9 to 5 Nightmares

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

On #9to5Nightmares Podcast Episode 12: Social Media Misconduct, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti talk all about Misconduct on Social Media. From NICU nurses mocking sick newborns on social media to influencers selling videos of her performing sex acts with animals, this episode shows the risks organizations face when they don’t screen for misconduct online.

In the episode, you’ll hear about: 

#1. Fama finds man forcing woman coworker to sing “Milkshake” at company event, and more 

A recent Fama screening found a candidate had a history of sexually harassing his coworkers. We uncovered two public instances. First, he pressured one woman coworker into discussing pregnancy plans she didn’t want or need to. However, even worse, he forced another colleague to sing “Milkshake” at a company event. 

This leaves Amy and Micole asking: who would want to attend a company event with him after that? Or even show up to a meeting with him? 

#2. NICU Nurse Is Fired After Posting Photos Mocking Newborn Babies on Social Media

In Korea, a hospital faced a public scandal after one of their NICU nurses posted photos of herself mocking sick newborns in her care. Some posts included the nurse holding newborns in her arms or lap with captures including: “I’m itching to let one fall,” “My anger issues are rising,” and “What time is it? Please just sleep already.” These public posts on her personal social media channels were quickly found and began circulating in online parenting communities. Parents of the newborns have filed complaints against the hospital and nurse. The hospital has since fired the nurse, began working with authorities, and issued a public apology. (Newsbreak)

#3. Florida influencer charged after posting video of alleged sex act with pet dog, sheriff says

A content creator was arrested for selling sexually explicit photos and videos of herself in a sex act with a dog on the internet. She told investigators she was paid $500 for the footage, and that this was not her first sexual encounter with a dog.  (CBS News)

#4. School Counselor Fired After Posting ‘Misogynistic’ Content Telling Girls To ‘Obey’ Husbands

A school counselor was fired from her job at an all-girls’ high school after sharing social media content that encouraged women to “obey” their husbands. The video featured another woman saying “my husband is my boss,” “If he tells me ‘you can’t go out with your friends today’, I’m not going to go out with my friends.” “If he says, ‘hey, go wash this dish for me’, I’m going to go and wash the dish for him. I chose this man to be the king of my life and yes, I agree with everything he says.” Students, parents, and other colleagues complained saying that this kind of rhetoric was sending a bad message to young girls about how they should be treated. The school asked her to delete the video post or make it private and she declined. The school ultimately terminated her. (Cafemom)

#5. Los Angeles news station ‘accidentally’ posts N-word on X: ‘Technical error’

KTLA, known as Channel 5, tweeted the slur with no context Friday morning, and screenshots quickly spread through the internet before the station could delete it. The station came up with several excuses including: It was a technical error and they tried to add the slur to the “mute” words list but accidentally Twe

Power, Abuse, and Workplace Culture – High-Profile Misconduct Cases Uncovered

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

The latest episode of 9 to 5 Nightmares unpacks some of the most shocking workplace misconduct cases making headlines—from the entertainment industry to corporate retail boardrooms and even healthcare. What happens when power is unchecked, and the systems meant to protect employees fail?

This episode covers:

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused of Sexual Abuse, Coercion, and Violence in New Lawsuit

Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing new allegations from former Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder Kirk Burrowes, detailing decades of sexual abuse, coercion, and workplace intimidation. From being forced to witness disturbing acts to being physically restrained at public events, Burrowes’ lawsuit is one of over 60 cases against Combs—with potentially 120 lawsuits coming out since last year. We discuss the culture of silence in the entertainment industry and the critical role of accountability. 

Kroger’s CEO Abruptly Resigns After Probe Into Personal Conduct

One of the nation’s largest grocery chains was rocked by scandal as its CEO, Rodney McMullen, abruptly resigned following an internal probe into personal conduct that was inconsistent with company values. Immediate after the news of McMullen’s resignation broke, Kroger shares were down 1% on Monday – even though no details were disclosed. This underscores the importance of continuous rescreening—even at the highest levels of leadership. 

My Mental Health Counsellor Answered My Sex Work Ad, Says Abuse Survivor

An abuse survivor shares her disturbing experience with a licensed counselor who encouraged her to return to sex work—only to later respond to her online ad himself. The case exposes serious gaps in professional vetting and oversight in the mental health industry, raising concerns about the lack of safeguards for vulnerable patients.

