Truth, Lies and Work

Latest Episodes:

183. Does the 4-day work week really work? with Jeanette Ramsden, CEO at The Curve Group Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

🎙 Meet Our Guest: Jeanette Ramsden

This week, we're chatting with Jeanette Ramsden, CEO of The Curve Group—a top UK-based HR and recruitment consultancy that's successfully transitioned its entire workforce to a flexible 35-hour working week. Jeanette is known for shaking up outdated workplace practices and creating thriving cultures built on trust, flexibility, and genuine employee wellbeing.

📌 What's Covered in This Episode?

Jeanette joins us to discuss her real-world experience in ditching the traditional five-day workweek. You'll hear about the practicalities of implementing true workplace flexibility, from managing client expectations to recalculating holiday entitlements. She shares why genuine flexibility—rather than simply giving everyone Friday off—is crucial, especially for employees juggling caregiving responsibilities.

We also dive into how reducing hours has actually boosted productivity and engagement across her business. Jeanette challenges the common misconceptions that fewer hours equal less productivity and explains how a flexible approach has significantly improved employee retention and satisfaction at The Curve Group.

🚀 Connect with Jeanette & The Curve Group

Jeanette Ramsden on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-ramsden-0946a83/

Visit The Curve Group website:

https://www.thecurvegroup.co.uk/

Explore insights and webinars from The Curve Group:

https://www.thecurvegroup.co.uk/insights/

📅 What’s Coming Up Next?

Join us next Tuesday for another episode of our regular This Week in Work segment. Expect the latest workplace news, our famous Workplace Surgery, and another bold hot take from an industry expert! 🔥🎙

🎯 Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who would benefit. We love hearing your thoughts, so tag us on LinkedIn to continue the conversation!

Thanks for tuning into Truth, Lies and Work—see you next week! 👋

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

182. My boss wants to spy on me, London’s hiring crisis and why holidays last longer than you think. PLUS! Is the five-day week dead? with Grace Tallon Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies and Work is the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. Every Tuesday we tackle workplace news, answer your dilemmas, and bring fresh insights to help you build great workplace cultures.

🎙 This Week’s Headlines

Would You Let Your Employer Monitor You at Home?
Australian financial firm AMP faced backlash over claims employees were pressured to accept contracts allowing constant video surveillance—even at home. Full story: https://www.hrleader.com.au/business/26623-amp-refutes-claims-of-video-surveillance-of-at-home-workers

London Firms Can’t Hire Staff—Is Remote Work to Blame?
Nearly half of London businesses are struggling to recruit, and many blame remote work expectations. Full story: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/london-firms-struggling-recruit-staff-164038974.html

Good News: Your Holiday Benefits Last Longer Than You Think
Research in the Journal of Applied Psychology shows the wellbeing benefits of a holiday can last up to six weeks. Full story: https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/holiday-benefits-last-longer-we-thought

🔥 Hot Take: Why the Five-Day Workweek Is History (with Grace Tallon)

Grace Tallon from the Work Time Reduction Centre says the traditional five-day workweek is no longer fit for purpose. Cutting working hours isn’t just a perk—it's vital for business success, productivity, and mental health. Could a shorter week be the most important change we make this generation?

Connect with Grace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-tallon/

Learn more about Work Time Reduction: https://worktimereduction.com/

💡 Workplace Surgery: Your Workplace Problems Solved

"Am I Mentoring My Replacement?"

A listener fears they're training someone overqualified who may take their job.

"Personality Tests Are Ruining My Team!"

Managers forced to assign projects based on personality colour charts rather than skills.

"Help! My Productivity’s Hijacked by a Calendar Bully!"

A developer struggles to protect their deep work sessions from a colleague who repeatedly schedules conflicting meetings.

🎧 Listen to More From Truth Lies and Work

John Amaechi on Personality Testing

Hogan's Ryne Sherman on Personality in Business

🎧 Coming Up Next

This Thursday:

Jeanette Ramsden, CEO of The Curve Group, reveals how she successfully implemented a four-day workweek—without compromising client satisfaction. Plus, she shares her perspective as a female CEO navigating leadership in a world obsessed with "masculine energy."

