HR BESTIES - HR Besties Happy Hour - Antics, Olympics and Politics

Episode Date: August 2, 2024

Welcome back to another Happy Hour, Besties! We’re sure as hell glad it’s Friday. In this Happy Hour: New York or bust Citizenship test Bestie Olympics Ashley's song Friday Feel Goods Your To-Do List: Grab merch, submit Questions & Comments, and make sure that you’re the first to know about our In-Person Meetings (events!) at https://www.hrbesties.com. Follow your Besties across the socials and check out our resumes here: https://www.hrbesties.com/about.  We look forward to seeing you in our next meeting - don’t worry, we’ll have a hard stop! Yours in Business + Bullsh*t,  Leigh, Jamie & Ashley Follow Bestie Leigh! https://www.tiktok.com/@hrmanifesto https://www.instagram.com/hrmanifesto https://www.hrmanifesto.com Follow Bestie Ashley! https://www.tiktok.com/@managermethod  https://www.instagram.com/managermethod https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ https://managermethod.com Follow Bestie Jamie! https://www.millennialmisery.com/ Humorous Resources: Instagram • YouTube • Threads • Facebook • X Millennial Misery: Instagram • Threads • Facebook • X Horrendous HR: Instagram • Threads • Facebook Tune in to “HR Besties,” a business, work and management podcast hosted by Leigh Elena Henderson (HRManifesto), Ashley Herd (ManagerMethod) and Jamie Jackson (Humorous_Resources), where we navigate the labyrinth of corporate culture, from cringe corporate speak to toxic leadership. Whether you’re in Human Resources or not, corporate or small business, we offer sneak peeks into surviving work, hiring strategies, and making the employee experience better for all. Tune in for real talk on employee engagement, green flags in the workplace, and how to turn red flags into real change. Don't miss our chats about leadership, career coaching, and takes from work travel and watercooler gossip. Get new episodes every Wednesday and Friday, follow us on socials for the latest updates, and join us at our virtual happy hours to share your HR stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy Friday, besties. Woohoo! Congratulations to all those who celebrate. We have made it. Wow, y'all aren't excited at all. I was trying to pause and not cross talk. Yay! Me too! Me too. Aw, well this is happy hour. That's right. That's right. not cross talk. Me too. Me too. Well, this is happy hour. That's right. That's right. We'll talk across the bar.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Blah. Blah. Bl. We made it. Another week. Another week. Just another 30 plus years in corporate America. Wow. Okay. Depressing. I'm like all sad. I know.

We need a little more levity. What are we doing this weekend? And I start with that because I've got plans. Well. Everybody's been there. You say it in the form of a question. I mean, that's that. Lee, I like it. That's something I do. Get real excited about something and come in. Normally Lee's reserved, although Lee is reserved because until about two seconds ago, Jamie and I had no idea this was happening, but Lee? Yeah. So I'm going to New York this weekend, New York City, just staying in the city, just playing in the city. I am a city person, FYI, and I do love New York. I absolutely adore it.

And so I'm just spending the weekend there and puttering around and eating stuff and buying stuff and all of that. Love it. Touristy things. Not doing the Statue of Liberty. Holy shit. Oh boy. I've been in New York a million times and I've never been there. You know what? I actually did that last summer with my mom because that was like a bucket list thing

for her and I did not want to do it because the tourists, right? There's actually no Americans that go see it. That's what I deduced from that visit. I mean, so it was hot, you know, everything sticking to everything, making my own sauce, all of that. It was totally beautiful. I'm glad I did it. Check the box. I got the stamp and my national park book, blah, blah, blah. But damn, I'm good looking from afar. So I'm not doing the Statue of Liberty again. I like seeing it, but also I would 100% start crying. But I get so excited.

I've known now a number of people who have gotten their US citizenship and often they've been in the US for years before they get their citizenship. And if you ever have at work someone on your team that's studying for that citizenship test, I do have a challenge because we actually played this at work and it was like, can you do the questions in that test? Oh my God, people that are taking citizenship, this is not like, I don't know, a driving test where you can guess what the wiggly line is. You really have to know your shit and study up. And it's such a beautiful, amazing accomplishment. And so as a result of that, I have a huge book on US history to read because it made me want to learn more about my country. So anyway, citizenship test is no joke.

