{"podcast":{"title":"The HR Connection Podcast with Sabrina Baker","slug":"the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891","podcast_index_feed_id":7359891,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/hrconnectionwithsabrinabaker/feed.xml","website_url":"https://hrconnectionwithsabrinabaker.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/20730227/Copy_of_Copy_of_Intro9du91.png","author":"Sabrina Baker","episode_count":58,"summary":"The HR Connection Podcast with Sabrina Baker is your go-to resource for all things HR in the small business world. This podcast is designed especially for those wearing multiple hats—whether you’re the only HR person at your company, a business owner figuring out HR as you go, or someone who just got handed the HR file and a wish for good luck. Typically designed for those managing HR in a 1-500 headcount firm, although we often talk about navigating life in the less than 100 space because we know that is the space where the most nuance, and most chaos, exists. Each episode will bring real talk (no corporate fluff), practical advice, and helpful insights from Sabrina, and occasionally other members of the Acacia team who truly understand the ups and downs of HR in companies with 1 to 500 employees because they are doing the work every single day. Think of it as your HR support system. One that actually gets what it’s like to do this work in a small business setting.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T04:18:25.001652+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891"},"episode":{"title":"The Policy Nobody Talks About Until They Need It","slug":"the-policy-nobody-talks-about-until-they-need-it","published_at":"2026-05-13T19:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891/the-policy-nobody-talks-about-until-they-need-it","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891","url":"https://hrconnectionwithsabrinabaker.podbean.com/e/the-policy-nobody-talks-about-until-they-need-it/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/u32issvpysm2avfm/HRC_51126-1857ro.mp3","summary":"Most leave policies were written once and never revisited. The result: legal exposure, manager improvisation, and employees navigating a crisis without clear guidance. In this episode, Sabrina and Marie break down why leave of absence is the HR area most likely to catch small employers off guard — and what to do about it. What's covered: The three-layer compliance problem: federal law, state law, and informal practice The most common policy gaps (multi-state coverage, intermittent leave, and process documentation) What a defensible leave process actually looks like from request to return The manager's only job when an employee requests leave: direct them to HR Three things to audit before the end of the week Key point: If you have employees in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, or New Jersey, and your policy doesn't address those state requirements, you have a gap. Check where your employees work — not where your business is incorporated. HR Connection is produced for HR professionals and business owners managing people in organizations with 1–500 employees.","meta_description":"Most leave policies were written once and never revisited. The result: legal exposure, manager improvisation, and employees navigating a crisis without cl…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1344,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891/episodes/the-policy-nobody-talks-about-until-they-need-it/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hr-connection-podcast-with-sabrina-baker-7359891/the-policy-nobody-talks-about-until-they-need-it.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}