Why It Matters:

These cases illustrate abuse of power across industries and highlight the risks of failing to enforce ethical workplace standards. Whether it’s a corporate executive, a music industry mogul, or a licensed mental health professional—when misconduct goes unchecked, organizations, employees, and entire industries suffer.

💡 Want more real-world misconduct examples? Check out:

• 🔗 Top Examples of Workplace Misconduct (March 2025)
• 📊 The 2023 State of Misconduct at Work Report

Highlighting hostile work environments and costly misconduct including a historic jury award for workplace harassment against an airline, a record-breaking $107.5 million in Chicago police misconduct settlements, and a Netflix-backed Oscar campaign derailed by resurfaced racist and xenophobic comments from its lead actress.

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

Jury Awards $2.17 Million Against Airlines for Sex Discrimination

A Texas jury awarded $2.17 million to a former airline parts clerk in a landmark EEOC lawsuit over a hostile work environment. The former employee faced relentless sexual harassment from coworkers and a male manager, including crude remarks, sex act requests, and rape jokes.

Despite reporting the abuse,  the airline failed to take prompt remedial action. The jury ruled that the airline was aware of the misconduct but did not intervene effectively. 

Chicago Taxpayers Spent At Least $107.5M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits in 2024, Analysis Finds

Chicago spent $107.5 million on 122 police misconduct lawsuits in 2024, exceeding its $82 million budget by 31%. This marks the city’s highest annual payout since 2011. Cases involved false arrests, excessive force, and malicious prosecution.

The costliest case involved a $20 million settlement for a 15-year-old boy who was left unable to walk or speak after an unauthorized police chase. The soaring costs highlight ongoing accountability issues in law enforcement. Find out more on the report at WTTW.

When Past Misconduct Comes to Light: The Karla Sofía Gascón and Emilia Pérez Oscar Controversy— and What It Means for Organizations

Netflix’s Emilia Pérez lost awards momentum after racist and xenophobic tweets from lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón resurfaced. In now-viral posts, she insulted Muslims, George Floyd, and Oscar diversity, calling Islam a "hotbed of infection" and dismissing Floyd as a "drug addict swindler."

Netflix and her PR team distanced themselves, while co-stars condemned her remarks. The backlash ultimately derailed the film’s Oscar campaign. Read more on the story and its business impact at Fama.

Highlighting stories from a UF Health pediatrician with a history of misdiagnosing abuse based on race and an Eagles fan who lost his job and was banned from games after a viral misogynistic tirade.

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

4 UF Health employees complain of bullying, racism and abuse from physician

The incredible student journalists at The Independent Alligator recently reported on Dr. Barbara Knox, a pediatrician at UF Health Jacksonville's First Coast Child Protection Team, who has faced serious allegations of workplace misconduct, patient misdiagnoses, and discriminatory behavior throughout her career. Hired in June 2022, Knox had previously been investigated in Wisconsin and Alaska for bullying staff, violating patient privacy, and making racist remarks. She has been accused of misdiagnosing abuse, particularly among children of color, while overlooking clear signs of abuse in white families. Her past actions led to lawsuits, wrongful custody losses, and even jail time for families based on her medical opinions. Despite UF health staff complaints and widespread fallout, even welfare workers close to the situation are commenting that UF’s continued employment of Knox fails to adequately address her horrific behavior. 

1 Foul-mouthed fan banned from Eagles home games, fired from job after viral tirade against woman

During the NFC wild-card game at Lincoln Financial Field, an Eagles fan escalated friendly banter with two Green Bay Packers fans, including a woman, into a misogynistic tirade as the Eagles' lead grew. The man hurled vile insults, including calling the woman offensive names and making degrading remarks about her appearance. The situation de-escalated only when her fiancé began recording, resulting in the video going viral. As a result, the man, identified as Ryan Caldwell, an IT business analyst for BCT Partners, was fired from his job and banned from attending Eagles games at the stadium. BCT Partners condemned his behavior as "vile, unacceptable, and diametrically opposed" to the company’s values of inclusion, respect, and dignity. Read more on the incident on NBC News.


Tune in next time for more misconduct at work and 9 to 5 Nightmares!

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

While compiling Misconduct in the News in January 2025, it was hard not to notice the onslaught of sexual misconduct and assault across workplaces, industries, and the world. So on Episode 8 of the #9to5Nightmares HR Podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti focused on three disturbing misconduct headlines making waves in the news. 