You're so cute. I know. I was actually just googling like how many Americans could pass. Could you pass the citizenship? Oh, wait, tell us if you find a stat and then Jamie and I will guess. What do you think, Jamie? What percentage? Oh, God. Like without studying. 36%. That's low. But I'd probably say 27. Only one in three Americans could pass it. And I totally believe that because we are so stupid. I don't think I could. I don't know what's on it. It's a hundred questions and it seems like it's hard.

Yeah. You really have to study for it. So it's 33%. I had to think about that in a minute. So Jamie, it was like right between our. Yeah, you really have to study for it. So it's 33%. I had to think about that in a minute. So Jamie, it was like right between our answers, but you were more right. Only one in three. Yeah. Wow.

Totally not surprised. You know, just looking around this place. Oh, gosh, we should just take it for fun. I don't know. Ooh, I don't know. That does not sound like fun. I know, I know, I know, I know. I said that I was like does not sound like fun. I know. I know. I know.

I said that and I was like, okay, that was really nerdy of me. Buy a book on history and do that. I did that actually in Australia as well when we lived there. I actually probably know now more about Australian history than I do US history, having read a few of those books. In a Sunburnt Country is Great by Bill Bryson. But I am going to be very personally excited this weekend to be looking at Lee's Instagram stories, because I guarantee you, you will get a bougie tour of New York

City. And I'm glad you clarified it was New York City and you're not going to like Tarrytown or Rochester, just New York City. City, city. Okay, fair enough. Yeah, just the city. Yeah, just the city. Lee is guarantee you will have a bougie tour on her Instagram stories because last year I went on my first trip with my mom and my daughter and we went to New York City the weekend before the podcast came out. Yeah, I remember. And we went in the first night, we went to a restaurant called Quality Meats and they

have the butter service. And my daughter's like, ooh, can we get the butter service? And I'm like, sure. Then I look at the menu, I'm like, oh my god. It was like $8 gazillion. But I order it. It's so pretty. So of course, I take a picture, as you do, and sent it to Lee and Jamie.

Luckily, oh, is that the butter service at Quality Meats? Bougie. Bougie, she knew it just from the picture. No signage or anything like it. That is correct. Do you have any bougie restaurants or anything like that on set? No, I think I'm going to go to some fun haunts and some more hole in the wall places.

So we'll see what I find. But I will say that multiple times right there, you said, oh, I'm going to be looking at Lee's story. So now I feel some pressure to actually post stories. Oh, no. Because you know, I suck at those, right? Y'all know I don't do, I'm trying. I don't do a lot of like live stories. Like in the moment stories, it's hard for me to do.

I don't even think about it, but I need to. And I need to do more like carousel posts and whatever. I mean, I want to share myself more. But like you said, Ashley, Lee's very reserved. I kind of am, right? I mean, I'm a pretty private person. So I'm trying to believe it or not, God, you know, with this fucking account, I'm so direct and shit. But then there's that other side, right? We're all complex. Okay. Give me a break. She's an onion. Yeah, I'm an onion. You know, Yes. Peel me. I don't know why I said that. But, um, I don't know why I said that.

Peel me, baby. But I will do, I will, I will give you stories. See now that you've kind of like passed me with that, like for Ashley, like I'm going to be posting stories of where I go. Cause I enjoy it and I want to share. I just don't think about it. That's fine.

I'll text you if you're not. Jamie and I would be like, I've seen this thing. Jamie and I would be like in Times Square. Where would we go, girl? The Chili's Fridays right there in Times Square? Yes, you would. Totally. Anyway, be posting away. Yeah. Yeah.

I have a hillbilly confession. You've never been? Nope. Never been. We need to take you. Wait, what? You've never been to New York? I mean, not city. No. I mean, I was born in Buffalo, never been. We need to take you. Wait, what? You've never been to New York? I mean, not city. No. I mean, I was born in Buffalo, New York.