Next Tuesday:

Another packed episode of This Week in Work with the latest workplace trends, bold takes, and practical advice.

Enjoying the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe and join us on LinkedIn to continue the conversation!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

181. How to make work fun (and still make millions), with Steve Carse Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

🎙 Meet This Week’s Guest: Steve Carse

What if work was actually fun? Steve Carse didn’t just ask the question—he built an entire business around it.

After being laid off in 2009, Steve didn’t follow the traditional career path. Instead, he founded King of Pops, an Atlanta-based ice pop brand that’s grown into a $10 million empire. His approach to business is refreshingly simple: when work is enjoyable, people perform better, customers stay loyal, and businesses thrive.

Now, he’s sharing his insights in his new book, Work Is Fun—a playbook for building happier, more successful workplaces.

💡 Key Takeaways from Steve Carse

✅ Why workplace happiness isn’t just about free snacks – Steve explains why companies often fail at creating a great culture and how he designed a business strategy where fun and profitability go hand in hand.

✅ Turning a layoff into a $10M success story – The lessons Steve learned after losing his corporate job and how he made a roadside ice pop stand into a beloved brand.

✅ Making ‘fun’ a business advantage – Why workplace enjoyment leads to better retention, productivity, and customer loyalty—and how to actually implement it.

✅ The reality of entrepreneurship – It’s not all smooth sailing. Steve shares the challenges of scaling a company, balancing growth with culture, and why LinkedIn success stories rarely tell the full truth.

If you’re a business owner trying to build a more engaging workplace or someone stuck in a soul-crushing job, this conversation is full of real-world advice you won’t want to miss.

📌 Where to Learn More

📖 Pre-order Steve’s Book: Work Is Fun (Out April 1st!)

📍 Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Fun-Successful-Company-Meaningful/dp/1637746253

🍡 Learn more about King of Pops:

🌐 Website: https://www.kingofpops.com/

💼 Follow Steve on LinkedIn & more:

🌐 Personal Website: https://www.stevecarse.com/

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 Next Tuesday:

Join us for This Week in Work—your go-to for workplace news, a spicy hot take, and our world-famous Workplace Surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas.

💡 Enjoyed this episode? Send it to one person who needs to hear Steve’s story!

📢 Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

180. My ex is now my boss, and other toxic promotions. PLUS! DEI is doing more harm than good, with Sarah Gashier Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

🎙 What’s in This Episode?

🔹 Why nearly half of employees are turning down promotions – The data says more people than ever are rejecting leadership roles. Is it a work-life balance issue, a generational shift, or are companies just making leadership too unattractive?

🔹 Is DEI doing more harm than good? – Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, says corporate diversity policies are backfiring, and Sarah Gashier’s hot take suggests he might have a point. Is performative DEI causing more problems than it solves?

🔹 Workplace Surgery: A listener’s ex-partner is now their boss. How do you stay professional when your new manager is someone who knows way too much about your personal life?

That’s all coming up on Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

🗞 This Week’s Headlines

📌 BoomerAsking: Gen Z is Asking for What Boomers Never Dared To

What is 'Boomerasking'? - Researchers Alison Wood Brooks (Harvard) and Michael Yeomans (Imperial College London) define BoomerAsking as when someone asks a question but isn’t actually interested in your answer—they’re just waiting to jump in with their own story. Read more: https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/improve-your-conversation-skills-ditch-boomerasking

42% of employees are rejecting promotions – A Randstad survey found that workers are saying no thanks to leadership roles, with work-life balance and low pay increases as the top reasons. Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2025/02/17/why-nearly-50-of-employees-are-turning-down-promotions-what-leaders-can-do/

Jamie Dimon says DEI is failing – The JP Morgan CEO slammed corporate DEI initiatives, calling them performative and blaming incompetent advisers for pushing businesses in the wrong direction. Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/13/jp-morgan-boss-attacks-incompetent-advisers-that-pushed-dei/

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Sarah Gashier on Why DEI Might Be Broken

Sarah Gashier is an award-winning Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, Registered Nutritionist, and Psychological Safety Practitioner. She’s worked with top organisations and was even recognised by the Mayor of London for her work.

