Humareso Blog

The Reflex: Owning Unhealthy Behavior

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:59:44 GMT

Didn’t you want to learn how to bartend like the guys in Cocktail? You don’t know that movie. *GASP*

No More Drama: Ending the Toxicity

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:00:57 GMT

We seem to vacillate between period piece and modern day dramas. From Shogun and the Winds of War to Dallas and Dynasty. From 90210 to 1923. From Downtown Abbey to the latest, Landman. What is our issue?

Everything's Gonna Be Alright: Wrapping Up 2025

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:33:10 GMT

Heaviness. I wish it were a different word.

The Middle: Dealing with the Weariness of Work & Life

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:56:40 GMT

When Judy Benjamin was lost, she joined the army. She was ill-prepared for what it required and was foolish in her initial expectations of what military service would be like. But what she did know was that life as she was living it was not working out. Goldie Hawn brought Private Benjamin to the big screen in 1980 (gulp, yes 1980) and made us laugh despite her disappointment with life.

Are you experiencing the disappointment and the weariness? The tiredness has set in for various groups of people - the displaced workers, the sandwiched caretakers, the first-level management layer and more. You feel it, right? People trying to make sense of the computer science degree that has no real place in the current work environment. People struggling with an AI reality. People wanting to work for themselves but are under-capitalized to do so, especially in a down economy.

Drivin' My Life Away: Blue-Collar Gaps and What to Do About It

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:43:23 GMT

People: How AI and Human Resources Should Function in Business

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Shadow Policies: The Rules Everyone Follows (But No One Wrote)

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:15:24 GMT

Every workplace runs on two sets of rules. There are the official policies - polished, lawyered, tucked neatly into the handbook - and then there are the rules everyone actually lives by: the unwritten, unvoted, quietly enforced norms that shape who gets opportunities, whose voice carries, and how decisions really get made. No one wrote them. Everyone feels them. And, left unexamined, they more accurately define your organizational culture than any value statement framed in the lobby.

Shake It Off: When the Haters' Hate Really Hurts

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:28:56 GMT

Hire With Clarity: Acknowledge Today’s Culture, Build Tomorrow’s

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:40:20 GMT

I remember an HR Department all-day meeting at a “challenging” organization where I worked. There we were, clustered around a conference room table with coffees in hand, dissecting every facet of the company’s hiring process and employee experience - from employer branding to onboarding rituals.

The Future of HR: Thriving in Complexity

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:59:28 GMT

This week, thousands upon thousands of HR professionals are packed into ballrooms in San Diego for #SHRM25, collectively pondering what’s next for the field. What’s required? What’s at risk? What do we need to master to stay relevant in an era of unrelenting flux?

Born to Run - The Individual Call to Progress

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:00:14 GMT

Don't Stand Still While Everyone Else is Moving

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:05:01 GMT

Stillness has its moments. A mime frozen in place. A street performer playing statue. Stillness as spectacle - admirable precisely because it defies the momentum of everything around it.

But in today’s workplace? Stillness isn’t performance art. It’s professional decay.

The tempo of change is no longer a manageable rhythm. It’s a thumping bassline; powered by AI, shifting talent markets, and rising expectations. And if you’re not in motion, you’re not just idling in “neutral” – you may, in fact, be falling behind.

Think about this…

Workday to Weekend: Humareso Summer Jams Are Here!

hwilson@humareso.com (Hilary Wilson) — Thu, 22 May 2025 17:45:00 GMT

WorkHuman Live 2025 Recap: Show People What’s Possible

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:30:00 GMT

Get Your HR House in Order: Master Chef Style

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 14 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant - or binge-watched The Bear - you’ve likely heard the phrase “mise en place.”

Made You Look: Talent Attraction at Its Finest

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:21:40 GMT

Employee Feedback Should be a Habit, Not an Event

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:30:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I had a horrible night. I could neither fall nor stay asleep. I woke up way too early, feeling unrefreshed, mad at the dog (who had been sprawled across my legs seemingly all night!), and in dire need of coffee.

HTS Wins 2025 HR Tech Award!

hwilson@humareso.com (Hilary Wilson) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Work Overload Is Real. Here’s a Framework to Tackle It.