Exactly. Right. Where they make the wings. I've been to New York a few times, but never been to the city. Wow. I went for my first time. I lived in Cooperstown, New York one summer in college. I worked there, not at the baseball hall of fame.

Sometimes I tell people I was the mascot there. They tend to believe me and then I'm like, I'm just kidding. They're like, oh, I kind of thought you were telling the truth. I'm like, I could see it. You could be a mascot. Yeah. No, I worked at the Opera House, Glimmerglass Opera House there as an HR intern. Very cool. Yeah. I met Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the bathroom. Yes. Jeez, that's crazy. Amazing.

Then I drove a show load of people back and forth to the Albany airport and train station. But I took, my aunt and uncle lived in Saratoga. And so I went for the day, just for the day to New York City. And that was my first time. So I guess I was 21. Girl, we are going, Jamie. We can go if you want to go. I mean, I'm down.

I've always wanted to go. Okay. See, some people don't. Fuck it. I'm going this weekend with Lee. Right. Shit. You know, I want to go. OK. But you know what I mean? Like some people are like, oh, I don't want to go. You know, I don't know. It seems like one of those places people super really want to go and go a lot

or like they don't. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah. It's overwhelming. Yeah. I mean, it's mind fucking blowing like that. That exists like that, you know. One of my favorite stats, random, is that Manhattan, right? It's so concentrated with people. It's like eight plus million people, right? But the square mileage, smaller than Disney World in Orlando.

What? It is. Wait, what? It is. That's wild. It is fucking wild. That is so wild. So it's just It is. That's wild. It is fucking wild. That is so wild. So it's just mind blowing.

It's incredible. It's one of those stats that's going to sit in my mind. It's like when you see like, oh, Billy Crystal has hosted SNL 75 times and you're like, oh my God, like, what are there? I mean, I don't think it's that number, but it's, you know, but it's like so much. I was like, wait, what? I was like, I don't think I've ever seen him. But like, it's like, it's like one of those things. And so many times you're like, wait, how many, how like, I don't think I've ever seen him. But like, it's like one of those things.

And so many times you're like, wait, how many episodes in total? And it sits with you. So that's, wow, that's interesting. Isn't that some shit? So we're totally going, girls trip. I'll go any fucking time. You know how I am.

Like I just need one day notice, that's it. I know. So you tell me when. I know, I was like, I want that life. Y'all are like, not me. Yeah, I mean, you know I mean, I'm just whoo. Let's have an adventure. Okay Did you see my face? But I said that sounded like like for boating I'm a big old hoe bag when I go there. I love it, you know staying out late eating late, you know doing whatever

Oh, man. Yeah, it's fun So I okay. I will post stories. Ping me if I'm not posting enough. I don't think I could ever do it like y'all were, you know, how like when you go into someone's stories, you got those little dashes at the top, and they become smaller, right? Because each dash is a story, you know, I'm talking about? God, I sound like totally old, right? But you know, sometimes y'all are like, little dash, little dash, little dash, little dash, little dash. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's so impressive to me that people can do that.

But I think it's boring. Do people want to see what I'm up to? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Hold on. Do you think our stories are boring? Sometimes. I'm like, I can even say that.

Like, I don't think... No, anyone. Equal opportunity. I'm not in the stories a lot for people. So then that's why I don't post mine. Cause I think, well, my shit's boring. No one wants to see this. You know?

I don't know. That's just mentally. I don't know. I like looking at people's stories. You do? Okay. Like people like it? Yeah.

But the HR besties will do, we'll do stories. We'll do a question. And then what I love to do as a hobby is we take the question and then I post the answers and I do it with the answer and an image and a song to go with it. It's like playing DJ and everyone thinks it's Jamie. It is not. It's not, but you do it sometimes too, Jay. But anyway, Jay, but yes. You know, this is funny because now I'm thinking back. The whole reason I even started my social media meme life was because of my stories.