But Sarah has a controversial take on DEI: Most DEI initiatives do more harm than good.

📢 Find more from Sarah Gashier:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgashier/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgashier/

💡 Workplace Surgery: When Work Gets Personal

My Ex Is Now My Boss – A listener’s former partner just got promoted to be their direct manager.
Top Performer or High-Functioning Alcoholic? – A star employee is crushing their targets, but their drinking is becoming a problem.
The Secret Slack Channel – A manager discovered their team has a private Slack group where they discuss work, projects, and management decisions—without including leadership.

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 This Thursday:

We’re bringing you an incredible founder story—Steve Carse, the man who turned a redundancy in 2009 into a $10M ice pop empire.

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

179. Jumpstart Your Workplace Culture, with Eric Stone Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

🎙 Meet This Week’s Guest: Eric Stone

Leadership is broken in many workplaces. Eric Stone has spent almost 30 years figuring out what actually works.

A former Regional Vice President at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Eric built and led high-performing teams across the U.S., managing thousands of employees and navigating leadership in one of the most customer-obsessed, competitive, and fast-paced industries.

But unlike many corporate leaders, Eric’s focus wasn’t just on hitting targets—it was about creating workplace cultures where employees thrived. Now, as an author, speaker, and consultant, he’s helping businesses build leadership systems that actually work—without the toxic nonsense.

💡 Key Takeaways from Eric Stone

✅ Why most leadership advice is outdated – Leaders are still being trained for workplaces that don’t exist anymore. Eric shares what’s changed and how to lead effectively in 2025 and beyond.

✅ Fear in the workplace isn’t always bad – Used correctly, a healthy level of fear can drive performance. But when does it cross the line into toxic leadership?

✅ How to bridge generational divides – From Boomers to Gen Z, today’s workplace spans multiple generations. Eric explains how to adapt leadership styles to bring out the best in everyone.

✅ The biggest mistake leaders make with remote work – Why mandating RTO (return to office) might backfire, and how to balance flexibility with accountability.

✅ How to create a culture people actually want to work in – Forget ping-pong tables and free snacks—Eric breaks down what really builds engagement and keeps top talent from leaving.

📌 Where to Learn More

📖 More about Eric: https://clearpathventures.com/

📖 Buy Eric's Book: https://clearpathventures.com/

💼 Follow Eric on LinkedIn: Eric Stone

Want to support the podcast? Mention us on LinkedIn! Just post something like:

"Just listened to Truth, Lies & Work with Eric Stone—game-changing insights on leadership!"

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 Next Tuesday: Our This Week in Work episode with the biggest workplace news stories, a spicy hot take, and our world-famous Workplace Surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas.

📢 Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

178. Is Labour going full Trump? PLUS! Conspiracy theories and why supporting fathers is the key to equality - This Week in Work, 11th March 2025 Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Tuesday, we bring you This Week in Work—your go-to for workplace news, a hot take from an industry expert, and our world-famous workplace surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas.

🎙 Intro: What’s Coming Up This Week?

🔹 Is International Women’s Day focusing on the wrong thing?

🔹 Do you work in the civil service? Are you afraid of losing your job?

🔹 When ‘Bring Your Whole Self to Work’ goes too far…

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ UK Civil Service Faces a ‘Trumpian’ Overhaul

Labour plans to introduce performance-based pay, faster dismissals, and structural reforms to make the civil service more like the private sector.
Critics argue this is just a backdoor attempt at mass job cuts, while supporters claim it’s necessary for efficiency.
📖 Full story: The Guardian

2️⃣ AI in the Workplace: Micromanagement or Productivity Boost?