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 21:15:29 GMT

You know the feeling: your calendar looks like a game of Tetris, your inbox is spiraling, and your to-do list? It’s a scroll, not a list. You’re busy. Overloaded. And honestly, unsure where to even begin.

The HR Trifecta: Capability, Competence, and Confidence

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:21:56 GMT

Too often, HR gets reduced to surface-level impressions - nice intentions, a knack for handling people issues, maybe a solid operational partner. But in today’s workplace? That’s not nearly enough.

AI and Empathy: The HR Leader’s Guide to a Tech-Enhanced Future

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:12:38 GMT

Seasoned HR professionals are very fond of telling new HR grads or HR pros in the early stages of their careers a line that has become a tired cliché that is so hard-to-hear. What is it? “If you like people, don’t get into HR.” (and then they add the disclaimer of “I’m joking…not really…”).

The Grouch: Getting Rid of the Curmudgeon in You

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 17:43:32 GMT

The difficulty of being a curmudgeon is deep and wide. As a rapidly-becoming older person, the temptation to slide into the glass being perpetually half-empty becomes more appealing. “Nothing” will ever be as good as it once was, and it is my job to highlight those failures through an unwelcome twelve-point treatise. Now while I don’t actually do this (please God, don’t have me do this!), I am struck by how many do. We look back on what once was with rose-colored glasses, focusing solely on how good life once was (lies, all lies).

Wicked Game: Toxicity Shouldn't Be the Way to Build Fortitude

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:15:21 GMT

Mr Cellophane

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

My kids are talented. Obviously.

All throughout their childhoods, there were marked opportunities for greatness and future renown. Now, I know that every parent thinks this, but they’re wrong. My kids were the best (says every parent). My son was destined for MLB, my eldest daughter was going to be the next Matisse, and my youngest daughter was Broadway-bound. Look, I had great expectations.

What You Don't Know - Expectation Management and High Performance

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:45:00 GMT

Marriage is one of the best examples of expectation management. As someone who has traveled this road for almost 27 years, I have messed up and fallen short of that expectation management often (shocking, right?). I thought she would know something I needed or wanted automatically. Guess what? She did not. And I didn’t know hers either. That’s part of the fun of figuring this out. However, it doesn’t always feel like fun. It can be tense, hurtful, and annoying.

Build Me Up, Buttercup: The Call for Activated Competencies

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:35:31 GMT

A favorite TV show of mine, Alias, focused on Sydney Bristow (played by Jennifer Garner – love, love, love her). She is a spy extraordinaire. Each episode saw her use those spy skills across the globe ruining various terrorist and extremist plans. To be sure, she was not just thrown into those missions without preparation. Besides a very helpful team, she was constantly developing her competencies— mastering new languages, learning advanced tech skills, adapting to high-stakes environments and more. Her ability to navigate complex situations, many times happening on the fly, stems from deliberate, ongoing skill development.

Kind and Generous - Gratitude as a Business Imperative

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:29:47 GMT

Think about how many times you write “thank you” or “thanks” to end an email. Maybe your signature is automated to include this without any thought on your part. “Thanks” seems like the right thing to do. We have become conditioned more from a mannerly perspective to offer a thank you rather than out of true considerate gratitude. I mean, are we really saying thank you to the person who wrote you a nasty email? Are we really saying thank you to our manager who chewed us out for something that wasn’t our fault? Well, your email says you’re thankful.

You Learn - Blind Repetition Does Not Lead to Skill Development

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

We like to mess with things. Joaquin Phoenix delivered a visually stunning, if not uncomfortably magnificent, performance in 2019’s The Joker. He went on to win the Academy Award. His approach to a very well-known villain was fresh, psychologically complex, and disturbingly relatable. And so, what does Hollywood want to do? Capitalize on it with a sequel. Despite the fact that more times than not the original performs better, we press into the popularity of the character(s) and provide a weak storyline hoping to just have people show up out of nostalgia. Think of Miss Congeniality 2, Legally Blonde 2, Ace Ventura 2, any Planet of the Apes and more.