Because people are like, you post the funniest shit. You're actually funny. You should have your own page. And so I'm like, okay, well, maybe people kind of like my shit because I had two different people suggest it to me within a month and that's when I started Humorous Resources. Oh, I love that. I love that. See?

So that's the case for stories right there, right? Yeah. Oh, shit. I'll do better. I loved it. When I was in Maine a couple of weeks ago, a friend of my brother-in-law's sister-in-law's came up to me and she's like, I love HR Besties podcast, but I have to tell you, I love Jamie Jackson.

You like me too. I was like, oh my God, can I get the live footage? Yeah, same. And she was like, I love her humorous resources and Millennial Misery. And like, I mean, it was so, I was real excited. I was like, I'm going to text her. I forgot and I texted her the next day, but it was really, it was real. So yeah, people love, your pages are hilarious.

Because you're using the stories. So what do you have going on Ashley this weekend? Anything fun? Yes, I am going to Florida to visit. We still have a week plus before school starts back. So we are going to go work remotely and take our kids to my mother-in-law's and her partners and my parents' house in the villages. And so I cannot wait. It

is, oh, it is fascinating. I love the villages. There's so many things to do. And so, yeah. Girls' trip. Total girls' trip. My mom, me and dad, but my mom in particular would love this. So what about you, Jay? Well, I'm not traveling anywhere because my boys actually start school next week. Oh geez. Already? Yeah.

Next Wednesday is their first day back. So I am actually, the grandma and grandpa are taking my boys on Friday night and like pretty much all day Saturday and they're doing a whole cousin thing. So they're having like, I don't know how many kids over there, but my husband and I get to have a date. What? Ooh. Yeah. Oh my gosh.

So he's a chef. So what does that look like for a date night? Typically like we'll go to like sushi, like something he doesn't prepare. Right. So he wants sushi, which sounds delusional to me. So, Oh, that's fun. Yeah. And then I got to start actually getting ready for, I haven't bought any school supplies and they go back next week. And that just occurred to me this morning and I was like, fuck. So I guess I'm going to be doing that this week in real life because last weekend

was tax free weekend and you will not catch me dead shopping on tax free weekend. Look, I know it's a deal and I am a bargain queen. Is it though? Yeah, exactly. But I will pay a little bit more for my sanity. Yeah, there's a price. Eight bucks every hundred. I mean, come on. I can't.

No, it's the same as Black Friday. Now let me steal this. Will you be watching any Olympics? Have you been? I've been watching, girl. I've been in girl. Mm-hmm. I've been in the peep cock app. Yeah Nana bestie shit, man. I am old as hell this episode Day, which grandkids set you up with that Nana

Wow, I'm over here the stories and all of this, and now I'm like, the Peacock app. Oh my gosh. Proud with your tail, your colorful tail, proud as a peacock. With that tail. But I'm on my Apple TV with the Peacock app. They're doing that multi-screen bullshit. That can't be your thing.

Well, actually, you like the distraction. So I like the noise. Yeah. And so, you know, that's always on and whatnot. And then I watched the prime time coverage to get the recap on all the things, you know, but I was crying like a bitch this week watching Simone hashtag redemption. Totally. You know, I'm not going gonna do any spoiler alerts for anybody.

I realize people may be, you know, watching over the weekend or whatever. Skip ahead for- But, ooh, love, you know, I cry. I'm one of those, I'm crying. I'm just so proud of them personally. All that work, fuck. I can barely walk in a straight line, y'all. Whatall What the fuck you know I have another hillbilly confession. I'm just not a huge fan of watching the Olympics

Why is that bad does that make me an American? I mean not just American the good I mean, it's fine every I just I don't know I like making memes, okay Yeah, you'd like the Olympic memes. Yeah. So would that be your Olympic event? Yes. Olympic memes. Yeah. I like that. Yes.

I respect that. Okay. So that's a good question. So then what would you win golden if it was an Olympic sport? So mine would probably be making memes or going savage on my besties haters. I've never seen anything like it. I mean, honestly, several times I thought, I need to block Jamie from my page, man.