A new 27,000-person study from the University of Valencia reveals that AI-driven performance monitoring is:
✅ Increasing stress levels by 50%
✅ Reducing collaboration by 1.5x
✅ Raising workplace accidents by 70%

📖 Read the full research study: LinkedIn PDF Report

3️⃣ ‘Micro-Retirements’ Are Replacing Traditional Career Paths

Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly choosing planned career breaks rather than waiting for traditional retirement.
📖 Read more: RTÉ Brainstorm

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Rachel Vecht on Why Workplace Equality Starts With Supporting Dads

This week’s hot take comes from Rachel Vecht, founder of Educating Matters, who has spent nearly 30 years advising companies on how to better support working parents. But her focus isn’t just on flexibility for mums—she argues that real workplace equality starts with supporting fathers.

📢 Find more from Rachel Vecht:

Follow Rachel Vecht on LinkedIn to engage in daily conversation about parenting and work-life integration

For organisations:

For individual parents:

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: “Authentic Self” or Authentically Unhinged?

A company encouraged employees to bring their whole selves to work—but one employee took this to mean sharing conspiracy theories in meetings.

📌 Q2: “Anonymous” Feedback or CEO Spy Mission?

A company introduced an anonymous feedback system—but their CEO is obsessed with finding out who wrote what.

📌 Q3: AI-Powered Cheating or Workplace Innovation?

A remote team is exceeding KPIs—but it turns out they’re using AI to do most of their work.

💡 Enjoyed this episode?

Post about it on LinkedIn and tag us! Let us know what surprised you the most from this conversation.

📢 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

177. Your first 90 days as a new manager, with Vince Sanderson Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Thursday, we bring you a brand-new interview with an expert guest who knows how to create great workplace cultures.

🎙 This Week’s Guest: Vince Sanderson, Management & Leadership Expert

In today’s episode, we sit down with Vince Sanderson, a management, leadership, and team consultant with over a quarter of a million followers on social media. Vince has built a career helping businesses develop effective leadership skills and build exceptional teams.

Vince's journey began in teaching before transitioning into management consulting, giving him a unique blend of practical experience and real-world insights. His approach is refreshingly honest and focuses on creating environments where teams can thrive.

🧠 What We Covered:

First 30 Days as a Manager:

Meet your team and key stakeholders, including IT, HR, and lateral managers.
Build relationships that extend beyond your vertical team to avoid siloed working.

30 to 60 Days:

Shift from learning to refining processes.
Identify where there are gaps between what the business says is important and where time is actually spent.

60 to 90 Days:

Assess whether you have the right people in the right roles.
The impact of the "Bad Apple" experiment: how one person can decrease team productivity by 30-40%.

Key Takeaway:

Managers should create an environment where others can excel, focusing on clarity of purpose and emotional intelligence.
Vince’s mantra: "Leadership isn't built in a day; it's built daily."

📌 Where to Learn More:

Vince Sanderson on Social Media:
TikTok: @VincentSanderson
Instagram: @VincentSanderson
YouTube: Vincent Sanderson Channel
LinkedIn: Vince Sanderson

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 Next Tuesday:

We’re back with This Week in Work—covering the latest workplace news, a hot take from an industry expert, and your work dilemmas answered in our World-Famous Workplace Surgery.

💡 Enjoyed this episode?

Post about it on LinkedIn and tag us! Let us know what surprised you the most from this conversation.

📢 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

176. Google’s 60-Hour workweek, Asda's bonus backlash and how to go from friend to boss. PLUS! Leaders are human too, with Dr Elaine Smith - This Week in Work, 4th March 2025 Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ Asda Scraps 10,000 Staff Bonuses

More than 10,000 managers at Asda won’t receive their annual bonuses after a challenging financial year.
Full story: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/01/asda-scraps-staff-bonuses-for-thousands-after-torrid-year/

2️⃣ Google's Sergey Brin Calls for 60-Hour Workweeks

Sergey Brin has reportedly told Google employees to return to the office every weekday and suggested 60 hours a week as the “sweet spot” for productivity.
Full article: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/28/sergey-brin-says-rto-is-key-to-google-winning-the-agi-race/

3️⃣ The Employability Paradox: How Promotions Can Boost Loyalty & Turnover

The Employability Paradox is the idea that promoting staff increases their loyalty but also makes them more attractive to other employers.

