Welcome to the first issue of The PFunc Pulse! Can you think of a better distraction on this hump-day? 🐪 🇺🇸

I launched People Function 3.5 years ago with a vision to transform how early-stage and growing companies approach HR and people management. Since then, we've had the privilege of supporting 70+ organizations, each bringing unique challenges and opportunities. Through these experiences, we've gathered invaluable insights into building thriving workplaces, even in the face of market and economic challenges.

Throughout our time in business, our team has grown both professionally and personally. We have welcomed three babies, celebrated two marriages, and navigated through one divorce (Me! Yay!). These milestones have only deepened our understanding and empathy for the human side of work and the importance of having supportive people around us and leaning on our community—we would not be where we are today (as a company or as individuals) if not for our colleagues and our community.

This newsletter is an opportunity for us to pay it forward. We’ll use it to support our fellow “People” people and Startup & Tech Founders & Leaders in the trenches who may feel alone or seek a shared space to commune. We want you to know you’re not alone and have a community within PFunc. We’ll share resources, case studies, helpful information that you can utilize in your day-to-day life, and open roles and talent currently on the market. Is there anything else you’d like to see in our newsletter? Let us know here.

Thank you for subscribing and supporting us. We look forward to your feedback and keeping a PFunc Pulse with you :)

Emma

PFunc PSA

Client Corner

We’re excited to have added so many new clients to our roster that span across many industries and stages. Below are a few of our latest clients (not an exhaustive list - stay tuned for more!)

• Oath - Oath harnesses the power of naturally occurring microbes to regenerate and enrich soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Their innovative microbial solutions help to fight climate change! 

• Coder - Coder helps businesses create remote development environments that are easy to configure, secure, and manage. Their platform allows teams to collaborate more efficiently from anywhere.

• FUZE Technology - FUZE Technology is revolutionizing the Internet of Things (IoT) with innovative solutions that seamlessly connect people to the services they value, all while enhancing brand engagement.

We’re thrilled to be working with their teams!

In Case You Missed It…

Below are the latest HR regulatory and compliance updates published within the last few months:

• California - State of California Minimum Wage Increase for 2025: The CA minimum wage will rise to $16.50 per hour, and the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees will increase to $68,640 beginning on January 1, 2025.

• California - California Disability Insurance Updates: Effective January 1, 2025, the California State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs will undergo significant changes (including increasing the benefit amount to 70-90% of weekly salary, up from the current 60-70%).

• Michigan - State of Michigan Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Law Changes for 2025:  Michigan has new minimum wage and sick time laws that will take effect on February 21, 2025, including a minimum wage annual increase through 2027 and the requirement that all Michigan employers with 10+ employees must provide up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year.

On the PFunc Market

Talent Spotlight

Below are a few fantastic, vetted folks who are actively on the market looking for new roles and consulting opportunities. Please reach out directly to the candidates or reply to this email if you’d like to learn more!

• Hallie Bregman, People Analytics Consultant - Hallie is the Founder and CEO of The Bregman Group, where she uses her passion for solving complex business puzzles and data analytics to drive real business impact. She has partnered with industry leaders like Bain & Company, 10x Genomics, and Endeavor, leveraging people data to unlock organizational potential.

• Andrew Zuckerman, Fractional Temp-to-Perm Hire - Andrew has over a decade of HR experience and has focused his career on building people departments for Midwest startups. Andrew recently ran the US HR department for Smokeball, a global legal tech company. He holds a master’s in Human Resources from NYU and is now transitioning into consulting to support various companies.

• Anonymous Candidate - This candidate has 10+ years of experience in Strategy, Operations, & People Operations across consulting, financial services, retail delivery, and tech industries. Currently operating in a Head of People role, they are looking to join a company where they can strategically contribute to creating a high-performance team and building a people strategy to support growing organizations. Please contact us if you want to learn more!

If you’re on the market for a new role in HR/People Operations, Business Operations, or Leadership & Executive and Executive support roles, and you’d like to be featured in our “Talent Spotlight” section, please submit your information here.

Open Roles with our Clients

• Director of Fund Operations and Compliance at Equi - The Director of Fund Operations and Compliance will support Equi’s private funds and registered product strategy. You’ll be responsible for running the firm's day-to-day back and middle office operations and being a strategic partner for their high-level initiatives.

• General Counsel at Oath - The General Counsel will drive day-to-day legal operations for Oath and its sister organizations. You’ll advise across new companies within the incubator that are synergistic to Oath with adjacent technologies. You'll also provide strategic advice and legal counsel on various issues, including corporate, contract, and regulatory concerns.

