The 8 Laws of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws welcomes back Jacob Morgan to explore ideas from his upcoming book, The Eight Laws of Employee Experience: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization, releasing in February 2026. Drawing from more than 100 interviews with CHROs, Jacob shares why many organizations have lost direction since the pandemic and how well-intended employee experience efforts have sometimes drifted into entitlement, reactivity, and trend-chasing. The conversation unpacks why leaders often operate in "defense mode," how AI is being misunderstood and misused at work, and why employee experience is not an HR initiative but a shared responsibility across the organization. Listeners will also hear practical frameworks for separating trends from truths, rethinking learning and development, understanding employees beyond survey data, and designing flexibility and culture in more intentional ways. This episode offers clear perspectives for leaders who want to stop reacting and start building the future of work they actually want. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and episode overview 02:00 – Why organizations have lost their way post-pandemic 05:30 – Employee experience, entitlement culture, and unintended consequences 08:00 – Why leaders are stuck playing defense instead of offense 11:00 – Trends vs truths and the risks of chasing competitors 13:00 – AI at work and the rise of "work slop" 15:00 – A framework to adapt, pause, or push back on trends 17:00 – Overview of The Eight Laws of Employee Experience 19:00 – Decoding the human signal and knowing employees beyond data 24:30 – Surveys vs real conversations and the importance of human connection 27:00 – Rethinking learning, skill-building, and application on the job 31:00 – The limits of AI and why managers still matter 34:00 – The growth framework for development, readiness, and decision-making 37:00 – Designing flexibility and the idea of a career "command center" 40:00 – Using technology to amplify humanity, not replace it 43:00 – Choosing the future you want to build as an organization 45:00 – Final reflections and where to learn more   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

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