Employment policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum — and HR has a critical role to play in shaping how laws land in the real world of work.

In this special HR Advocacy Day episode of HR Wine Bar, co-hosts Jamie Mohrman and Amy Luckenbill sit down with Nebraska State Senator Tony Sorrentino, Vice Chair of the Business and Labor Committee, for a candid, practical conversation about how HR professionals and lawmakers can work better together.

Recorded live at the Nebraska Chamber, this episode explores how legislation moves through the unicameral, how business and labor considerations are weighed, and why predictability, clarity, and administrative feasibility matter so much to employers and employees alike. We talk about what legislators need from HR professionals, how HR can surface real-world impacts before policies pass, and how to build productive relationships that extend beyond a single advocacy day.

This is not a debate episode — it’s a collaboration episode. We discuss what HR leaders can take back to their organizations about the current legislative session, how to frame concerns in ways that resonate with policymakers, and how to serve as a trusted resource for elected officials navigating complex workforce issues.

If you’ve ever wondered how to advocate more effectively, how to translate workplace realities into legislative language, or how to engage in policy conversations with confidence and credibility, this episode offers both insight and action.

Cheers to HR!

Podcast produced by Todd Studer (Loess Hills Media)
Jingle recorded by Mad Honey
Jingle produced by Kyle Knapp (Dry Creek Studio)

HR has a perception problem — and it’s not entirely unfair, but it’s also not the full story.

In this episode of HR Wine Bar, we discuss HR’s PR problem with current Human Resources Association of the Midlands President, Bryn Reed.

We unpack what people think HR does, why employees and leaders often feel the way they do about HR, and how trust is lost before HR ever gets in the room. We talk honestly about the impossible expectations placed on the function, the pressure to be all things to all people, and the toll that takes on credibility, energy, and mental health.

We also explore what is within HR’s control. From the language we use, to how we frame decisions, to how leadership either amplifies or undermines HR’s role, this conversation focuses on practical tools to rebuild trust without abandoning compliance or care. We touch briefly on broader industry tensions, including recent SHRM controversies and member backlash, as context for why the profession feels particularly exposed right now — but we keep the focus on constructive paths forward.

This is a mix of validation and action: acknowledging the frustration many HR professionals feel, while offering concrete ways to shift the narrative through clarity, consistency, and courage. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, mischaracterized, or stuck defending work that matters, this episode is for you.

Cheers to HR!

Podcast produced by Todd Studer (Loess Hills Media)
Jingle recorded by Mad Honey
Jingle produced by Kyle Knapp (Dry Creek Studio)

HR pros know documentation is where things can go beautifully right… or disastrously wrong. In this episode, Jamie Mohrman and Amy Luckenbill unpack how to turn emotional reactions into factual notes, how to document behavior without judgment, and how to help managers stop writing investigative poetry disguised as performance feedback. If you’ve ever inherited a file that made you whisper “oh no…” under your breath, this episode is for you. Pour a glass, sharpen your pencil, and let’s talk about documentation with less tea and more truth.

Cheers to HR!

Produced by Todd Studer (Loess Hills Media)
Jingle recorded by Mad Honey
Jingle produced by Kyle Knapp (Dry Creek Studio)