CorAlign HR Consulting LLC

10/17/2026

🔎 Your next opportunity could be closer than you think!

Students, job seekers and anyone considering a career change—make plans to attend our third annual Nuclear Science Week Career Fair next Tuesday, October 20, from 4–7 p.m. at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus.

Meet nuclear and skilled trades employers, explore CTE and technical training programs, and connect with colleges and universities to learn about career and education pathways supporting our region’s growing nuclear sector.

Whether you’re preparing for your first job, looking to build new skills or exploring a different direction, this is an opportunity to ask questions, make connections and discover your next step.

Presented in partnership with the East Tennessee American Job Centers, with generous sponsorship from Materials & Chemistry Laboratory, Inc..

📅 Save the date—and be sure to share this with someone planning their next move!

10/15/2026

🚨 Attention TN Business Owners! 🚨

2027 is bringing some changes you need to know about... so if you own or run a small business in TN, this one's for you:

Beginning January 1st, 2027 - the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act (TLEA) will expand to include businesses with as few as ONE employee, rather than the previous threshold of six employees.

What does that mean?

Even the smallest employers will need to comply with the state's employment verification requirements for all new hires, effective January 1st.

Here's where it gets serious: Failure to comply can result in financial penalties AND potentially the suspension of your business license. Yikes.

My advice? Being proactive instead of reactive, of course 😉

Don't wait until January to figure out whether your hiring practices are compliant. If you own or run a small business in TN, now is a good time to make sure your hiring practices are compliant.

And because I know you have a million other things to worry about, I've created a free 2027 TLEA Checklist for you on my website. It's a straightforward, practical resource to help you understand what's changing, what requirements apply to your business, and what you should be doing now to prepare.

Find it here: https://coralignhr.com/services-%26-resources

A little preparation now is much easier (and less expensive!) than dealing with compliance violations later!

10/12/2026

Not every good employee is a good employee for YOUR company. In fact, your best employee might actually be your biggest problem.

Oof.

Yes - they're great at their job, they produce results, and they really know their stuff. But, and it's a BIG but...

They're difficult to manage, they don't play well with others, and somehow they manage to suck the energy out of every room they walk in to.

And because they're so good at what they do, leadership keeps making excuses for their behavior. Here are a few that might sound painfully familiar:

"That's just how they are."
"They've been here forever."
"You just have to know how to deal with them."
"We can't afford to lose them."

At what cost though?

Talent matters, yes. Results matter, of course. You are running a business after all. But you know what also matters?

How someone treats the people around them.

Because it doesn't matter how strong of a rower someone is if they're making it impossible for everyone else to row in the same direction.

So if your highest performer is making everyone else's job miserable, you might want to reconsider how you're measuring "high performance."

Sometimes, the employee you can't afford to lose is the very one costing you the most.

10/07/2026

New article on Substack is up! I've not had much time to write lately, but I couldn't ignore this topic much longer 😅

AI has officially made its way into employee complaints, and HR is out here reading five-page dissertations about a manager’s “tone.”

Naturally, I have thoughts.
👇

https://lnkd.in/gQTiAR2c

10/01/2026

I don't know how we got here this fast, but somehow it's October 1st and Q4 of 2026 is officially here 🤯

This is usually the point in the year when I start reminding my clients that the things we've been saying “well get to before the end of the year” about officially have an expiration date.

And if you're in HR, own a business, or manage a team... you probably have a few of those things on your list too. So here are a few friendly HR reminders before we all blink and it’s December:

1. Take a look at your handbook and policies. Did anything change this year? More importantly, did the way you actually do things change? Your handbook should reflect real life.

2. If you do annual performance reviews, get them on the calendar NOW. And if someone is struggling, please don't save that conversation for their review. Nothing discussed in an annual review should come as a complete surprise.

3. Start thinking about staffing for next year. Are you growing? Restructuring? Promoting someone? Is there a role you already know you're going to need? January will be here before you know it.

4. Clean up your employee files. Missing paperwork, outdated information, unsigned policies, random employee documentation sitting in a managers desk drawer... you know, the fun stuff.

5. Take another look at job descriptions, pay and exemption classifications. Jobs have a funny way of changing over time while the job description sits untouched in a folder somewhere for 3 years.

And while you're setting goals for 2027... what could be better for your people next year?

- Better managers?
- Better communication?
- Better training/onboarding process?
- Less turnover?
- Clearer expectations?

You don't have to fix EVERYTHING before December 31st, but you probably don't want to walk into January saying, "Okay... where do we even start?"

And last but not least - go ahead and plan the holiday party. You and your team could probably use a little holiday cheer after making it through another year.

Happy Q4 everyone! May the fun begin 😅

09/29/2026

Today, my first born turns 18 🤯

If you'd told me way back then - when I was just 19, newly married with a surprise baby on the way, with NO idea what my career would look like or what kind of mother I'd be - that 18 years would pass this quickly, I never would've believed you. But, here we are 😅

There’s something strange about raising a child when you’re still doing so much growing yourself. Somewhere along the way, while I was figuring out how to be his mom, I was also figuring out who I was. And I have no doubt that I’m a better person because I got to grow up alongside him.