Damn. I know. Sometimes they said me things and said, please don't interact, Jamie. She's like, I can't help myself. I went in, see her going in hot. I'm like, don't give them the engagement. She's like, brr, the Hulk comes out big green.

What about you, Leigh? What's your prowess? I'd win a lot of different medals. Jesus. I'm just being honest. You know what I mean? I'm just confident is all. I'm not eager to.

I just get a lot of shit. But I definitely win a gold in packing a suitcase. Whoa. To me, there's a science. I just have all the best equipment for the travel. I'm one of those. I've watched like 100 YouTube videos on how to pack strategically. So I only use a carry-on and I could spend, which I did two years ago, a month in another

country with just a carry-on. I love that. But now you got to post a picture of that on your stool. That's what I was just about to say. Well I've got everything laid out right now for New York. And so I'll do, I'll show the before like it's all laid out on the bed and then I'll show it in the suitcase and just how gorgeous it looks like a puzzle. It's beautiful.

I will tell you, you have a rival for that medal and it's going to be like Tanya and Nancy back and forth ice skating battle of your rival. It is not me, my suitcase is. No, I know that. Question. I almost took a photo of you in the condo. My Amazon bags unpacked, clothes all folded. It is my mother. Mama manager method has been complimented by TSA, who stopped her not to inspect things, but to tell her she did such a nice job packing.

And so I'm going to make her send a picture of how she does it. And we are going to have a vote on the HR besties story. So you need to text us the picture. So I'll... Okay. Let me remember. Yeah. And I'll... We'll remind you. But I'm excited about this because I know you bring a strong game and now you're going to bring a stronger game because you're getting a little bit of a heads up. I'm already thinking about it. Okay. Well, I'll tell you, my Olympic medal, I think would be writing song lyrics.

Oh, yeah. Or like a poem that's like, I like to write poems, really more poems that I wrote during COVID one called the Ballad of the Quarantine Mom that I thought was good. I say that because I put that out there. It was relatable. I read it now and it's a little hard to go back mentally to that place. But I wrote one the other day. And so you may see this coming soon on my stories, but I wrote a song about the job

search process. And then what did you do? And then what did you do? And then what did you do with those lyrics? I recorded it. And I went to, I went to Fiverr because I recorded it and it sounded so bad. But so I went to Fiverr because I'd like to record it and have it be a song. I can make a video about it. I uploaded to Fiverr, to this guy that said, I'll mix your audio.

I said I looked at a few of them and I looked and listened to some of their examples. It sounded so good as finished product. I looked and it didn't say anywhere on the page, like contact me for a quote beforehand. He later claimed it did. I uploaded my audio, just me, just me, no backtracks. I do play guitar, but it's not, it's not, no guitar. So I was texting Lee and Jamie, so I did it. And I look and I'm all, you know, when's it going to get? I look first, it's like delivery date has been extended by a week. He's probably like this bitch.

Then I get a message and he said, I think you need to research what mixing means before you place orders. And he was, I wouldn't say rude, but direct. And he was like, this has, because also then after, after I had already paid and done it, there was questionnaire and I started to think, maybe I don't have a full understanding of what I'm supposed to be doing because I just thought he'd add automatically or AI, I don't really care. All of the things. Anyway, he's like, no. And so he's like, canceling orders is hard. If that's why I have a note to say contact

and again, I don't, I searched, I searched the term, but that's fine. He canceled my order. And so now I've paid an older man to record the song. So we'll see. But I just realized I haven't, he was going to give me a quote and it's now been a week and I haven't heard back. And so I sent it, Lee, I told the ladies about this. And so Lee texted days later, she's like, I keep laughing. I'm thinking about this. So Lee recorded it, the vocal of it. So maybe we'll end up doing it that way.

But anyway. Oh man. And it's not my best work. No, I asked for the lyrics because I was under the understanding, oh, you wanted, like you were paying someone to perform it. And so I was like, oh, well, I could put it to a tune real quick. So when I was taking a shit, I started just singing it into my phone, like first pass, like really, let me just put it to a tune or whatever.

