Flynn Barrett Consulting

Seems simple: To keep the peace in the office, ban all talk about the election and politics in general. Not so easy or advisable. Why a ban on political talk won’t work and is counterproductive: ► Limits on free expression may be perceived as a lack of trust and, at worst, discrimination ► Creating a “forbidden fruit” topic may have the opposite effect, creating even more focus on it ► If management is seen as authoritative, cautious and compliant team members may worry about overstepping and hold back on creative ideas and interactions in other arenas If your organization is eager to create healthy boundaries and productive behavioral models, but doesn’t have the seasoned HR leaders or capacity to do so, consider a fractional HR consultant. #fractionalHR #HRconsulting #peoplewhisperer #opencommunication

You can’t turn on the TV without an election-related story, so our recent blog focuses on managing healthy political discussion in the workplace. We offer strategies to ensure mature and even-handed political discussions if they arise. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eYvKzQBD BONUS! If your company can navigate political expression in the final months of 2024 with non-disruptive and respectful dialog, you have a robust and healthy culture! Your team can likely handle any debate or constructive feedback situation with positive outcomes. #fractionalCHRO #HRleadership #politicsatwork #respect

A few weeks ago, I participated in a group where we introduced ourselves by sharing stories of the best or worst bosses we had during our careers and what we learned from them. I was pleasantly surprised at how many of my colleagues recounted memories of WONDERFUL bosses who acted as mentors and became lifelong friends. We talked about learning to take accountability, building from mistakes, managing with compassion, appreciating differences, taking risks and many other core leadership qualities. It made me think about how important it is to: take stock of your career path and pay those opportunities forward any time you can by: -- Leading by example -- Offering someone a chance to shine -- Simply passing on a compliment on their skills or effort #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #chiefpeoplefixer #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #NOThorriblebosses #mentoring #greatbosses #leadbyexample #employeedevelopment

In a polarized and highly charged political season, is it generally better to minimize election debate in the workplace? Yes. Is banning political discourse in the workplace the best course of action to avoid conflict? Not in our estimation. The key to keeping the peace is reemphasizing the values of mutual respect and personal agency that should define your existing company culture. A healthy back-and-forth can lead to increased understanding. But no one should ever feel dragged into a discussion, bullied, proselytized to, or pressured to conform. A couple of guidelines to avoid negative outcomes: -- Consider power imbalances—younger or new employees may feel compelled to agree or partake if with senior leaders -- Be proactive—have plans in place to address grievances should they arrive and model respectful disagreement when possible -- Unless your politics are part of your brand, it is appropriate to set standards of neutrality for customer-facing employees #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #CHRO #politicsatwork #cultureofrespect #constructivediscourse

The recent Supreme Court ruling overturning the Chevron doctrine is likely to impact businesses and the HR discipline. The 40-year-old legal precedent had required courts to defer to federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous laws. With it struck down, we can anticipate a wave of challenges to employment laws. These include the ban on noncompetes, taxing of tips, pregnancy accommodations and rights to overtime pay. We will be keeping a close watch on this to ensure our clients are compliant and protected — while continuing to advocate for the value of an excellent employee experience. #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #SCOTUS #HRregulations #laborlaw

🌟 New Blog Alert! 🌟 Now, I don't post on LinkedIn about politics, BUT have you ever found yourself navigating the tricky waters of political discussions at work? 😬 We've all been there! Our latest blog dives into how to manage these conversations with grace and respect. 🗣️💬 👉 Top Highlights: How to keep the peace without stifling free speech 🌍✌️ Tips for turning heated debates into constructive dialogue 🛠️🗣️ Whether you're a team leader, an HR pro, or just someone who wants to foster a positive work environment, this blog is for you! Let's turn potential landmines into opportunities for growth and understanding. 🌱✨ Check it out now and let us know your thoughts! 💭👇 https://lnkd.in/gbax7Z_b #WorkplaceWellness #TeamHarmony #NewBlogPost #LeadershipTips #OfficeCulture #HealthyDebate

More than 40% of employees say they are less productive during the summer months according to a recent poll. This is attributed to family obligations, childcare issues, vacation schedules of coworkers and bosses, and even just a generally more laid-back feeling. Hoping to increase engagement, job satisfaction and, yes, productivity during July and August, companies are offering more flexibility to their employees. This includes “work from anywhere” allowances for all during the July 4 holiday week and as needed. As we’ve shared previously, the gift of work from anywhere builds trust and goodwill by: -- Acknowledging that employees have priorities outside of the office. -- Overtly affirming that companies trust their teams to be accountable to complete their work and communicate with each other regardless of location. Source: https://lnkd.in/ecBgVBB2 #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #compassionateleadership #workfromanywhere #flexiblepolicy

AI is proving its value in the HR realm but driving an overall HR growth strategy is NOT one of them yet. If you’re an entrepreneur asking ChatGPT to offer the best solutions for your unique business model, you may end up wasting precious financial resources and time. For customized, objective, flexible, committed and fiscally sound advice and decision-making impacting your PEOPLE, stick to the HUMAN experts. We grow and change with you — your as-needed, live HR phone-a-friend. #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #humanresources #strategicHR #hrsystems #AIinHR

As the owner of a young business facing pressing people needs while concurrently trying to produce and sell products, manage clients and raise capital, the inclination may be to hire a full-time employee to own HR. We’ve found this is not always the best solution when you’re in growth mode for a few reasons: ✳️ Once the urgent HR matters are addressed, a senior HR hire may not have enough to work on a day-to-day basis. ✳️ The strategic HR skills your business needs in the next phase may be different or less complex than what you need today. ✳️The ongoing costs of a full-time hire are substantial (think recruiting, salary, bonus and benefits) whereas a consultant (using our model) is compensated only for time spent on YOU. We’re knowledgeable and committed without a retainer. Finding the right balance of experience, knowledge, commitment, temperament and outlook to meet your growing business’s HR needs can be tricky. An outside Chief Human Resources Officer may be your perfect recipe for your needs and budget. #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #mentalhealth #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #employeehealth #growingbusiness #scalingup

Are you and your team focused on growing your business and wearing many hats to keep up with the increasing needs of your clients and employees? This is a typical entrepreneurial challenge and can leave leaders feeling like they are sacrificing quality and strategic implementation in favor of simply checking the boxes of tasks. This is when fractional consultants are exceptionally valuable! Our most recent blog, “The Stress of Scaling: How a Fractional HR Person Can Solve Problems and Streamline Growth" reviews the risks of setting up your HR functions without the right experienced resources. We also highlight the benefits of collaborating with someone like Kerry to establish the HR infrastructure that will set you up for healthy, sustained growth. #hrconsultant #fractionalHR #outsourceHR #leadershipskills #organizationaldevelopment #mentalhealth #chiefpeopleofficer #humanresources #employeehealth #growingbusiness #scalingup