Cyndy Trivella, Author at TalentCulture

5 Benefits of Being a Podcast Guest and How to Prepare for Success

In less than 20 years, podcasting has revolutionized the way we consume and engage with informational content, offering a powerful digital platform for individuals to share their knowledge, experiences, and ideas. Today, with more than 5 million podcasts attracting 464.7 million listeners worldwide, overall podcast reach is staggering. And every podcast guest has a unique story to tell. Why Preparation Is Everything Over the past 12 years at TalentCulture, I’ve helped hundreds of HR practitioners, business leaders, analysts, and authors prepare to appear on our popular #WorkTrends show. And along the way I’ve learned just how vital it is for every

Cognitive Decline at Work: Employers, Are You Prepared?

Cognitive decline is a tricky subject. It can be caused by a variety of factors – from natural aging to hypothyroidism to Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes, the symptoms are treatable and reversible. But in other cases, cognitive struggles indicate the onset of a serious underlying illness that will eventually become debilitating. Either way, working alongside a person with cognitive issues can be difficult. It’s okay to admit that. But what can you do to support someone who suffers from increased confusion, memory loss, a shorter attention span, or other cognitive challenges? And how can you minimize safety risks that could harm that

Are You Cultivating a “Culture-Add” Talent Strategy?

In recent years, I’ve been encouraged by a groundswell of employers that are choosing to embrace “culture-add” people practices. In fact, several months ago, I wrote about it in a Sage Masterclass article. Because this concept is central to the future of work, I’ve continued to ponder, read and discuss culture-add issues with others. Now I’m convinced this topic deserves much more than just one blog post. So let’s explore it further here. I hope this underscores the need for a shift to a culture-add recruitment and retention mindset. But more importantly, I hope it inspires constructive change. What Does “Culture-Add”

The Critical Intersection Between DEI and Mental Health

Pandemic-related mental health is undoubtedly top-of-mind. In addition, there tends to be an uptick in dialog about mental health this time of year because May is Mental Health Month. Yet here’s what I’m thinking a lot about recently that extends all year long: the critical intersection between mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). While both topics have grown exponentially in discussions among leaders, they have often grown in tandem. However, it’s important to tie the two together. It’s a junction where belonging, health, happiness, and productivity live. But the key is to understand how they intersect and what that

Employer Branding: Illustrate Your Story With Authenticity

Life lessons roll in at an interesting pace. Sometimes they are slow and steady. Other times, they fly at us with momentum and fervor. Let’s just say that COVID has made a difference in how we’ve been learning and adapting these last few years. Some decision-making was simply made for survival; some decisions gave us an opportunity to shake up the status quo. In the world of HR, I just want you to know: WE SEE YOU. And now, more than ever, there is pressure to retain employees and appeal to future team members in a challenging market. Here’s a tip:

Stop Overthinking a Culture of Gratitude. Show It Instead!

As we enter the season of gratitude, I have contemplated the importance of employers, managers, and leaders expressing thanks to their hardworking team members. We have collectively weathered a storm, and we’re not in the clear yet. No matter what the industry, things have been challenging. But how should we show our gratitude? What is authentic? What works? With “The Great Resignation” and “The Great Discontent” affecting our organizations, retention is top-of-mind. Here is my gentle reminder: a little gratitude goes a long way in keeping employees happy and feeling valued. Why gratitude is great Gratitude in the workplace is often

Are You a “Woke Leader” in the Workplace?

Corporate reputation doesn’t just lie flat in the PR department. Every company needs to “sing from the same songbook,” from advertising to employee ethics and everywhere in between. What does that mean? Say what you mean and do what you say. Align all practices with the company’s mission and moral compass (or find one?). Not easy. A recent piece in MIT Sloan Management Review states, “the universal mandate for corporations to engage on social issues is real. It’s no longer OK for corporations to have a single, siloed corporate social responsibility officer.” It continues to say that three things are crucial

Is It Fair that Corporations Pay Remote Workers Less?

I recently read a story that gave me pause. And then I looked around and unearthed more. Remote employees may have their salaries cut simply because of where they work. Hmmm. After all we have learned about remote working from the pandemic, I hope that organizations are inspired by the findings. Many leaders who have trust issues and fear around a remote workforce were forced to try something new. And, overall, remote working took off! However, a new trend may be arising with corporate giants like Google, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn that seems ridiculous. They are finding ways to pay remote

What We Learned From George Floyd’s Death

A couple of months ago, we hit the one-year mark since George Floyd’s death. The response and social unrest conversations reached a fever pitch last year, although racial inequality, police brutality, and race-related injustice are nothing new. However, many leaders and organizations took the opportunity to enact change. Good. We are seeing positive strides in many organizations. They are adding diversity and inclusion officers, reprioritizing racial equity, and are doing a better job of listening. But what does this all really mean? It’s a question that shouldn’t be ignored. Difficult Conversations An article recently spoke to me: A Year After George

