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Embracing Iceberg Demographics for Deeper Inclusion
You asked for it, so here it is! Hosted by Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld, The CultureCon® Podcast takes the CultureCon experience beyond the conference. Launching this week, it brings you candid conversations with bold thinkers, everyday culture shapers, and unique voices pushing to make work better for everyone.
Each episode offers fresh perspectives, real stories, and ideas you can carry into your work and life.
Built on community support and shared curiosity, this is for anyone passionate about creating meaningful work.
📊 HR Trends: Managers Turning to AI for Performance Reviews
A recent survey shows a growing number of managers now use AI tools to draft or edit performance reviews, sparking debate about authenticity and trust in HR. While some see AI as a time-saver, others worry it replaces human judgment and empathy. If overused, AI might erode the personal touch in feedback cycles, making employees feel evaluated by a machine rather than by a manager who knows them. Read more.
🎧 HR Insights: Embracing Iceberg Demographics for Deeper Inclusion
The concept of iceberg demographics pushes leaders to see beyond visible traits such as age, gender, or race and account for hidden attributes like life experiences, values, and cognitive styles. When HR understands both the seen and unseen aspects of people, inclusion becomes more meaningful. This mindset helps organizations avoid superficial diversity and work toward deeper connection and retention.
💡 HR Tips & Tricks
Tip of the Day: When designing new HR programs (for onboarding, performance, or learning), create a “champion map” before rollout. Identify 3-5 informal influencers across levels who can try the program first, provide feedback, and advocate inside their groups. Their early support will ease broader adoption.
Trick of the Day: Use a reverse feedback loop every quarter: ask a small random sample of employees to anonymously rate how they think HR views them (what strengths, risks HR sees). Compare that with HR’s internal perception data. The gaps expose blind spots in HR’s employee view and help adjust HR strategies to better align with workforce sentiment.
🧾 HR Case Files - Delta Hospital’s Emergency Department Service Interruption
Due to an unexpected physician illness, Delta Hospital’s emergency department in British Columbia temporarily halted normal operations during the overnight hours. Nurses remained on site to assist walk-in basic care cases and to redirect or transfer urgent patients to other hospitals. The interruption highlights how sudden staffing gaps can cascade into service failures, forcing HR and operations to respond under pressure.
Key Takeaways
Even strong staffing plans must include contingencies for acute absenteeism.
Cross-training or backup staffing helps reduce service outages.
Communication protocols must be swift and clear to stakeholders.
HR must coordinate with operations, clinical, and crisis teams for recovery.
🧰 HR Toolbox
Stay equipped with the latest HR events and resources.
Resource of the Day
In 2025, 69% of HR professionals reported reexamining DEI programs in response to shifting regulatory guidance and political pressures. Many organizations are challenged by whether to scale back or reframe DEI efforts. Despite headwinds, nearly all surveyed HR professionals acknowledge that diversity contributes to better organizational performance. The article is timely in offering frameworks for maintaining DEI with legal sensitivity and business alignment.
Event of the Day
SSOW is one of the world’s largest shared services and global business services events. This year it is happening from December 8-10 at Phoenix, AZ. It draws leaders from HR shared services, GBS, operations, and digital transformation. Participants explore how to add value, prove impact, and modernize shared services.
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