Ep165: Should you fire your HR department?

Send us Fan MailMost CEOs might not fire their entire HR team. But when Ryan Breslow, CEO of Bolt, did just that, the headlines sparked outrage. He claimed HR was “creating problems that didn’t exist” and insisted that once the department was gone, those issues simply vanished. But is that story as simple as it sounds? Or is there a deeper lesson about leadership, culture, and the real role HR plays in building a resilient workplace?In this episode, Chuck and John unpack the controversial decision that turned headlines into a valuable conversation about the true impact and potential pitfalls of HR departments. They explore whether HR is truly the department of no or if it’s the silent engine behind a company's success. You’ll discover how the story reflects broader truths about organizational culture, accountability, and what happens when leadership tries to ‘fire away’ at problems that are often just a conversation away from surfacing. Support the showOur new book...The Ultimate Guide to HR: Checklists Edition is now AVAILABLE! Go to UltimateGuidetoHR.com to Get HR Right: and Avoid Costly Mistakes. Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits.Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up.You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcastDon't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it!Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event?  You can reach the Team at  [email protected] for suggestions and inquiries.The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.