gifts your HR team actually wants
Hiiii,
I’m OOO and curled under a blanket if you need me!!! 🫶🏽
I hope you get some time away this week for the things that matter like rest.
I’m in the gifting mood so 2 gifts for you:
🎧 A new pod episode about toxic work environments with my friend Chris Hagood. This episode features a call in segment from none other than my SISTER! She tells a story and sheds some light on how I became me. I might have to make this a new bit.
📺 2026 HR THERAPY IS ALREADY HERE. Well, by here I mean on the calendar. I’m coming in HOT HOT HOT in 2026, I mean why nottt. I’m getting into work, worth, and wellbeing, and how financial stress can cause all of that to break. It’s going to be an incredible session featuring Emily Trant who will drop info on research, data, and all the things you need to know!!
Now, onto today’s edition - about a few other gifts…
SPECIAL EDITION
Vol 4: 5 Gifts Your HR Team Actually WantsCopy anchor linkCopied
Welcome to the FOURTH edition of 5 gifts your HR actually wants!
Going strong with this series because
✨ Tis the season ✨
Below you’ll find some gifts for the HR person in your life, sooo you.
If I missed anything be sure to reply with your additions!
If you want to catch up:
🎁 Gift #1: Fewer emergencies masquerading as priorities:Copy anchor linkCopied
If everything is urgent, nothing is.
One of the most exhausting parts of this job isn’t the volume of work, it’s honestly the constant false alarms.
The:
“Can we do this today?”
“This should only take 5 minutes.”
“We need this by EOD” (spoiler: they don’t)
HR teams burn out when everything gets treated like a five-alarm fire.
🎁 This year’s real gift? 🎁
Leaders who understand:
- What’s truly time-sensitive
- What can wait
- What shouldn’t be HR’s problem at all
✨ Pro-tip: start by labeling work clearly
- Now / Next / Not Yet
- Legal risk / Business impact / Nice-to-have
Clarity is kindness!!!
🎁 Gift #2: A real notebook (for the thoughts that shouldn’t live in Slack)Copy anchor linkCopied
Yes, another notebook!
But hear me out.
I started writing down things during meetings and it’s been A GAME CHANGER.
My notebook holds:
- The things I can’t say in the meeting
- Really important action items I don’t want to forget
- The “if I don’t write this down I’m going to spiral” thoughts
- Priorities
What I look for in notebooks:
- Thick pages (no bleed-through for angry writing)
- No prompts (I don’t need guidance right now)
- Something that inspires me (yes I like art!)
Here’s how to use a notebook in 2026:
- Brain dump after hard conversations
- Track patterns you’re noticing
- Write the things you’re not ready to say out loud
✍🏼 My top picks:
While everyone’s raving about AI meeting notes, I'm finding a lot more fulfillment in writing things down!
🎁 Gift #3: Decision-making powerCopy anchor linkCopied
Sometimes HR is handed accountability without authority.
Ughhhh.
We’re told to:
- “Fix engagement”
- “Improve retention”
- “Own culture”
…but somehow not empowered to:
- Actually change the systems breaking people
- Push back on bad leadership decisions
- Say no to performative initiatives
This year, HR doesn’t need more input, we need the gift of actual decision rights.
✨If you want HR to operate strategically:✨
- Invite us in earlier
- Trust our expertise
- Stop treating us like the clean-up crew
🎁 Gift #4: Headphones Copy anchor linkCopied
This job requires deep focus and emotional recovery.
Both can feel impossible if someone is always yapping in your ear.
A good pair of headphones does two things:
- Drowns out noise
- Creates a boundary without a meeting
What matters WAY more than brand:
- Comfortable for long wear (crucial if you wear glasses)
- Strong noise cancellation
- Wireless (because i’m clumsy enough without cords involved)
In 2026 pair good headphones with:
- Muted Slack notifications
- A calendar block called “focus” instead of “meeting”
🎧 Here are some of my top choices:
- Anything from Audio-Technica
- JBL Tune 720BT
- Sennheiser
🎁 Gift #5: A community that actually gets itCopy anchor linkCopied
Not LinkedIn comment sections.
Not a rando group text.
Not HR Twitter. (Yes, that's a thing)
I mean a real community of folks behind you,
People who:
- Know how messy this job is
- Can sanity-check decisions in real time
- Share templates instead of judgment
- Let you say “I hate it here” without trying to fix you
This job is isolating, tiring, and sometimes the most thrilling thing on earth!!!!!
That mixed bag can make the highs and lows of this job feel even more intense.
Community is how we survive it.
And yes, I’m biased because I started a community.
But Safe Space continues to be the most grounding, validating, holy sh*t I’m not dramatic place in my professional life.
If you’re going to do this work in 2026, don’t do it alone.
And my big goal for 2026? To grow it even bigger, bring more resources to the HR space, and help everyone navigate this wild job.
❤️ Help me make that a dream come true by joining!
(HUMAN) RESOURCES
10 affiliates of SHRM considering independence from the org
The Kennedy center gets a rename
Gem’s 2026 benchmarks show recruiters what’s broken and what’s working*
- The power of affirmations at work
*This one is brought to you by one of my amazing brand partners
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
- 📚 What I’m reading: HOLIDAY ROMANCES. Do I read hallmark-like books during this time of year, yes. Am I sorry about it? Absolutely not.
- 📺 What I’m watching: Emily in Paris. I can’t look away its so bad but its so good but its so bad. Help, I clearly need help.
- 👀 What I’m looking for: What’s the best thing you watched, read or purchased in 2025? I’m compiling a list and if you have things to add lmk!
SONG OF THE WEEK
🎧 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by ‘NSYNCCopy anchor linkCopied
It’s the perfect time to include this song!!!
If you need me I'll be blasting this and I don’t even celebrate this holiday. :)
I hope you have an amazing week! Catch ya on Wednesday.
Reminder: Take care of yourself and know that I support you.
