In episode 185, Coffey talks with Kara Kelley about the impact of President Trump’s affirmative action order, how not to respond to employee criticism, and nervous candidates.

They discuss the implications for federal contractors following the President’s rescission of Executive Order 11246, eliminating most affirmative action program and DEI requirements; the ongoing relevance of Title VII and other anti-discrimination laws; JP Morgan’s return-to-office mandate and their decision to shut down employee feedback channels; how hiring managers should handle candidate nervousness in interviews; and the importance of focusing on job-relevant criteria in hiring decisions.

Here are some of the news items they discussed:

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Kara Kelley

Kara works with Dental Practice Leaders to develop strategic HR systems that engage their team and strengthen their practice. She is the founder and CEO of Clinical HR LLC, a Human Resources advisory firm for dental and medical practices. Kara focuses on cultivating leadership skills, managing employee relations issues, and implementing competitive total rewards systems. She also works with practices to develop employee policies and establish compliant HR systems.

Though Kara initially enrolled in a Marketing degree program, she took an HR course for a general business credit and fell in love with it, eventually earning a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Kara is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and holds Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). She is also an Everything DiSC Workplace Certified Facilitator and a Five Behaviors Certified Practitioner.

A life-long learner who is never content with the status quo, Kara serves on several professional boards and committees. She is currently serving as Immediate Past President of the National Speakers Association Austin chapter as well as a member of NSA National’s Chapter Leadership Council. Kara has previously held a Board position for Austin SHRM as the Co-VP of Career Development, in addition to Co-Chair of the Mentorship Committee and a member of the Legal & Legislative committee. In 2022, she helped found the ADMC Memorial Foundation, a scholarship program for new practice owners. Kara also founded the Dental Leadership Mindset Facebook group to serve as an HR Hub for Practice Leaders.