You know what I mean? And then I said that, you know, oh man. And it was great. Yeah. People have a shower voice sometimes. Lee has a water closet voice that's... It's really beautiful. It made me excited to do karaoke again. But anyway, we'll see. I love the karaoke. But I do like to write a descriptive poem. And I wrote a couple rap songs when I was in college. And so there we are. But I won't say this. Now, are you winning gold though? Or is that more bronze? Just based on the fiver response. I'm just asking.

Yeah, that one wouldn't even make the podium, to be honest with you. But my Ballad of the Quarantine Mom and a couple after that, I'd have to say I'd go for at least a silver, at least a silver, maybe not gold, but I feel pretty good about those. You know what I find this is, I find Olympics to be a lot more unifying coming together than right now. If those of you at work are navigating, and I know you are because we get a lot of messages on this, politics at work, especially in the US, in the US right now. This is an interesting dynamic.

And I'll say this is that I didn't realize, I've now been in two countries, lived in two countries when they had different electoral systems. And so I was studying abroad in France when they had an election. And France obviously comes out in droves and protests and things like this. And they had huge ones in 2002, when I was studying abroad. But they have like a nice short, like eight week process. And it's like ranked choice voting. You're like, I'd put this person first, second, third, whatever. It's like a tight process. Australia, a little country, they have one day of voting. One day, it's on a Saturday. It's required. And if you don't vote, it's $20, and you can't vote by mail. But the way they do it, so it's on a Saturday, so most people can work, or if you work on the weekends, you can do it ahead of time.

But one day, and every voting place is like a local public elementary school. So my kids was at their primary school. And so we went and a grade, it happened to be my son's grade, you run a sausage, a sausage sizzle, which is basically a barbecue. And you have like a nice coffee thing there sausages. And it's a fundraiser for the school. And so people go, everyone comes, they bring their kids, people go fricking nuts. But again, like the politics process, there's like sign, there's no like none of this like

two years of campaigning. It's like signs on street posts for like about two weeks before the election. It happens in people move on opposite of the US, which is like, it's like crazy. See, I love that you shared that, right? Because we have a lot of people that listen from all over. I think half of my Instagram following is non-American, just looking at the metrics. So I'll share stuff. They're like, what the hell?

So I know we have a lot of international, other country, non-American listeners, however you want to put that. And so I think that's insightful to share that no shit, like there's been campaigning for three years even. I mean, right? I mean, it's just like, it's continuous at this point, right? So it does get exhausting and people get frustrated. Yeah.

And I can't stand the commercials. That's what I like. And they're like, you know, with their false claims and every party does it. It's just so frustrating. I'm like, you're calling, you know, Billy Joel, whatever. I don't know. I just, I hate the commercials. I know. And they're screaming at you too, right? It's like, what? It's crazy. And in Tennessee, they're always like very religious based too, because this person's not a Christian. It's just like, I'm like, oh, I hate these commercials.

I can't wait till they're over with. I do think especially at work and I actually, in HR, I think it's hard because you're trying to find some like, ideally trying to find some mounts or if you're a manager, but I think no matter what your job is, it's really hard topic. And I did a post earlier this week just about like, I do these like manager Monday tips instead of a manager. You know, I'm sure you've seen or heard leaders that will say like, vote for this candidate. Like they either explicitly direct or expect people will vote for a candidate or they imply

it. And it can, on either side, I think it makes people really uncomfortable. You know, instead of saying like that, or if you don't like this person, you don't have a job here, which people have heard time and time again. But instead to talk about respect. And I got like one comment on LinkedIn that was like, well, don't tell people not to talk politics at the office. And I, and I said, well, no, no, I didn't. And I think there's very few topics. And I know Jamie and I talked about this, that in the US in particular, every state is like a patchwork of laws. And there's some states that are like, you can talk about anything you want at work.

But my thing is managers and people, whenever you're in a position of power, when you start talking or assuming things about people, it creates that power dynamic that can make things super uncomfortable. And so it's hard because I vote, I grew up going to political rallies with Mama manager method and I, I think it's really important to be invested in the process. But I just think it's, I don't talk about, I don't talk about political candidates on my main manager method accounts because I just think everything I do is really about helping people at work.

