Welcome to the HR Examiner
If you were reading the HR Examiner years ago, whew, thank goodness we all made it! If you’re new, we’re delighted you’re here and that you made it too. It’s been a lot.
We figured you’re wondering why we’re doing this. So here’s an FAQ with the questions people have asked us and some we just felt like talking about even though nobody asked.
Why are you firing up the HR Examiner after all this time?
During the Covid shut down, we each started doing other work because it was really interesting, involved people we really like, and they were even willing to pay us. We were also scared, uncertain, and having both the work and community helped in ways that are hard to explain. Even though we weren’t out in the world, probably because of it, we connected with other people and our work on whole new levels.
We learned a lot about building and creating things that we never could have learned otherwise. The different perspectives and experiences have given us a richer understanding of how things work, especially people. We’ve also had some great opportunities to create things that did not work. Sometimes when your great ideas fall apart, new questions and approaches open up.
We’re each continuing some of that work and other projects have come to a natural close. But for the first time, we both had some extra time at the same time. We started talking about how the world is changing, how tech is changing the world, and how important it is for people to get it right as much as we can. We realized we were having extraordinary conversations about questions that really matter. So we wanted to bring more people into the discussion—like you.
Why did you move to Substack?
The HRExaminer was languishing on a server somewhere in Florida until it went down during a hurricane. It was also sitting in a bulky wordpress site that had been infested with tiny digital spiders inserting weird little ads and links. We looked at what it would take to clean it up, how much ongoing maintenance it would require, and how we wanted to spend our lives. It was an obvious call to start fresh. We picked Substack because it’s simpler to create, easier to read, and there’s some chance that you will actually find it.
We know there are other platforms that are less controversial, but we’re trying to begin and develop a conversation. Reach matters. So we’re starting where our colleagues are and where, hopefully, people can find us.
What are you trying to do?
We want to have a deeper conversation about what’s going on with technology, law, and work. We want to back up and see the big picture and think about what really matters and why.
We’re going to fly above the hype and marketing funnels to talk about things like: what’s really going on, how things actually work, the questions we should be asking, and the concerns we need to pay attention to.
We also want to notice the people doing great work and making a difference. Because that’s what HR and technology are both really about.
What’s in it for me?
In exchange for exactly the amount of time and attention you want to give it, we’ll bring you information that will help you make sense of what’s happening in your organization, tech, compliance, and whatever else comes up. That last bit’s the kicker.
We’re doing a weekly podcast, writing articles, revisiting some evergreen content from the archives, and emailing a weekly newsletter that weaves it all together.
How can I play?
Start by reading and commenting. It’s okay to not know, ask questions, and push back. We also love funny observations, especially bad puns and dad jokes. (Do you know why T-rexes can’t clap their hands? Because they’re extinct.)
We want to know what you think and what matters to you because we need to understand and learn from each other—especially now.
What’s Next
Coming up soon: our first series on AI adoption in HR — what’s hype, what’s real, and what you need to know before implementing tools in your organization. Think of this as a roadmap for navigating 2025’s WorkTech landscape.
Thanks for being here. Let’s go!
— John Sumser and Heather Bussing