A Look the 2024 HR Technology Conference: Hot Trends

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:01:05 GMT

Working to make technology work better. Isn’t that what we believe our technology partners are doing? After a week at the Human Resources Technology Conference in Las Vegas, it sure seems like that is just what they are doing. The embracing of artificial intelligence as the norm rather than a trendy addition to be cast aside within a couple of years was visible in almost all the platforms on display. Closing the divide in how that AI will be used – both from compliant and workflow perspectives – has been an obvious goal of these HR management, payroll and learning systems.

Shadow Dancing: Phantom Development Practices Abound

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:15:00 GMT

Have you been fascinated with having special powers? As a kid comic book enthusiast, I would spend hours reading the adventures of various superheroes. When those stories came to life on the small or big screen, I was front and center (still am, truth be told). Steve Austin, The Six Million Dollar Man, was a stud. He was the world’s first bionic man. For those of a certain age, do you remember this mid-1970’s TV Show intro? “Steve Austin. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man…Steve Austin will be that man. We can make him better than he was before. Better…Stronger…Faster.” YES! I was hooked. He was built to be the best.

Urgent: Stress and Anxiety at the Workplace

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:04:48 GMT

Remember the kid who got picked last in kickball? Perhaps it was you standing there feeling the anxiety of others being scooped up to a team while you hang out there in social purgatory. It’s a recipe for a core memory that you’d prefer not to have.

Catch My Breath

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:53:10 GMT

After being at #SHRM24 last week, I needed a minute to catch my breath. I got to hang with 26,000 of my closest friends in Chicago where we learned, connected, laughed and jammed out to Kelly Clarkson. The vibe was energizing. To be honest, it is surprising to see this many people gathering for the annual conference while breaking records year over year. It speaks to the need for engaging education and professional networking for practitioners across the globe.

I Get Money: Compensation Strategies Don't Just Happen

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:04:32 GMT

Compensation strategies vary, but cash is still required to make it work. With businesses owing trillions in debt though credit lines, leveraged financing, SBA lending and more, the flexibility in simply adding 3-6% to compensation becomes more difficult to guarantee.

Doctor! Doctor! - Vulnerability at WorkHuman Live

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:37:29 GMT

I had the pleasure of attending WorkHuman Live, once again, this past week. One of the things I love about this conference is its ability to drive diverse kinds of workplace conversations amongst attendees. We are offered opportunities to connect and to discuss what we’ve been hearing from the content delivered. We share ideas and dream about what could be in our organizations. We find those like-minded individuals who will help encourage us and keep us accountable. It is an incredibly special time.

Storm Front Coming: Why You Need an Inclement Weather Policy

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Yesterday, here along the Gulf Coast of the US, an outbreak of storms (wind, rain, tornado warnings), had us at heel before it moved along on its eastward swing.

Personally, since we’re a remote-forward organization, I didn’t have much to worry about other than wondering if I would lose electricity and/or WiFi. (Naturally, because we pay heed to the local meteorologists, we also had our shelter-in-place room ready, made sure the generator was geared up, and laid in a supply of “storm snacks.”).

Yet, as I wandered about the internet and various discussion boards (WiFi survived!), I was once again struck by the number of companies that fail to plan for either inclement weather or other types of disasters that may befall their business operations.

Waiting for a Girl Like You: Is Your Talent About to Leave?

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:11:08 GMT

In the movie Life Itself, Oscar Issac’s character, Will, has a great line about waiting for the right moment to ask out Abby (Olivia Wilde). He is waiting for the right moment because when he starts this relationship with her, he is all in. There won’t be any turning back. He wants to ask her out at the right moment to set that tone from the onset. He’s waiting with a purpose.

Moneytalks: What the Tech We're Buying in HR Tells Us

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:58:10 GMT

The Antiques Roadshow is a revelation. Each episode highlights people with “finds” from Grandma’s attic, or similar place, as they wait in line to meet with a value expert from a particular field of antiquity. The go-to-auction prices knock me off my chair at times. Who would pay such a price? The antique experts say there are those people out there. I believe them since it’s their business. But the basic business concept still rings true: People will pay what they believe it’s worth, not what someone tells them it’s worth.

Love and Affection in the Workplace

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:01:37 GMT

One of the most consequential relationships adults who work outside the home experience is the one they have with their employer and, by extension, their job.