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Dr. Elaine Smith on Leadership & Wellbeing

Our guest this week is Dr. Elaine Smith, a Clinical Psychologist and Business Wellbeing Consultant. Elaine is the Psychological Wellbeing Lead at Hope.io and co-founder of Think Resilience, a new leadership retreat launching in East Lothian this April.

🧠 Key Insights:

Leaders Are Human Too: High-ranking leaders, regardless of their salary or seniority, need emotional and mental support just like anyone else.
The Illusion of Composure: Just because leaders appear composed and confident doesn't mean they aren't struggling beneath the surface.
Supporting Leaders Benefits Everyone: When leaders are supported to show vulnerability, it fosters connection, improves workplace culture, and can potentially lead to more compassionate decision-making.

🌐 More from Dr. Elaine Smith:

Leadership Retreat: https://www.thinkresilience.co.uk
Online Course: Creating Compassionate Workplaces: https://www.drelainesmith.com/online-leadership-course-stress-resilience
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elaine-smith-creating-compassionate-workplaces/

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: From Friend to Boss—How to Lead Without Losing Your Mates

A new team lead is struggling with a former peer undermining their authority. How do you establish authority without coming off as power-hungry?

📌 Q2: The Unlimited Holiday Trap

An "unlimited holiday" policy sounded great in theory but has created chaos. How can managers set boundaries without undermining company policy?

📌 Q3: The HR Battleground

An HR Director is caught in the middle of a company war over flexible working policies. Should they pick a side, or is there a way to mediate without losing credibility?

📢 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

175. The Workplace Rules No One Explains, with The Harassment Doctor Enya Doyle Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Thursday, we bring you a brand-new interview with an expert guest who knows how to create great workplace cultures. And this week’s guest didn’t hold back.

🎙 This Week’s Guest: Dr. Enya Doyle, The Harassment Doctor

Our guest today is Dr. Enya Doyle, aka The Harassment Doctor—a specialist in harassment, inclusion, and workplace culture. Her job? Helping leaders, managers, and business owners avoid the legal and ethical pitfalls of modern workplaces.

This episode is a masterclass in handling the awkward, messy, and legally risky situations that many managers are afraid to ask about.

🔥 Key Topics We Covered:

💡 When physical contact at work is unavoidable—what’s the right approach?

💡 Is it sexist for female managers to refuse meetings with male co-workers?

💡 Why attractive people sell more—and is it fair?

💡 Should you comfort a crying colleague or keep your distance?

💡 Is following employees on Instagram inappropriate?

💡 Why are some managers obsessed with telling women to wear lipstick?

💡 What do you do when your workplace is full of "banter" and swearing?

💡 Is it okay to comment on an employee’s appearance if they look unkempt?

💡 The truth about why taller people get paid more—does bias play a role?

📌 Where to Learn More

🔗 Dr. Enya Doyle’s website: www.enyadoyle.com

📸 Instagram (@TheHarassmentDoctor): www.instagram.com/theharassmentdoctor

💼 Connect with Dr. Doyle on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/enya-doyle

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 Next Tuesday:

We’re back with This Week in Work—covering the latest workplace news, a hot take from an industry expert, and your work dilemmas answered in our World-Famous Workplace Surgery.

💡 Enjoyed this episode?

Post about it on LinkedIn and tag us! Let us know what surprised you the most from this conversation.

📢 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

174. Meta's masculine energy, task masking and toxic superstars. PLUS! How to measure the impact of training, with Valamis' Veerle Numan - This Week in Work, 25th February 2025 Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Tuesday, we bring you This Week in Work - your go-to for workplace news, a hot take from an industry expert, and our world-famous workplace surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas.