And all three of us is like finding your voice in things. And I get it that almost everybody, you feel whatever your position is, is the right one. But I think in personal life, that's true. At work, I've had really productive conversations with people where we have completely different thoughts. Even if we support the same candidates, we have different positions on things. I just think there's so many dynamics that at work, like someone was like, I think people should have training on how to have respectful conversations about politics at work.

I'm like, I mean, as I said to ladies, like the road to hell is paved with trying to set up a political debate in the workplace. Yeah. And you have to be really careful. Ashley can probably speak more to this though than I, And you have to be really careful. Ashley can probably speak more to this though than I, but you have to be really careful because some states, depending on where you're located, have certain protections over political free speech.

And you can't put out a blanket statement like, we will not talk about this. And everyone's entitled to their own opinion, even though they may be wrong. Exactly. Exactly. I always love to say, yeah, you've got free speech, but that doesn't make you exempt from the consequences of that speech.

And especially in the workplace. I think we've all had that employee, hey, I've got rights, I've got free speech. Okay, well, you're still a dick. Well, and that's legal me. I've had to have that question with people, literally people, that have said, don't I have free speech? And I say, well, we are not a government employer. And in the US, free speech is if you work for the government, but if you work for a

private meeting, like a for-profit or, you know, otherwise an employer, no, your employer generally depend less, another law says otherwise, can. But overall, I mean, I come from the approach of, as organizations, I think it's really important to support your employees as individuals and who they are. And that's where I think organizations and where you're providing, whether you're thinking of benefits and policies and just the way you talk and treat each other and not having jokes or, you know, like, thinking thinking about cultural religious holidays, thinking about others and that level of empathy. I think in organizations where you bring that level of empathy, then yeah, I actually do

think people who want to, often at that colleague level, rather than like reporting structure level, but colleagues can have productive conversations about things like politics. But if you don't have those basic levels of empathy, or you're trying to bring it all from a place of your board and the PAC, the Political Action Committee, that your organization reports to, you are making people really uncomfortable. Oh, yeah. And that's why my advice to folks is just don't, for the point you actually make there Ashley about belonging in the workplace because it can be very divisive.

You know what I mean? It really can be, especially with how just heated US politics are. And so especially if you're a leader, is it worth it? Right? Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? Right? You know, I love saying that. Like, is it worth alienating Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? I love saying that. Is it worth alienating somebody on your team? Is it worth losing some credibility or respect? Because that's

what you will lose because that's how passionate people are about politics in this country and their values, the politics which they equate to values. So is it worth it? I don't think so. Right? I mean, so it's one of those, yes, everyone should be free to be themselves and bring their whole selves to work. But with some topics, just know there's consequences if you bring them up. And is it worth it? again, especially as a leader, I'd say no. I've never seen one of those conversations go well. Let me put it that way. I just personally, personally, and I refuse to have them because I don't want, I try to

be as neutral as possible, like at work, right? I want to be a safe place for everybody. So I try not to bring controversial subjects up because I feel like, oh, well, then that may alienate someone from coming to me. I try my best to just be for everybody, if that makes sense. So I don't know. It's tough, right? Sucks. I've had actually some pretty good, even including like with the CEO when I was in legal insurance, and completely different sides of the political spectrum, but like good and back and forth.

And I remember thinking really happily about that. But often I've seen people I work with, people I'm friends, and I may be friends with them on social media and I see posts. It makes me think about if I ever did a personal post, like not to try to disparage somebody else. And it's hard, and in politics, I know it's hard because sometimes you see them and they're very funny on all realms. But I agree.

I just think supporting people as individuals and thinking about their qualities and one of the great things about work is that you will encounter people. It's one of the very few areas of real life where you will encounter people different from you. And so if you're coming to it with that seek to understand and just get a sense of what their life is like, their challenges and think about their perspective, it's a lot harder to do that if it comes from a lens of this is my candidate, this is not yours and I'm going to assume all of these things about you just based on this candidate.