Triple Bottom Line: How ESG Creates Value for Your Business

You may not know (yet) what ESG stands for, but you should know that ESG creates value for businesses large and small. The acronym stands for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance. It sets the standard for how a company operates and sets criteria that let ESG-savvy investors know what organizations might be worthy of investment. The concept of ESG is as old as time. Still – as the world launches the post-pandemic economy – the metrics, investment opportunities and overall corporate behavior (and much more) are becoming increasingly significant. How ESG Creates Value ESG: Who Cares Wins Thousands of companies have

Post-Pandemic Pet Care: What a Return to the Office Means for Our Pets

Returning to work soon? Ready for post-pandemic pet care? It’s time to take a look at your pet’s upcoming new normal… The coronavirus pandemic left few areas of our lives untouched. Before March 2020, it was no big deal to head to work in the morning, grab a cup of coffee, or go out to lunch with work friends. These days, some of us only leave our homes to buy groceries or walk the dog. It’s unclear when the pandemic will end or how the new normal will look and feel. But one thing is certain: many of us have turned

The Proven Success of Less: Opting for The Shorter Workweek

As we reinvent work in the post-pandemic world, can we see finally see the benefits of a shorter workweek? Americans work harder than their counterparts in most of the world’s developed economies, clocking in an average of 34.4 hours per week. Many adults work even longer, with most American reporting an average of 47 hours of work per week (or nearly six working days per week). Almost four in ten American workers log 50 hours or more. Those extra hours aren’t helping us perform better. Conversely, those additional hours on the clock actually cost us productivity, health, and happiness. It’s time

How Small Companies Can Be Recruiting Contenders During COVID

Hiring during the prolonged COVID-19 crisis hasn’t gotten any easier. This is especially true for smaller companies struggling to be recruiting contenders without necessarily having access to all the latest and greatest HR technology. As many small business leaders have learned over the last year or so, the ability to attract top talent takes more than just a posting on a job board. They also know that old-school approaches like a sign in a storefront window go largely ignored. So how do small businesses compete with larger companies for talented recruits without the luxury of high-end recruiting platforms? And without internal

2021 Work Trends: Should We Continue to Be Surprised?

Over the last ten months, the entire workplace changed, as did the expectations of employees and contractors. But not everything that happened last year was a total shock — so why should we allow 2021 work trends to surprise us? A little over a year ago, I wrote a post about the workplace trends we would most likely see in 2020. Of course, when that post went live no one could have predicted the impact a global pandemic would have on the future of work. Still, as you’ll see below, we shouldn’t have been too surprised by how much the workplace

Congratulations to the Winners of TalentCulture’s 2020 HR Tech Awards

The dust has settled. We’ve counted the votes. And the final rankings are set… The winners of TalentCulture’s 2020 HR Tech Awards are here! To be sure, the competition this year was stiff. However, when all is said and done, the companies in our winner’s circle are the best of the best. We recognize each for designing and implementing the most innovative and useful digital HR tools, platforms, and services for 2020. What Are the TalentCulture HR Tech Awards? Here at TalentCulture, we’re all about highlighting the tools and channels that help HR and Talent professionals, as well as HR and

The Power of Grateful Workplaces and Engaged Employees

What sets grateful workplaces apart from others? What impact do those environments have on employee engagement? Especially now — while most of us are still working remotely — leaders need to ask themselves a question: Why are happy and engaged employees worth their weight in gold? And then they need to go discover more gold. If you’re a business owner, look around your company. If you’re in a leadership role within a corporation, look around your department. Are you using a critical eye to evaluate what’s going on behind the scenes with your employees? Know what is happening when they are

Job Descriptions: How to Eliminate the Hidden Bias Within

In an era where more people than ever are fighting for social justice, why do job descriptions still contain hidden bias? And what is the impact of bias – intentional or not. In a typical job description, there are enough typos and grammar mistakes to make you wonder if proof-reading ever happened. There are often too many formatting issues to count. And then there are those baffling internal acronyms. (If you knew those, you’d already work there!) In the end, it’s next to impossible to determine what a person in that role does and why they do it – let alone

How to Perfect the Skill of Listening

Coronavirus has changed the way American businesses operate, to say the least. And from work-from-home mandates to reopening strategies to locking down again in the face of virus spikes, it’s taken a toll on effective communication in the workplace. Communication is a two-way street. But it’s not just about what we say. As the old saying goes, we have two ears and one mouth — so we ought to be able to listen twice as much as we speak. Or consider the inverse, as Ken Blanchard says: “I often like to joke that if God had wanted us to talk more than

Rebooting After Covid-19: Employer Liability Concerns

As some states ease lockdown restrictions and America begins to return to work, some businesses eager to reopen their doors facing a whole new headache: fear of their potential liability. Incurring a lawsuit due to possibly exposing employees and customers to the virus is a driving concern for employers; so much so that it’s become a point of contention among federal lawmakers as they hammer out a second coronavirus relief bill. Businesses and their advocates, such as the U.S. and local Chambers of Commerce and trade associations, are demanding assurances that employers who follow state and federal safety guidelines will have