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ Meta Layoffs vs. Exec Bonuses: What’s Really Going On?

Is Meta redefining corporate leadership, or is this just another case of profits over people?
Full story

2️⃣ Task Masking: The New Workplace Resistance Movement

Employees are "task masking"—faking productivity to push back against return-to-office mandates.
Full article

3️⃣ The 4-Part Framework for Finding Meaning in a Chaotic World

Feeling overwhelmed by political drama, layoffs, and toxic work cultures?
A quick self-check can help you realign & reconnect.
Full guide

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Veerle Numan on The Future of Learning & AI

Veerle Numan, Senior Learning Solution Partner at Valamis, challenges outdated workplace training and explains how AI is changing learning & development.

📌 Why Most L&D Fails:

Throwing content at employees isn’t learning—it’s just information overload.

📊 How AI & Data Can Transform Learning:

AI can measure engagement, analyze training effectiveness, and predict skill gaps.

💡 Key Takeaway:

AI can’t magically fix learning cultures—but it can make training more effective & personalized.

📢 Connect with Veerle & Valamis:

Veerle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veerle-van-kersen-numan/
Valamis website: https://www.valamis.com/

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: My Boss Keeps "Adding Context" (But They're Wrong)

A manager keeps interrupting during meetings to correct a listener—but he’s often wrong.
How do you push back without making it awkward?

📌 Q2: My Top Performer is Toxic

A high-achiever delivers 40% of the team’s output—but is horrible to work with.
Should you risk losing them by addressing behavior—or keep tolerating the chaos?

📌 Q3: My Employee Disclosed Their Depression—Now What?

A listener’s team member is struggling with mental health but wants to keep it private.
How do you support them while balancing team performance?

🎧 What’s Next?

📅 This Thursday:

We’re joined by Dr. Enya Doyle, aka The Harassment Doctor, to tackle some of the trickiest workplace dilemmas:

Can liking a colleague’s Instagram posts be harassment?
Should you ban swearing if just one person is offended?
How do you comfort a crying coworker without HR knocking on your door?

💡 Enjoyed this episode?

Tag us on LinkedIn & say you’re loving the podcast—we’ll send you something nice!

📢 Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

🎙 Meet Our Guest: Jeanette Ramsden

📌 What's Covered in This Episode?

🚀 Connect with Jeanette & The Curve Group

📅 What’s Coming Up Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 This Week’s Headlines

🔥 Hot Take: Why the Five-Day Workweek Is History (with Grace Tallon)

💡 Workplace Surgery: Your Workplace Problems Solved

🎧 Listen to More From Truth Lies and Work

🎧 Coming Up Next

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 Meet This Week’s Guest: Steve Carse

💡 Key Takeaways from Steve Carse

📌 Where to Learn More

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 What’s in This Episode?

🗞 This Week’s Headlines

📌 BoomerAsking: Gen Z is Asking for What Boomers Never Dared To

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Sarah Gashier on Why DEI Might Be Broken

💡 Workplace Surgery: When Work Gets Personal

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 Meet This Week’s Guest: Eric Stone

💡 Key Takeaways from Eric Stone

📌 Where to Learn More

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 Intro: What’s Coming Up This Week?

🗞 News Roundup:

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Rachel Vecht on Why Workplace Equality Starts With Supporting Dads

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 This Week’s Guest: Vince Sanderson, Management & Leadership Expert

🧠 What We Covered:

📌 Where to Learn More:

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🗞 News Roundup:

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Dr. Elaine Smith on Leadership & Wellbeing

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🎙 This Week’s Guest: Dr. Enya Doyle, The Harassment Doctor

🔥 Key Topics We Covered:

📌 Where to Learn More

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

🗞 News Roundup:

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Veerle Numan on The Future of Learning & AI

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

🎧 What’s Next?

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Connect with Al and Leanne

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6