And that's where I just think it's tricky. And I know we've had people listen and will say, how do you navigate this? And I don't know. Anything else, Jamie? No. Nope. She's like, oh, nope. Nope.

I just would, you know, I would just say, you know, be careful, but also know the laws in your state and be mindful that, you know, some of it is protected. Yeah. And that's a good point right there, that it's fucking complicated. So just don't. Don't. That's why I'm like, so just don't. Well, that's why I say just telling.

My general message is knowing people talk about things that you're, to the extent people are comfortable, but no, everyone isn't comfortable talking about something you want to talk to. So read the room and know sometimes it can be a nice place where you show up and you have good relationships. And there were people I worked with, I mean, most people I worked with, I couldn't tell you who they vote for. And I don't care because I know them as a person and it's not my business to have a flow chart of all of that.

But anyway, I just know it's hard and it's going to be very nasty in the US the next few months and that I don't love. And so that's why I think it's incredibly important to remind people to just be respectful of each other as individuals. Exactly. Civility. Civility. Civility. Oh, gosh. On that note, positive, positivity, positive vibes to leave everybody with. Positivity. Do you have a cup of tea at this happy hour?

Of course. I'm always drinking the iced tea, not the iced tea, not the hot tea, but to all Texan, I'm lifting up my big ass gallon cup. But any good news? Anything we want to share? Anything? Anything? Jay, you got anything? Getting you on the spot? She's like, no. I know. She's real quick to be like, we have your date night. Oh yeah, date night. Yeah. Take a food picture, put it on the socials. I'm giving you all assignments. I'm going to send you

a son of tasks. Check it off when you're done, Lee. Instagram stories. Oh, I know. Look, we all have actions this weekend. I'm excited. So my manager 101 course had been previously certified for Shurm PCD credits, but it is currently being evaluated for HRCI. So if you remember HRCI, time credits, those kind of certification credits.

And so it's designed for managers. So it's not an HR 101, it's manager 101, but includes those topics and meets all of the learning development criteria. So hopefully by next happy hour, I'll have a positive update. I'll pop it in our stories when it gets accredited. Badass.

Yay, that's awesome. Early congrats. I know. Why did I do that? It's gonna be so... No, don't jinx yourself. Oh, I know. Oh my god.

It'll be a good... Bronze medal. A good story. Oh gosh. No, that's good. Oh, well early congrats. That's... Failures.

I failed. Oh my god. That's next happy hour topic. It is. Failures are just opportunities for learning, as we all know. Now you know not to talk out your ass. No, you'll get it, of course. It's an amazing course.

If you haven't checked it out, absolutely do. ManagerMethod.com there, a little plug. Look at them. All right, what you got? Your good stuff. I've got to go pack. I'm so excited about it. That's my good stuff.

I'm excited about packing. I'm going to text my mom under the table right here. I'm just going to tell her to. I'll go up against her any damn time. I won't shy away. I'll let her know whether she needs to read back. She just came back from a trip. So, mom, do you have a picture?

If not, you need to. Oh, bless her. She would. She would. Although she doesn't have time. I know. They've got Spanish class. That's true.

She's busier than me. She tries to water jog a 5K every morning in a pool at the villages. I thought of that. I tell you what, it's, yeah. I love that. Terrible. It's, well, it's amazing. I know, I love that part.

Yeah, no, no, it's great for, it's great for, she ran a marathon later in life, in her 50s. She graduated law school, ran her first marathon, and she started running half marathons every month for like a period of time. So anyway. Wow. See, I think we should add on that note, let

mama manager method inspire you to do something with your life. Go find a pool. Go break. Oh, it's not too late. Go break and enter into a pool. Water, jog a 5k, take your time. If the police come after you, just jog real quick to the other side of the pool. At least you got something for your stories. Oh my God. Have a friend with you so it's safe. Oh, shit. And it'll make a little more fun. But oh, well, gosh, on that note, everyone go water jog this weekend.

Enjoy the weekend. Bye.