• Human Resources Project Manager and Executive Assistant at G-III Apparel - In this dual capacity role, the HR Project Manager will manage HR-related projects, help streamline processes, and provide high-level executive support to the SVP of Human Resources.

If you have an open role at your company that you’d like to highlight in our next newsletter, please reply to this email!

PFunc News & Resources

Team Member Spotlight

Allison Leung is the newest member of our full-time People Strategy team! Based in NYC, Allison has experience across all stages of the employee lifecycle, is passionate about fostering a positive workplace culture, and seeks to support growing companies by optimizing HR operations and driving impactful process improvements.

Product and Service Updates

Did you know we offer recruiting services? Our recruitment consultants can lead end-to-end recruitment across entry-level to executive placements, crafting custom solutions to find the best talent for your growing team and establishing processes you can take with you as you scale.

If you need help hiring, our team can support you! Reply to this email or click contact us for more information on our blended pricing model, hiring ethos, and more.

PFunc Recommended Resources

• Stakkd - Have you been looking for a new HR tool and don’t know where to start? Stakkd is an HR Tech Ecosystem with over 330+ HR tools in its database to help you find the right tech for your business - everything from HRIS to Learning & Development tools. This non-exhaustive resource has a curated library specifically for start-ups and scale-ups. Check out their HR Tech Database here.

• NEXT - Are you looking to land your next startup role with the support of your peers? Check out a friend of PFunc, nextcareers.co, to learn how you can join their cohort community of mid-career and exec-level job-seekers who help each other land their next roles. They’re accepting early applications to join their 5th cohort that’s kicking off in January 2025.

PFunc Webinars

Did you join us for our most recent webinar, Life After Layoffs: Surviving the Zombie Workforce Apocalypse, on October 9 in partnership with Smart AI Strategies? Co-hosts Emma Leeds (Founder & CEO of People Function and Diane Sadowski-Joseph (Co-Founder & Head of Product of ApplyAI) discussed practical ways for HR leaders in early-stage startups to reinvigorate their teams after the challenges of layoffs and burnout. Diane and Emma shared actionable insights on using AI strategically—not as a magic fix, but as a tool to eliminate tedious tasks, allowing your team to focus on high-impact work that matters. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

Ask the Experts

If you have HR-related questions that you’d like to see featured in our “Ask the Experts” section, please submit them here. You may see your question in our next newsletter!

Question:

🇺🇸 Following the election results… “what advice does PFunc have for leadership on navigating this climate and political conversations with employees? Should we avoid it altogether, provide space for open dialogue, or discourage employees from discussing these topics at work to be sensitive to differing opinions and political views? Any insight would be great; as a new startup, this isn’t something we’ve had to address before, and we want to know the best practice.”

Answer:

Navigating political conversations in the workplace during election season can be tricky, but it’s not impossible with the right approach. As a leader, it’s important to maintain a balance that promotes respect and inclusivity while keeping the team’s focus on work. Rather than avoiding these discussions completely or giving them free rein, aim to create an environment that acknowledges the importance of civic engagement without isolating any employees. Here are a few tips:

• Align your stance to your company values. While political conversations may naturally arise, it's important to remind employees to keep discussions respectful and aligned with the company’s values. 

• Support your team. This is a time when employees in marginalized groups (women, trans people, people of color, etc.) may feel scared, disappointed, or personally hurt. Connect with them. Ask them how they are doing. Ask them what they need. 

• Healthy outlets for emotions. Allow these discussions to unfold in smaller, informal settings where employees feel comfortable rather than in large forums that might lead to tension or distract from the work at hand. Leaders should also stress that while these discussions are welcome, they should not disrupt daily work. And remember, it’s perfectly okay for employees to opt-out if they don’t feel comfortable engaging in political talk. 

• Prepare. Equip managers with talking points to help guide these moments, and be open to feedback so you can tweak your approach as needed. Flexibility and sensitivity will be your strongest tools in maintaining a positive work environment during such a charged time. 

• Be accepting. Leaders may want to avoid endorsing or dismissing political views to ensure everyone feels included.

For additional guidance, we recommend the following resources for leaders:

• Brilliant Ink Blog: Getting Election Ready – Practical advice on preparing your workplace for election-related conversations while maintaining respect.

• Podcast: "I Hate It Here" Episode on Workplace Politics – Insights on managing political conversations at work in a way that aligns with your company culture.

Stay in Touch!

Are you interested in fractional HR support for your team? Reply to this email or click contact us to learn more about our offerings, pricing, and how we can support your growing company.

Do you have feedback about our content or things you’d like to see us feature in future editions? Submit your thoughts here!

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The PFunc Pulse Issue #1 is dedicated in loving memory of Kingsley Hines.