From Cake to Connection: Redefining Fun in Corporate Culture with John Baldino

In this episode of the "HR Mixtape" podcast, host Shari Simpson welcomes John Baldino, speaker and president of Humareso, to discuss the importance of incorporating fun into workplace culture. Recorded live on the SHRM floor, Shari and John explore how genuine fun can enhance employee engagement and foster a positive work environment. They share personal anecdotes and practical strategies for HR professionals to create a more enjoyable workplace, whether in-person or remote.

Key Takeaways:

1. Intentional Fun: Discover how to intentionally integrate fun into daily tasks and team interactions, especially in distributed workforces.
2. Authentic Engagement: Learn the difference between transactional fun and authentic engagement, and how to create genuine connections among team members.
3. Leadership Buy-In: Understand how to approach leadership about the value of fun in the workplace, using relatable stories and examples to gain support.

John founded Humareso to strategize with companies to develop plans to manage talent, recruit for skills gaps based on employee inventories, assess markets for growth, develop long-range succession plans and influence a culture of enthusiastic buy-in.  Humareso provides outsourced human resource services, including its flagship HRO plan, which helps businesses save money, increase productivity, and reduce legal risks by providing dedicated HR consulting for compliance, training, performance management, employee relations, workplace management, discipline, and other important HR best practices. John has a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in HR Development and has 27 years of experience in Human Resources. His areas of expertise include Performance and Change Management, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, etc.