Overview:

In this special Halloween episode, Candice Elliott reflects on slowing down, personal transitions, and the connection between life and death that Halloween embodies. She also shares updates on her latest creative project—a book about motherhood and feminine authority—while offering heartfelt advice on navigating life's changes.

Key Highlights:

• Slowing Down: Candice explores how the seasonal transition invites us to slow down without stopping, embracing a pace that allows for connection and presence in our lives.
• Honoring Ancestors and Cycles: Halloween marks a time to reflect on life's natural cycles and honor those who have passed.
• Book Update: Candice shares details about her upcoming book, focused on postpartum experiences, systemic injustice, and reclaiming feminine authority.
• Supporting New Moms: Candice encourages listeners to support new mothers in simple, meaningful ways, like offering practical help.
• Tarot Insights: She reflects on the Three of Swords card, a metaphor for healing from emotional wounds.

"Slowness does not mean nothing is happening. It’s happening in a different way that still meets the needs."

Follow Candice: Stay updated on her book journey at @BackpocketHR.

Thanks for listening! Subscribe for more episodes of The Hearth.

If something you heard today brought a smile to your face or a spark to your heart, and you’d like to connect with me, here are a few ways you can do that.

One is my newsletter, it’s where I put most of my time and energy when I’m not working with clients or on this podcast. Sorry social media! It’s a mix of real life stories, tips and tricks and of course updates on what’s happening with the podcast. Whenever something is going on with me or in my business, it always comes out there first.

Another resource that I have for you is my Guide to Doing Work Differently. The guide takes you through four inquiries into how you can build a more sustainable and equitable work environment for yourself and your team. It's a great place to start.

Last, if you’ve got a burning question, a comment, or a situation you’d like my eyes on, you can email me at candice@fortressandflourish.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe to know when the next episodes come out, and if you’re feeling generous, leave a review. Reviews help other like-minded folks find their way to this resource.

Learn more about Candice and her work here.

In this episode of The Hearth, we dive deep into the complex landscape of compensation systems, exploring what it means to create fair and equitable compensation in today's economy.

Key Discussion Points:

• Commerce and Fairness in Compensation: We start by discussing how commerce, capitalism, and equitable compensation systems intersect. The focus is on creating a system of fair exchange, where employees receive enough compensation to meet their financial needs.
• Labor Markets and Income Disparities: A breakdown of how labor markets function and the tensions that arise between what is perceived as the value of labor versus actual living costs. We examine the challenges that arise when compensation falls short of covering basic living expenses.
• Poverty Wage and Living Wage: A detailed look into the differences between poverty wage (income levels that still qualify individuals for public assistance) and living wage (income necessary to afford basic needs without public assistance). We explore specific metrics from Santa Cruz, California, including a living wage of $36.64 an hour and its implications for workers.
• Financial Hardships of the Underpaid: The real-world consequences for employees earning below a living wage—debt accumulation, unsafe living conditions, inability to afford healthcare, and the emotional toll of financial stress.
• The Living Wage for Families: We explore the economic pressures faced by parents, highlighting the fact that a single parent with two children in Santa Cruz would need to earn $78 an hour to meet basic expenses.
• Systemic Challenges and Solutions: Finally, we address the systemic inequities and the difficult decisions employers must make, including how to restructure organizations to meet living wage standards while remaining sustainable.

Connect with Me: If you're grappling with compensation decisions or want to explore new strategies for creating equitable pay structures in your organization, reach out! I’d love to have these conversations with you.

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If something you heard today brought a smile to your face or a spark to your heart, and you’d like to connect with me, here are a few ways you can do that.

One is my newsletter, it’s where I put most of my time and energy when I’m not working with clients or on this podcast. Sorry social media! It’s a mix of real life stories, tips and tricks and of course updates on what’s happening with the podcast. Whenever something is going on with me or in my business, it always comes out there first.

Another resource that I have for you is my Guide to Doing Work Differently. The guide takes you through four inquiries into how you can build a more sustainable and equitable work environment for yourself and your team. It's a great place to start.

Last, if you’ve got a burning question, a comment, or a situation you’d like my eyes on, you can email me at candice@fortressandflourish.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe to know when the next episodes come out, and if you’re feeling generous, leave a review. Reviews help other like-minded folks find their way to this resource.

Learn more about Candice and her work here.

Episode Summary

In this episode of "The Hearth," Candice discusses how businesses can better protect their employees during challenging times, such as the pandemic, natural disasters, and economic downturns. She highlights the importance of a robust HR infrastructure that extends beyond standard policies to create a supportive environment for employees.

Key Topics Covered:

• HR's Role in Employee Protection:
  Integrating employee protections through HR functions like benefits and time-off policies, and how these measures support employees during crises.
• Pandemic Response:
  Candice's approach to staying ahead of evolving COVID-19 regulations, creating responsive training programs, and building strong professional networks.
• Managing Natural Disasters:
  How businesses can support employees during local challenges, such as wildfires and floods, that impact their work and personal lives.
• Supporting Employee Volunteerism:
  Addressing the needs of employees who volunteer for emergency services and ensuring businesses have policies to accommodate them.
• Economic Challenges:
  The impact of inflation and rising living costs on employees and how businesses can provide financial support.
• 'Catabolic Collapse' Concept:
  Understanding the need for businesses to adapt to complex societal and environmental challenges by evaluating and updating their systems.
• Building a Supportive Infrastructure:
  Implementing key elements like agency, safety, flexibility, and social support to reduce job strain and improve employee well-being.
• Benefits and Compensation:
  Examining the importance of providing adequate health and retirement benefits to support employee retention and satisfaction, especially in regions with specific mandates.
• Creating Effective Work Systems:
  Strategies to make workplace systems intuitive and effective for all employees.

Connect with Us:

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• LinkedIn

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favorite platform.

If something you heard today brought a smile to your face or a spark to your heart, and you’d like to connect with me, here are a few ways you can do that.

One is my newsletter, it’s where I put most of my time and energy when I’m not working with clients or on this podcast. Sorry social media! It’s a mix of real life stories, tips and tricks and of course updates on what’s happening with the podcast. Whenever something is going on with me or in my business, it always comes out there first.

Another resource that I have for you is my Guide to Doing Work Differently. The guide takes you through four inquiries into how you can build a more sustainable and equitable work environment for yourself and your team. It's a great place to start.

Last, if you’ve got a burning question, a comment, or a situation you’d like my eyes on, you can email me at candice@fortressandflourish.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe to know when the next episodes come out, and if you’re feeling generous, leave a review. Reviews help other like-minded folks find their way to this resource.

Learn more about Candice and her work here.