Vanessa Brulotte, Employee Relations Partner at BambooHR

Episode notes

Catch It at a Simmer: BambooHR’s Vanessa Brulotte on Employee Relations, Clear Communication, and AI in HR Summary When employees only reach HR at “eruption,” it’s already too late. Vanessa Brulotte, Employee Relations Partner at BambooHR, shares how to build a trusted, centralized ER function that catches issues at a simmer—so leaders and employees can collaborate toward resolution instead of crisis. With nine years at BambooHR across TA, HR, and ER, Vanessa brings practical frameworks for fairness and consistency, from creating visible “safe spaces” in a hybrid environment to setting shared expectations and alignment before projects go off the rails. She unpacks why communication fails even with good intent, how to avoid ruinous empathy, and simple habits—like recap notes—that prevent misinterpretation (cue the Amelia Bedelia lesson). Vanessa also dives into AI’s role in HR today: use it to scale clarity and prep tough conversations (think SBI-F talk tracks), ask it to push back, and put guardrails in place—never as legal counsel. The episode closes with a reminder many HR pros need: protect your own wellbeing, set boundaries, and show up with calm when it matters most.