Yet, in the realm of human experience, “love” is often associated with the relationships we have with romantic partners, friends, family, and higher-order beings while we often overlook its significance in the workplace. And love at work is significant; who among us hasn’t had an acquaintance exclaim “I just LOVE my job!” Expressions of affection towards one’s job are not uncommon, and the sentiment resonates with many…even if it may fade over time.

As employees we WANT to love our jobs; we want that spine-tingling “I just got an offer!” feeling to last for years and years.

I'll Remember: Doing Work and Appreciating the Journey

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:01:47 GMT

Working for the objective might mean you miss the joy along the way. That’s it. That’s the message to take with you today.

Defining Talent. And Why it Matters.

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 12:45:00 GMT

Hurray! You’ve successfully hired Bob to fill the Sr. Widget Specialist job you’ve had open for 6 months. It was a challenging role to fill for a variety of reasons; factors that came into play included location, compensation, and organizational factors such as your WFH policy and benefit offerings.

With the start date of Bob confirmed (and he showed up!), it can be very easy to assume the “talent” part of the employee experience is over and done. You found the talent, acquired the talent, and now have the talent sitting at his desk and doing the work.

Dancing in the Dark: Moving Compensation Practices into the Light

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:28:21 GMT

Where is value placed? Relationships. There you go. That’s the end of the story. But wait. I can’t pay my bills with relational currency. I’ve tried. The mortgage lender sent me a letter saying as such.

Memories: Committing to a Healthier Look Back to Move Forward

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 16:56:12 GMT

It’s difficult to look forward. There are obstacles in your way. Often, the largest one is looking backward. But how do you stop yourself from doing it? The answer is simple – you don’t.

Missing You: Common Ground is There if You Look for It

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:30:00 GMT

My Dad passed away.

The Year in Review: 2023 Edition

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 15:15:23 GMT

As we prepare for the onslaught of “the year ahead” posts from various and sundry pundits, vendors, HR bloggers and LinkedIn “Influencers.” I thought it might be interesting to look BACK at what transpired in 2023.

Setting the HR Agenda (When You Want to Do ALL THE THINGS!)

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:03:57 GMT

I recently had a conversation with a friend who had started a new job as HR Director at a mid-sized company, She was PUMPED! The interview experience was top-notch and the Leadership team was excited to bring in a high-level HR leader (her!) to drive initiatives forward. Naturally they had all sorts of items on their “wish list” and the CEO, as would be expected, had even more. As the newest member of this visionary and forward-thinking team, the opportunities to deliver impactful and innovative HR promised to be endless.

I Didn’t Know My Own Strength – Facing Discomfort Develops Our Critical Response

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Myopic is a fantastic word, but it’s an awful existence. We have cultivated a society mired in narrow views and a “what’s in it for me” mentality. Of course, there are altruistic endeavors that we may pursue, but often, even in those, we do what is comfortable for each of us and only for a designated period of time. We want what works for us, whether that pisses you off is not a primary, secondary or third (I think 3^rd should have some sort of special word here, like the first two) consideration.

For You I Will – Advocating for the Underdog at Work

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:30:00 GMT

Can I be a true Philadelphian without loving Rocky? I don’t think so. The story of an underdog is a perennial favorite for any lover of gritty characters. We want to see those who work hard, who don’t seek attention for themselves, and who operate with a sense of values and compassion succeed. We want to root for them. It makes for a great movie.

Promises, Promises: The Wooing of Candidates

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:48:25 GMT

The wooing of talent takes skill, determination, availability…and a bit of luck. We don’t like that luck part. It’s out of our control. I can make myself available. I can improve my skills in rapport development, full spectrum sourcing, and job marketing. I can put the dedicated time in. But catching someone at the right place, right time and in the right mood? That isn’t in our control.

Radioactive: HR Technology Relevance and Assessment

jbaldino@humareso.com (John Baldino) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:27:19 GMT

How is it possible that The Simpsons is about to start Season 35? I remember when it first began as a short on The Tracy Ullman Show (a phenomenal show in its own right), and now, with hundreds of millions of dollars earned, The Simpsons is an institution.

Powering People with your Company Mission

rschooling@humareso.com (Robin Schooling) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:45:00 GMT

Lots and lots of companies have mission statements – an explanation, in concise and simple terms, that defines the company’s reason for existence and its purpose. It’s often one of the top “to-do’s” that company founders or entrepreneurs tackle.