In this returning episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, co-host Luke Carignan sits down with Jeff Knapp, for a timely and candid conversation about artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, and what it truly means to lead with humanity in an age of rapid automation.

Jeff brings a rare and powerful perspective to the discussion. With a career spanning roles at Aramark, Walgreens, PE-backed organizations, nonprofits, and large public companies, Jeff frames AI not as a threat to HR, but as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to refocus the profession on what humans do best.

Key Themes Explored:

• AI in Human Resources: Why generative and agentic AI are best used to eliminate repetitive, transactional tasks so HR leaders can focus on strategy, leadership development, and culture.
• From Deskilling to Reskilling: Jeff challenges the fear-based narrative around AI, arguing instead that HR is entering a reskilling era that demands curiosity, adaptability, and courage.
• The New Role of the CHRO: Today’s HR leaders must be part strategist, part technologist, and fully human. Jeff explains why fluency in AI, data, and change management is now essential for executive relevance.
• Preserving Humanity at Scale: As automation increases, empathy, compassion, and authentic leadership become more valuable, not less. AI should amplify the human experience, not replace it.
• Workforce Planning & Learning Innovation: How AI-driven insights can enable real-time learning, personalized development paths, and smarter workforce decisions.

Throughout the episode, Jeff and Luke emphasize a core truth: the future of HR is not about replacing people with machines, but about freeing leaders to lead more deeply, thoughtfully, and humanely.

Whether you are an HR executive, business leader, or someone navigating organizational change, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical insight into what’s coming next—and how to lead confidently through it.

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In this week’s Monday News Drop, Bo Brabo, Luke Carignan, and Jeremy Sadlier tackle two headlines that should have every healthcare HR leader paying close attention: reported job eliminations at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a new survey showing more than half of U.S. healthcare workers are considering leaving their roles.

The conversation cuts through headlines and focuses on what HR leaders need to understand, question, and act on.

🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode

VA Job Cuts: What’s Really Happening?
Reports indicate the VA plans to eliminate up to 35,000 healthcare positions. Bo, Luke, and Jeremy question whether these are true workforce reductions or long-standing vacant roles finally coming off the books. The discussion highlights why transparency matters, especially for veterans, clinicians, and HR leaders trying to understand the real impact on access to care and workforce planning.

55% of Healthcare Workers Considering a Job Change
A new survey reveals 55% of healthcare workers plan to switch jobs, while 84% feel underappreciated and only 20% believe their employer is invested in their long-term growth. The hosts break down why this isn’t just a retention issue—it’s a leadership and engagement problem hiding in plain sight.

Why Surveys Aren’t Enough
Annual engagement surveys alone aren’t fixing the problem. The episode emphasizes the importance of frequent, real conversations, visible follow-through, and leaders being willing to share results transparently and act quickly before employees disengage or leave.

HR Visibility Matters
With HR teams shrinking and more roles moving off-site or remote, Jeremy underscores the risk of losing connection to frontline staff. When HR isn’t present, stress signals are missed—and engagement declines.

AI Is Already Reshaping Work
The hosts discuss real-world examples of AI in healthcare, including ambient clinical documentation and coding. While AI can reduce administrative burden and improve patient care, it also raises urgent questions about workforce redeployment, career pathways, and change management.

💡 Key Takeaway

Workforce challenges are converging—burnout, perceived lack of appreciation, structural cuts, and rapid technology change. The solution isn’t software alone. It starts with listening, acting, and treating employee engagement as a strategic priority tied directly to patient experience and organizational sustainability.

From Our Sponsor(s)...

Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefits
Elevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital’s own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.

Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

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In this week’s Monday News Drop, Co-hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan, along with ASHHRA Executive Director, Jeremy Sadlier, break down the biggest healthcare HR trends and policy changes shaping the road to 2026—what HR leaders need to watch, prepare for, and take action on now. From telehealth reimbursement cliffs to workplace violence standards and double-digit benefit increases, this episode arms you with a strategic playbook for the year ahead.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

1. The 2026 Telehealth Cliff
Major Medicare telehealth flexibilities expire on January 31, 2026, unless Congress acts. HR teams must evaluate which roles, programs, and services rely on telehealth revenue and prepare contingency plans. Telehealth remains essential for rural healthcare access, care continuity, and patient convenience—making this deadline one of the most urgent risk points for 2026.

2. New Workplace Violence Prevention Standards Coming
California’s OSHA will finalize its workplace violence prevention standard by December 31, 2026, setting the stage for national adoption. Even if you’re not in California, expect other states to follow. HR leaders should begin preparing now, focusing on safety protocols, staff training, and readiness for tighter regulatory oversight.

3. The Coming 10% Benefits Cost Surge
Employer benefit costs are projected to surpass 10% increases, driven by GLP-1 medications and catastrophic claim trends. Traditional cost-shifting to employees has reached its limit. HR must pivot to precision benefit design, using data to tailor plan eligibility, target high-cost categories, and protect affordability.

4. Physician Payment Cuts & Retention Challenges
CMS’s 2026 rule includes a 2.5% “efficiency adjustment,” triggering tension between rising admin burden and lower physician compensation. HR will need to rely on non-monetary strategies—flexible scheduling, administrative relief through AI, and culture improvements—to retain clinical talent.

5. Hospital at Home Stability Through 2030
With a five-year extension secured, HR should stop treating Hospital at Home roles as pilots and begin building permanent job codes, staffing models, and career pathways for home-based acute care teams. This is now a core component of the care delivery ecosystem.

6. The Employer Network Problem
As healthcare delivery narrows into high-performance networks, employees increasingly report, “I can’t find a doctor in my network.” HR must ensure access aligns with the organization’s own employee health plans and proactively manage communication around provider availability.

🎧 Why Listen?

This episode gives healthcare HR professionals a clear, actionable forecast of what’s coming—and how to build a strategy before the pressure hits. If you’re preparing budgets, workforce plans, or leadership updates for 2026, this is your essential Monday briefing.

From Our Sponsor(s)...

Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefits
Elevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital’s own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.

Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

Support the show