dissertation life can quietly shrink your network.

Kelly also breaks down what curators actually do, beyond the trendy way people use the word “curate” now, and why stewardship, storytelling, and translation are core museum skills that connect directly to visitor experience and nonprofit fundraising.

If you’re considering a mid-career pivot, a return to school, or a jump back into the job market, this one will hit home. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Submit your anonymous workplace questions at LeathHRGroup.com. Subscribe and share this conversation wherever you get your podcasts, and join us next time for more straight talk from the frontlines of HR on HR Nightmares.

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