How to Work Productively During COVID-19

Working from home is a necessity for many of us right now. It’s a critical way to help flatten the curve, for one. It can also have its appeal even during this unprecedented, harrowing crisis that faces us all. But being productive at home even under the best of circumstances — without remote schooling, sick loved ones, relentlessly bad news, and economic turmoil — can be a challenge. Full disclosure: I have been working remotely since well before COVID-19; many of my colleagues do as well. We’re old pros at this (not really old, but you get the point). But even

Observing Workplace Compliance During a Crisis

News surrounding the coronavirus pandemic is developing at such a breakneck pace that by the time you read this article, the data in it will probably be outdated. As of this writing, there are more than 186,000 cases of COVID-19 worldwide. In the U.S., 49 states and the District of Columbia have reported more than 4,500 cases of coronavirus and 88 deaths. Managers and employees likely have worries about everything from job security to the risk of contracting the virus at work. Some private and public employers have begun shifting onsite employees whose jobs can be done remotely to working from home

Soft Skills Aren’t Optional: How to Teach Them Well

When you hire employees, especially Generation Z and the youngest millennials, you’re investing in the future of your organization. Contributing to their development is one of the smartest investments you can make. But too many companies overlook the basics when it comes to learning and development. If you only focus on training to meet the specific tasks and requirements of a given job, you may be developing your employees as much as you think you are. Particularly when it comes to new employees switching to an unfamiliar role, or just-hired younger employees new to the workplace, they may lack foundational abilities

U-Haul’s Nicotine-Free Policy: Fostering Wellness, or Cutting Costs?

If a company eliminates applicants because of an unhealthy behavior, are they fostering workplace wellness, or cutting healthcare costs? Are they promoting a culture of healthy employees, or discriminating against potential candidates? Or is it somewhere in between? With U-Haul’s new smoke-free policy, workplaces across the country have to ask themselves where the policy falls. U-Haul’s New Policy On December 30th, U-Haul International announced that beginning February 1, 2020, it would implement a nicotine-free policy in 21 states without protections for smokers’ rights. As of February 1, it will become one of the first major companies to decline applicants who are

Trending in 2020: The (Somewhat) New Workplace

What does your workplace look like in 2020? The workplace starting off this new decade is a whole different animal than the workplace was in 2010. The entire definition of the workplace and the nature of work has changed. So have the expectations of employees. Here’s what you and your team need to know about what 2020 means for your office: The Death of the Office… Kind Of It’s official: the office is dead. The office your parents knew, that is. 2020 will build on a trend that’s been on the rise in 2018 and 2019. More employees rely on technology

Better People Decisions Make Hiring More Efficient

Hiring is costly. Hiring the wrong employee is even more pricey, and the more pivotal the position is, the more expensive it can be. A bad hire costs your organization in three ways: finances, time, and intangible factors. Making better people decisions is the key to making hiring more efficient.

Stay up-to-date with HR, tech and the future of work. Get our weekly newsletter!

Cyndy Trivella

Cyndy Trivella

5 Benefits of Being a Podcast Guest and How to Prepare for Success

Cognitive Decline at Work: Employers, Are You Prepared?

Are You Cultivating a “Culture-Add” Talent Strategy?

The Critical Intersection Between DEI and Mental Health

Employer Branding: Illustrate Your Story With Authenticity

Stop Overthinking a Culture of Gratitude. Show It Instead!

Is It Fair that Corporations Pay Remote Workers Less?

What We Learned From George Floyd’s Death

Triple Bottom Line: How ESG Creates Value for Your Business

Post-Pandemic Pet Care: What a Return to the Office Means for Our Pets

The Proven Success of Less: Opting for The Shorter Workweek

How Small Companies Can Be Recruiting Contenders During COVID

2021 Work Trends: Should We Continue to Be Surprised?

Congratulations to the Winners of TalentCulture’s 2020 HR Tech Awards

The Power of Grateful Workplaces and Engaged Employees

Job Descriptions: How to Eliminate the Hidden Bias Within

How to Perfect the Skill of Listening

Rebooting After Covid-19: Employer Liability Concerns

How to Work Productively During COVID-19

Observing Workplace Compliance During a Crisis

Soft Skills Aren’t Optional: How to Teach Them Well

U-Haul’s Nicotine-Free Policy: Fostering Wellness, or Cutting Costs?

Trending in 2020: The (Somewhat) New Workplace

Better People Decisions Make Hiring More Efficient

Quick Links

Topics

Newsletter Signup

Stay up-to-date with HR, tech and the future of work. Get our weekly newsletter!

Cyndy Trivella

Cyndy Trivella

Subscribing to Ho-Hum Newsletters? We have the fix!