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What Michigan’s National Championship Can Teach Leaders About Teamwork at Work | HR Hot Topics
What does a national championship teach us about teamwork at work?
In this month’s HR Hot Topics, Jodi Schafer breaks down what leaders can learn from Michigan’s men’s basketball championship run—and how those same teamwork principles apply in the workplace.
This episode covers:
Why teamwork is a real business advantage
How role clarity improves performance
Why communication matters more than personality
Five5 practical ways leaders can build stronger teams
How to improve collaboration, accountability, and trust at work
If your team is struggling with communication, burnout, or performance, this episode is for you.
Timestamps
00:00 – What Michigan’s championship teaches us about teamwork
00:38 – Welcome to the April edition of HR Hot Topics
01:19 – Why teamwork was the real difference-maker
02:27 – Leadership lessons from a championship team
03:43 – Teamwork is a business advantage, not a soft skill
04:56 – Why role clarity matters
06:01 – Teamwork issues are often clarity issues
07:04 – Five practical ways to improve teamwork
08:10 – Set a shared goal
09:16 – Clarify roles and responsibilities
09:52 – Normalize healthy conflict
11:47 – HRM’s upcoming leadership training
13:07 – Final takeaway
If your leaders need help with communication, accountability, and difficult employee issues, check out HRM’s website – www.workwithhrm.com or reach out to [email protected].
Independent Contractor Rule Slated to Change in 2026: What Employers Need to Know | HR Hot Topics
Independent contractor classification rules are shifting again at the federal level.
In this month’s episode of HR Hot Topics, Jodi Schafer breaks down the Department of Labor’s proposed rule change and what it means for employers trying to properly classify workers as independent contractors (1099) or employees (W-2).
Misclassification can be extremely costly — including back wages, unpaid taxes, penalties, unemployment exposure, and workers’ compensation liability.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What the new proposed federal rule says
• How the economic reality test works
• Why classification is still complicated at the state level
• What practical steps employers should take now
⏱ Timestamps:
0:00 – Why independent contractor rules are changing again
0:49 – Why classification continues to be confusing
1:39 – Overview of the proposed federal rule change
2:23 – How administrative rulemaking works
4:21 – The proposed economic reality test explained
5:25 – Additional factors under the proposal
6:38 – Why there is still no bright-line test
7:03 – Why governmental agencies scrutinize 1099 classifications
8:52 – Federal vs. Michigan classification standards
10:02 – Practical advice for employers
11:15 – Financial risks of misclassification
12:33 – Leadership training opportunities (April & May)
If you have questions about worker classification or need assistance reviewing contractor relationships, contact HRM Services at workwithhrm.com.
How a Strong Onboarding Process Impacts your Retention Rates | HR Hot Topics
Are your new hires set up for success or just thrown into the deep end?
In this episode of HR Hot Topics, host Jodi Schafer breaks down what effective onboarding actually looks like, how it differs from basic orientation, and why doing it well is one of the smartest retention strategies you can invest in.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why most onboarding programs fall short
✅ What to do before your new hire's first day
✅ How to structure week one for maximum engagement
✅ Tips for maintaining momentum during the first 90 days
✅ Simple metrics to evaluate onboarding effectiveness
Whether you're a small business without a formal HR team or a growing company looking to improve retention, this episode offers practical strategies that don’t require a big budget — just thoughtful planning.
📌 Need an onboarding checklist to get started? Reach out to [email protected].
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Why onboarding matters now more than ever
01:25 – Orientation vs. Onboarding: What's the difference?
02:47 – Startling statistics on onboarding effectiveness
04:15 – The 3 phases of onboarding
• 04:30 – Phase 1: Pre-boarding
• 06:00 – Phase 2: Day One / Week One
• 07:40 – Phase 3: Week Two to Month Three
09:10 – How to measure onboarding success
10:00 – Practical takeaways and encouragement to start small
Michigan Minimum Wage, Unemployment & Sick Time Laws: What Employers Need to Know | HR Hot Topics
Major HR changes are in effect for Michigan employers in 2026. In this episode of HR Hot Topics, Jodi Schafer breaks down what you need to know about:
🔹 Minimum wage increase on January 1st
🔹 Expanded unemployment benefits and duration
🔹 Making adjustments to your Earned Sick Time Act policies
Whether you’re running a small business or leading an HR team, this episode gives you practical steps to prepare and protect your organization.
🎯 Resources and tools: https://workwithhrm.com/tools/
💼 Learn more about HRM Services: https://workwithhrm.com
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:11 – Minimum Wage Increases
01:01 – Unemployment Benefit Changes
02:08 – ESTA in Effect
02:32 – Frontloading vs. Accrual Models
04:08 – Structuring PTO to Comply with ESTA
05:20 – Final Reminders and Action Steps