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Welcome to Jaded HR, where we say everything you’re thinking out loud.

This week, Warren and Cee Cee dive deep into the cesspool of professional absurdity. We tackle everything from the shocking politicization of HR to a debate so ill-conceived it smells like a dumpster fire.

What We Raged About This Week:

• SHRM’s $1,300 Blueprint to Hell: We try to stay apolitical, but SHRM is forcing our hand by hosting a debate between CNN's Van Jones and Heritage Foundation's Robby Starbuck, who calls DEI "communist" and a "poison." Is this an earnest discussion or just a desperate, badly timed publicity stunt? (We lean heavily toward the latter.)
• SHRM’s Identity Crisis: Why does the world’s largest HR organization keep acting like a political lobbying group instead of a resource for practitioners? Cee Cee even details the generic form letter she got after canceling her membership.
• Faith-Based Hypocrisy: Warren shares a schadenfreude story about a "true believer" business owner who lost a massive contract on day one, thanks to a well-deserved morality clause and a whole lot of cussing. We love to see it.
• The HR Rights of Passage: We create a cynical checklist of the things all true HR professionals must deal with, including the inevitable hygiene talk (and how the smell of vanilla body spray combined with old ashtray smoke can break a man).
• The Gen Z Stare & Mama’s Helper: Is the new generation of job candidates okay? Cee Cee recounts a chilling, soul-empty experience with a grocery store worker, while Warren's daughter has to deal with applicants whose moms are sitting in on the interview. (Seriously, go practice your active shooter drills instead.)
• COVID-19 Wednesdays: We share a bonus story about an affinity group we are not going to start: the work-from-home Wednesday Orgy club. Don't worry, the drama was captured on a corporate laptop.

Join us as we help you survive HR, one "what the f*ck" moment at a time.

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Ever wonder what secrets lurk in your coworkers' desk drawers? Our jaw-dropping opener explores a workplace nightmare when maintenance unlocks a former employee's desk to find multiple journals explicitly rating female colleagues' appearances. This disturbing discovery raises complex questions about hostile work environments, liability after employment ends, and the hidden behaviors that can poison workplace culture.

The conversation shifts to the fascinating dual lives employees lead outside the office. We share a story about concert-going medical professionals in full goth makeup expertly handling an emergency, reminding us that our colleagues contain multitudes beyond their workplace personas. This juxtaposition of professional capability and personal expression highlights the rich diversity hidden beneath corporate exteriors.

We dive deep into the ongoing return-to-office debate, examining a troubling new trend: companies offering buyouts to employees who refuse to return to physical workspaces. Is this short-sighted during a hiring crisis? We explore generational differences in work preferences, with Gen Z surprisingly pushing for more in-office time while millennials champion remote flexibility. The discussion reveals how career stage, rather than generation, might better explain these preferences - early-career employees crave mentorship while mid-career professionals prioritize work-life balance.

The episode closes with thoughtful analysis of how hybrid policies often create unintentional favoritism, with high performers receiving more flexibility than others. When employees notice these double standards, trust erodes. Our candid, sometimes irreverent exploration of these workplace dynamics offers both entertainment and valuable insights for navigating today's complex professional landscape.

What workplace mysteries have you uncovered? Share your stories and join our growing community of HR professionals who find humor and solidarity in the daily absurdities of organizational life.

Support the show

We want to hear from you.
Text us or leave a voicemail (252) 564-9899‬
email: feedback@jadedhr.com

Want to:
* Share a dumb employee question
* Share a crazy story
* Ask us a question
* Share a best practice
* Give us feedback

Our Link Tree below has links to our social media sites, Patreon, Apple podcasts, Spotify & more.
Please leave a review on your favorite podcast player and interact with us online!

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/jadedhr
Follow Cee Cee on IG - BoozyHR @ https://www.instagram.com/boozy_hr/

Send us a text

Every HR professional knows there's a stark difference between what appears in the employee handbook and the wild, messy reality of managing workplace behavior. In this jaw-dropping episode, we dive into what might be the most bizarre workplace investigation we've ever covered—one that begins with rumors of cocaine use and strange "sounds of pleasure" coming from the women's restroom.

Our special guest Bill shares his firsthand account of unraveling this workplace mystery, which takes a sharp turn when a clueless manager decides to directly question female employees about masturbating in the bathroom. The investigation ultimately reveals one employee responsible for both the drug use and inappropriate behavior, culminating in a confrontation that perfectly demonstrates why HR professionals need nerves of steel and impeccable judgment.

But the workplace madness doesn't stop there. We explore the dangerous trend of employees documenting confidential work procedures on social media, including a store manager who essentially created a security breach tutorial by filming herself accessing safes, handling cash, and showing security credentials—all before being caught napping on her own recording.

We also tackle the frustrating phenomenon of "job tourists"—candidates who collect positions like souvenirs without developing real expertise, leaving hiring managers struggling to find qualified talent amid inflated resumes. This leads to a spirited debate about resume gaps and whether employers have the right to question candidates about periods of unemployment.

Throughout it all, we embrace our "four walls rule"—creating a safe space where HR professionals can vent about the absurdity of workplace situations without judgment. Because sometimes, you just need to laugh at the unbelievable scenarios that land on your desk when you work in human resources.

Have your own wild HR story to share? We'd love to hear from you and possibly feature your experience on an upcoming episode. After all, in the world of HR, truth is always stranger than fiction.

Support the show

We want to hear from you.
Text us or leave a voicemail (252) 564-9899‬
email: feedback@jadedhr.com

Want to:
* Share a dumb employee question
* Share a crazy story
* Ask us a question
* Share a best practice
* Give us feedback

Our Link Tree below has links to our social media sites, Patreon, Apple podcasts, Spotify & more.
Please leave a review on your favorite podcast player and interact with us online!

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/jadedhr
Follow Cee Cee on IG - BoozyHR @ https://www.instagram.com/boozy_hr/