The 8 Laws of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan
Release Date: 12/30/2025
The 8 Laws of Employee Experience with Jacob Morgan
Transform Your Workplace
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...
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How to Protect Culture When Pressure Is High with Kate McKinnon
Transform Your Workplace
In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws sits down with , a with deep experience in high-pressure, high-visibility environments across sports and entertainment. Kate shares what it takes to protect culture when speed and stress are constant, how to address burnout and disengagement without pretending everything is fine, and why “stop, start, continue” feedback loops can help leaders turn frustration into action. They also unpack generational friction, the reality of AI reshaping HR and leadership work, and why developing first-time managers before they step into...
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The Case for Curiosity: Why Wonder Might Be the Most Undervalued Skill in the Modern Workplace
Transform Your Workplace
Van Lai-DuMone discusses her book on transforming curiosity into action through small steps. She shares her mother's refugee story of building the nail industry, emphasizes reframing limiting beliefs, and advocates for workplace cultures that welcome all ideas. The framework includes pausing, asking "what if" questions, and embracing creative chaos. TAKEAWAYS Curiosity requires pausing to ask "what if" and "how might we" questions. Small steps overcome fear and build confidence toward big goals. Welcome all ideas without judgment to foster innovation and trust. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO...
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Why the Return-to-Office Can’t Fix Broken Work
Transform Your Workplace
Sarah Escobar and Corinne Murray discuss their book "Work Then Place," arguing that return-to-office mandates alone won't drive transformation. They emphasize understanding how work actually happens before designing physical, digital, and experiential environments. The authors advocate for empirical approaches, building trust through small changes, and creating adaptive organizations prepared for AI's fourth industrial revolution. TAKEAWAYS Work must inform place - analyze workflows first, then design environments to support them Leaders must actively participate in change...
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Catching People Doing Things Right with Martha Lawrence
Transform Your Workplace
Martha Lawrence discusses her biography of Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager. She explores his journey from rejected academic to leadership legend, emphasizing his authentic servant leadership philosophy of "catch people doing things right" and how he built a values-driven company focused on people over profit. TAKEAWAYS Ken Blanchard co-authored The One Minute Manager in 1982 after being told he couldn't write, creating one of the world's bestselling business books with its accessible, story-based approach He founded his leadership company on four core values—ethical...
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When Caregiving Comes to Work with Lisa Skinner
Transform Your Workplace
Lisa Skinner discusses Alzheimer's care beyond memory loss, emphasizing the importance of "joining their reality" rather than correcting false beliefs. She challenges myths about late-stage awareness and stresses early planning, caregiver self-care, and workplace support as cases are projected to triple by 2050. TAKEAWAYS Validate emotions and join their reality instead of correcting false beliefs to prevent distress. Establish legal documents and discuss end-of-life wishes early while loved ones can participate. Caregivers must prioritize self-care through support groups and...
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Nicole Blevins on HR Burnout
Transform Your Workplace
Nicole Blevins discusses HR burnout with Brandon Laws, describing HR professionals as the "emotional sponge" of organizations. She explains how HR workers struggle to recognize burnout in themselves despite helping others with similar issues, particularly solo practitioners lacking peer support. Nicole shares practical strategies including setting boundaries, scheduling breaks, using music for decompression, and building professional networks. The key message: HR professionals must proactively prioritize their own mental health and apply the same self-care they advocate for employees. A QUICK...
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How Leaders Can Heal from Stress and Burnout with Susanne Madsen
Transform Your Workplace
In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with executive coach and author Susanne Madsen to explore what it truly means to do the inner work. Drawing from her career in high pressure corporate environments, Susanne shares how chronic stress, misalignment with personal values, and ignored emotions can quietly erode well being and performance. The conversation highlights practical tools leaders can use to regulate their nervous system, challenge limiting beliefs, create space for reflection, and rebuild their energy through simple daily routines. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or simply...
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Leading in Layers with Lawrence Armstrong
Transform Your Workplace
In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Lawrence “Larry” Armstrong—architect, artist, and author of Layered Leadership: Drive Double-Digit Growth and Dominate Your Competition with Creative Strategies and Execution. Larry shares how his unique blend of art and business has shaped his multidimensional approach to leadership. Through vivid metaphors and real-world examples, Larry breaks down his “layered” model of leadership, emphasizing balance, vision, and execution. He explains why curiosity and creativity are essential traits for...
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Connecting the Frontline: Rethinking Workforce Communication with Victoria Dew
Transform Your Workplace
In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws welcomes back , founder and CEO of , to unpack findings from her latest research report, . Victoria shares what her team discovered after interviewing communication leaders across 18 industries — from manufacturing and healthcare to construction and education — about the urgent need to better connect with deskless and frontline workers. Together, Brandon and Victoria discuss how to bridge the gap between corporate and hourly employees, why 72% of frontline workers don’t understand company strategy,...
info_outlineIn 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
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About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws
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