In just a few weeks, he’ll ship off to basic training with the U.S. Navy. After that, he’ll head to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in SC, where he’ll spend roughly the next 2 years learning to operate complex reactor control systems.

His test scores were off the charts, and he had quite a few options available to him. Being the kind of kid he is, he chose one of the most academically demanding paths in the Navy, and I could not be prouder. Not just because he’s smart, or because of a test score or the career he chose. But because of the young man he has become.

He’s stepping into adulthood willing to do something hard. To leave what’s comfortable, to learn, to be challenged, and build a life of his own.

I’ve spent a lot of the last 18 years building a career too. I’ve worked hard, taken risks, completely pivoted at times, and eventually built something of my own that I’m incredibly proud of. He got to watch me through every chapter and has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. In fact, he even established a nickname for me around the house for my bossier moments: “Yes, CEO.” 😂

But the truth is, no matter what title I ever have or what level of success I find in my career, the title I’ll always be proudest of is Mom. I genuinely don’t think any professional accomplishment will ever compare to looking at the two boys my husband and I have raised and thinking, I helped create that.

That will always be the greatest success of my life. Period.

Eighteen years ago, I was almost the same age as he is today and had absolutely no idea what the future held for our little family. Today, I get to stand back and watch my son start figuring out his own.

And maybe that’s one of the most bittersweet parts of parenting: you spend all these years helping them grow up, only to realize they were helping YOU grow up all along.

Happy 18th to the kid who made me a mom, inspired me daily, and helped make me who I am today. ❤️

09/25/2026

Save the date!

📢 HR Solutions Summit Update!

We're moving the HR Solutions Summit to Friday, February 26, 2027, at the same time and location (TownePlace Suites by Marriott).

We’re hopeful this new date works for all our speakers and sponsors, and we’ll keep you updated as those details are confirmed.

If you were looking forward to joining us or couldn't make it due to a calendar conflict, don’t worry, this just gives you a little extra time to get it on your 2027 calendar! 📅

Thank you so much for your understanding and continued support. We’re looking forward to bringing everyone together this spring for a valuable HR Solutions Summit!

09/25/2026

An employee comes into your office and says:
"I'm behind on my electric bill and I don't know what I'm going to do."

You may not be able to fix it. But you don't have to just say, "I'm sorry to hear that," either.

One of the easiest things employers can do is keep a small list of local resources available for employees when life gets hard.

If you're in the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area, here are a few worth saving:

ADFAC (Oak Ridge/Anderson County)
Assistance with utilities, rent/mortgage, food, deposits, referrals and budget coaching.
Call 865-483-6028

Benefits Kitchen – United Way of Anderson County
A free screening tool that helps individuals see whether they may qualify for programs like SNAP, TennCare, tax credits and other assistance.
Text BENEFITS to 211-211

East Tennessee 211
Connects individuals with local resources for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, employment assistance and more.
Dial 211 (or 865-215-4211)

Knoxville-Knox County CAC
For employees in Knox County, CAC offers assistance and referrals for utilities, food, housing, transportation, employment and other needs.
Call 865-546-3500

You don't need a giant HR department or an expensive Employee Assistance Program to build a useful employee resource list.

Sometimes good HR is simply knowing where to point someone when they need help.

Employers: save this. Better yet, share it with your managers.

Because the worst time to start looking for resources is when an employee is already sitting in your office in crisis.

Send a message to learn more

09/21/2026

HR professionals, business owners and organizational leaders—this new event was built for you!

The Oak Ridge Chamber’s inaugural HR Solutions Summit takes place next Thursday, October 1, from 8:30 am – 2 pm at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Oak Ridge, bringing together industry experts and local leaders for a focused day of professional development, practical strategies and meaningful conversation.

Topics will include:
AI in HR, led by Josh Schultz, CTG Federal
Workforce Strategy Panel with Tim Waldo, University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services and Archie Smart, ORAU
Employee Experience Panel with Chris Caldwell, UCOR and Mike Brown, M&M Productions USA
Employment Law, Presenter TBA
Leadership Development Fireside Chat with Naomi Asher, The Maven Consulting

Attendees will gain timely insights and actionable takeaways to help them navigate today’s evolving workplace. Breakfast, lunch and networking breaks are also included.

Be part of this elevated new experience for the region’s HR and business community.
Space is limited—reserve your seat today at https://oakridgechamberofcommerceinctn.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/VeFw2e9FNCeC9

Thank you to our Summit Sponsor, Insperity!

09/21/2026

If I woke up today and decided I wanted a rose garden... I wouldn’t go next door, snip a rose from my neighbor’s yard, stick it in the dirt, sprinkle it with water and expect a garden by the end of the week.

Yet, that’s kind of how some companies approach culture.

They launch a new initiative, have a leadership meeting, send a company-wide email, order some new swag...

And then wonder why nothing really changes.

Culture doesn’t work like that.

If you want a rose garden, you start with a healthy plant, roots and all.
Then you plant it, feed it, water it, protect it from the elements and prune it when needed. You deal with the things that threaten its growth before they take over.

And you KEEP doing it.

That’s the hard part about changing culture. It takes deliberate effort every single day. It’s what leaders reinforce, what they tolerate, what they address and what they consistently model.

You don’t plant culture once and walk away.

You tend to it.

Or, you settle for weeds 🤷‍♀️