In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Sarah Chandler, VP of HR at Hensley Beverage Company, to talk about what it takes to keep HR high touch as AI changes the way work gets done.

Sarah shares why she sees HR as both a people function and a process function. For her, AI is not a replacement for the human side of HR. It is an efficiency expert that can help HR teams move faster on reporting, reminders, documentation, communication, and analytics so people leaders can spend more time on the moments that require judgment, trust, and connection.

The conversation covers how HR leaders can guide AI adoption across a workforce with different communication preferences, different levels of trust, and five generations working at the same time. Sarah explains why fear around AI cannot be dismissed, why early adopters still need guardrails, and why managers remain central to performance conversations, employee trust, and culture.

Sarah also shares practical examples from a blue-collar, 24/7 environment, including AI-supported employee complaint documentation, the limits of automated exit surveys, and why routing decisions still need human knowledge of stores, competitors, timing, and local context. The episode is a grounded look at what HR should automate, what it should protect, and how leaders can help employees think more intentionally about what parts of their work should stay human.

Topics Discussed:

• Why HR needs both people connection and process discipline
• How AI can act as the efficiency expert so HR can stay focused on people's work
• Why analytics, reminders, documentation, and reports are strong AI use cases for HR teams
• How HR can train employees to use AI safely while protecting confidential employee data
• Why do five generations in the workplace create different reactions to AI adoption
• How AI can amplify existing communication issues between leaders and employees
• Why managers still need human judgment in performance conversations
• What Sarah refuses to outsource to AI, including high-value exit and stay interviews
• How written complaint intake can save time, improve documentation, and reduce emotional escalation
• Why blue-collar operations still need human context even when AI can optimize routes
• How employees can assess what parts of their job should be automated and what should stay uniquely human

If you are an HR leader trying to use AI without losing trust, judgment, or human connection, this episode offers a practical look at how to rebalance the work of HR around the moments that matter most.

Additional Resources:

• Cleary's AI-powered HR Chatbot
• Future Proof HR Community
• Connect with Sarah Chandler on LinkedIn