February 04, 2025

168. Netflix’s harsh take on family, redundancy red flags and why 'txt spk' is killing UR cred. PLUS! January resolutions are BS, Meenakshi Iyer's hot take!

55 minutes

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—a roundup of the latest workplace news, a HOT TAKE from an industry expert, and our world-famous weekly workplace surgery, where Leanne answers your workplace dilemmas.

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ The 4-Day Workweek Goes Permanent for 200 UK Companies

Over 200 companies in the UK have committed to a permanent four-day workweek with no loss of pay.

Read more from The Guardian.

2️⃣ Netflix Founder Says ‘Stop Calling Workplaces a Family’

Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix, calls out companies using the “we’re a family” metaphor.

See Marc Randolph’s post here.

3️⃣ Using Text Abbreviations Makes You Seem Lazy and Fake

A new study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology finds that using abbreviations like “thx” instead of “thanks” makes people seem insincere and less engaged.

Check out the full research from the British Psychological Society.

🔥 Hot Take: Meenakshi Iyer on Why January Resolutions Are BS

Leadership coach Meenakshi Iyer, founder of NorthStar Solutions and Services LLC, challenges the idea that January is the best time for fresh starts.

🌍 The Problem with Standardized Goal-Setting:

New Year’s resolutions are based on Western norms and ignore cultural differences, natural rhythms, and personal energy cycles.

In many cultures, spring or personal milestones are more meaningful times for setting goals.

Research shows that any temporal landmark (like a birthday or job anniversary) can create a mental reset—January 1st isn’t the only option!

Companies pushing “New Year, New Goals” initiatives in the middle of winter might be setting employees up for failure.

💡 Join Meenakshi Iyer at the 6th Annual World of Work Conference

Meenakshi will be speaking at the 6th Annual World of Work Conference on February 28, 2025, where she’ll share insights on how organizations can rethink goal-setting, productivity, and employee well-being.

🎟 Get Your Ticket: Click here to book your place

💰 Exclusive Discount Code: Use SPEAKER10 at checkout for $10 off your ticket!

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: Employee Surveys—Are They All the Same?

A small business owner asks if they really need to run engagement surveys or if they’re just corporate jargon.

📌 Q2: Redundancy Red Flags—How Do I Know If I’m Next?

A listener sees layoffs coming and wants to know the warning signs and how to prepare.

📌 Q3: Why Do My Manager’s Resolutions Die by February?

Every January, their manager gets big ideas—by February, they’re forgotten. Can team resolutions actually work?

🎧 What’s Next:

This Thursday, we sit down with Crevin O’Malley, VP of Corporate Sales at HubSpot, for a deep dive into sales leadership, culture, and career growth. And next Tuesday, we’ll be back with more This Week in Work!

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By Leanne Elliott, C. Psychol.