We love Halloween, so in honor of one of our favorite holidays, we decided to share some HR horror stories! Be prepared to gasp, laugh, groan, and maybe cry a little. Some of these stories may even give you nightmares! So, grab a stiff drink and prepare to be horrified!

Here is the Reddit link where we got many of the stories. As Trish said, the comments are hilarious!

https://www.reddit.com/r/humanresources/comments/14c54l6/hr_horror_story/?rdt=35764.

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine - related content! Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

And if you love merch (we know we do!), check out our current merchandise offerings! https://whine-with-hr-shop.fourthwall.com/

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

Since we are in Q4 (how is that possible?!), we thought it would be a good idea to re-release Episode 1 from this season on HR trends for 2025. This way, you can check in and see how your organization is doing and what changes you might want to recommend for 2026. Are you seeing any skills gaps looming? How is your employee culture? Have you implemented a financial wellness program for your employees? If you have done one or more of these things, great! Have you tracked the metrics? If not, now is the time so you can head into year's end with data to show the improvements If you haven't, these are all things you may want to be thinking about as we head into 2026. So, grab your favorite beverage and enjoy this episode a second time.

Here are the articles from this week's episode:

TestGorilla: https://www.testgorilla.com/skills-based-hiring/state-of-skills-based-hiring-2024/

PwC Survey: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/workforce/hopes-and-fears.html

ExpressPros: https://www.expresspros.com/newsroom/news-releases/news-releases/2024/08/more-than-two-thirds-of-us-companies-to-train-in-house-talent-amid-cost-cutting-strategies

ZayZoon: https://www.zayzoon.com/blog/state-of-employee-financial-wellness

SHRM Article: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/hr-quarterly/7-trends-that-will-shape-hr-in-2025

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine - related content! https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

And if you love merch, check out our current merchandise offerings! https://whine-with-hr-shop.fourthwall.com/

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

You’ve probably heard us talk about Rockstars and Superstars. If you haven’t heard us talk about that, don’t worry - we’ll explain! In this episode, we’re discussing how both Superstars and Rockstars can show their value to leadership/ownership in a way that can help you advocate for a raise, bonus, or other benefits.

Here are the links to the articles referenced in this episode:

University of Washington: Professional and Continuing Education

https://www.pce.uw.edu/news-features/articles/show-your-value-work

Insperity: https://www.insperity.com/blog/how-to-prove-the-value-of-hr-to-your-companys-decision-makers/

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content! Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

With all the uncertainty in the economy these days, many companies are making cuts to programs, benefits, and even employees. In this episode, we are discussing ways that companies can save money AND their employees! So grab your favorite beverage and join us for this worthwhile discussion! You just might be the answer your company needs!

Here are the links to the articles referenced in this episode: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/cost-savings-examples https://www.yarooms.com/blog/cost-saving-ideas-for-the-workplace https://www.brex.com/spend-trends/expense-management/cost-reduction-strategies-for-reducing-business-expenses https://www.yarooms.com/solutions/sustainable-workplace

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content!

Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

In this episode we are drilling down on the topic of finding candidates with specialized skills. We've got Steve Sova of Sandella Sova Search Partners with us, who specializes in recruiting tax and finance professionals, to share his expertise. We'll cover some of the challenges, the opportunities, and what employers should think about BEFORE they even start their search. You may even want to try the spicy drink suggestion that Melanie Flannery at UniFirst Corporation sent our way! So, grab your favorite glass of vino and join us!

Here is the link to the article we referenced in today's show: https://hingemarketing.com/blog/story/employee-recruitment-strategies-your-10-minute-survivors-guide-to-winning-the-talent-wars

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com. Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content!

Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

HR is often seen as an administrative function or a "revenue-taker", as Trish likes to say. In this episode, we discuss how to turn your department into a revenue MAKER so you can have a seat at the "big" table! And if you're not in HR, but yearn to be a part of the executive team, you'll be able to apply much of what we discuss, so don't skip this episode. Grab an extra-large glass and join us for this important discussion! As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com. Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content! Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR © 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

In this episode, we are discussing the top challenges facing HR professionals. As always, we discuss the challenges, but then give you tips and tricks for overcoming them. So, grab your favorite glass, your favorite beverage, and settle in for a great discussion!

Here's the link to the article we discussed in today's episode: https://recruitee.com/articles/common-hr-issues#4

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content! Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC

Here are the links from this episode:

https://www.workhuman.com/resources/reports-guides/from-praise-to-profits-workhuman-gallup-report/

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/technology/how-ai-is-redefining-employee-recognition-programs

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/flagships/all-things-work/employee-recognition-can-go-long-way-but-has-to-be-done-right

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescommunicationscouncil/2024/03/04/the-next-step-in-employee-recognition-a-culture-of-appreciation/

As always, we are so grateful to you for being a fellow Whino! We would love to hear from you regarding topics you’d like us to discuss or wines you’d like us to try! Feel free to reach out at whine@monarchendeavorsllc.com.

Also, please follow us on Patreon for more wine - and whine- related content! Whine with HR | Where we think about - and drink about - all things HR! | https://www.patreon.com/c/WhineHR

© 2025 Monarch Endeavors, LLC