June 03, 2025

202. Divorce, disruption and the death of the watercooler. PLUS! Are you a duck shuffler? With Kristyna Hawkett - This Week in Work, 3 rd June 2025

1 hour

Truth, Lies, and Work is the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week: random chats, rogue employees, and resilience in the job market. We’re digging into what really builds strong cultures – and where we might be fooling ourselves.

🔥 Stories Covered

🦆 What’s a Duck Shuffler — and Why You Might Need One

Leanne introduces a new workplace archetype: the duck shuffler. This is the person who disrupts your perfectly aligned “ducks in a row” — but not for chaos. They’re often the ones who save you from bad decisions and groupthink. Are you building a culture where they can thrive?

📊 The Economy Isn’t Crashing — It’s Changing

Al breaks down the latest job data from the US. Despite media panic, sectors like health care, logistics, and finance are adding jobs fast. So is it resilience or a false sense of security?

Link: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/ranked-the-fastest-growing-jobs-in-the-u-s-2023-2033/

🚰 The Small-World Illusion: Why Watercooler Moments Don’t Matter as Much as You Think

Are we overhyping chance encounters at work? A new study shows people dramatically overestimate how often they bump into colleagues — and how much support they actually get. The lesson? If we want real connection, we need to build it intentionally.

Summary: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/how-we-fool-ourselves-about-bumping-into-colleagues-the-small-world-illusion-eafd12c7cc1f

Study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2024.104387

💬 Workplace Surgery

“She was a star — until she betrayed our trust.”

What do you do when a high-performing employee crosses the line? This week’s dilemma: family problems, medical leave, and moonlighting for a competitor. Al and Leanne explore the legal, cultural, and ethical angles of letting a star go.

🎙️ Hot Take

Divorce is a workplace issue.

Kristyna Hawkett from MinusOne.club joins us to explain why supporting employees through family changes isn’t just compassionate — it’s smart business. You’ll learn how to help without prying, reduce gossip, and build loyalty through life’s messiest moments.

Website: https://minusone.club

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyna-hawkett-96b9a963/

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General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you’ve 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: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Free on 116 123

Email: [email protected] (for those outside the UK)

Connect with Al and Leanne

LinkedIn (Al): https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

LinkedIn (Leanne): https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

LinkedIn (Podcast): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Email: [email protected]

Book a Call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

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