In this episode, you’ll hear stories about the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s OBGYN who is currently being sued in several cases for sexually abusing hundreds of patients over several decades, upcoming legal action against UK McDonald’s by over 700 current and past workers alleging widespread misconduct, and the ongoing saga of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. 

This episode is one you can’t afford to miss. 

Details include: 

Lawsuit alleges OBGYN sexually abused 100s of patients; LA-based Cedars-Sinai covered it up

A press release published on Business Wire claims that Dr. Barry J. Brock and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are being sued again with a total of 167 individual claims saying that the OBGYN has been sexually abusing patients at the hospital since he started in the 70s. It’s alleged that Cedars-Sinai gaslighted women and covered up his sexual misconduct over the decades. He wasn’t suspended until August 2024. The law firm also states that over 200 patients have reached out to them regarding the latest lawsuit. 

Over 700 U.K. McDonald's workers plan legal action amid widespread misconduct

People recently reported that more than 700 current and former UK McDonald’s workers are taking legal action over "allegations of widespread harassment" across over 450 restaurants. Allegations include sexual assault, discrimination, homophobia, racism, ableism, harassment, and more, with heartbreaking stories including: a young worker was repeatedly pestered for sex, a young worker was asked by their manager how many people they had slept with, and a manager reportedly touched young staff inappropriately on their shifts. The allegations have become so large that McDonald’s UK CEO sat before the UK's parliament to discuss the claims. The UK CEO said they take these claims very seriously and fired 29 people for sexual harassment in the past year. The UK CEO says they will investigate allegations and take action. Considering the widespread nature of these allegations, will their actions be enough?

The sexual misconduct and “we can bury anyone” saga between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (NY Times)

Shortly after Blake Lively filed a Civil Rights complaint against Justin Baldoni, his studio co-founder, and others, the New York Times published a lengthy article walking through Lively’s sexual misconduct and reputational harm allegations against Baldoni and his team. The complaint and subsequent federal lawsuit allegations detailed how before filming, Lively was uncomfortable with seemingly unnecessary sex or kissing scenes in the script and requested an intimacy coordinator, an additional producer, and a promise to not retaliate against her for the misconduct complaints. During filming, however, she alleges that Baldoni and his team discussed their sex lives with Lively, showed Lively naked videos of one of th

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

Today on the #9to5Nightmares HR podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti discuss Influencer Misconduct!

Influencers share a LOT of problematic content

Last week, Fama published new The State of Influencer Misconduct in 2024 research which showed 47% of influencers shared problematic content online. The most common influencer misconduct included trolling audiences, intolerance and bigotry, and sexually explicit content. Even worse, 15% of influencers were even found making threats online! No wonder 70% of brands are worried about brand safety when working with influencers! 

Top Influencer scandals of 2024

#1. Many misconduct allegations against MrBeast companies 

MrBeast, one of YouTube’s largest creators, has faced allegations of workplace misconduct within his companies. More than one of his close friends and collaborators has, including Ava Tyson and Karl Jacobs, were accused of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. Former employees have claimed that the work environment was toxic and ripe with misconduct. MrBeast’s new game show has also been accused of toxic working environments, including providing participants with “insufficient food or medical care.” MrBeast has denied the allegations and hired a 3rd party law firm to investigate the claims. The law firm reported isolated instances of misconduct and harassment but not rampant sexual misconduct.  

#2. #Scandoval leads to bar closing and Vanderpump Rules recast 

The #Scandoval scandal erupted when Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval was exposed for having a months-long affair with co-star Raquel Leviss while in a long-term relationship with her best friend, Ariana Madix. The fallout severely impacted Sandoval’s reputation and business ventures, including his brand new bar Schwartz and Sandy’s, which faced public backlash, declining business, and eventual closure due to the controversy. The scandal reignited public interest in Vanderpump Rules, prompting a reboot aimed at revitalizing the series with a more cohesive cast and fresh storylines.

#3. Dr Disrespect dropped after sexual misconduct with a minor 

Dr Disrespect, a prominent streamer, was permanently banned from Twitch in 2020 due to allegations of inappropriate conduct, though the platform did not initially disclose specific details. Earlier this year, reports emerged that Twitch's decision was linked to allegations of Dr Disrespect communicating inappropriately with a minor through the platform. Since the news came out, several additional brands have cut ties with him and &

Today on the #9to5Nightmares HR podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti discuss misconduct trends in two industries: financial services and law firms. 

Here’s what the data shows: 

• In Financial Services, non-financial misconduct allegations has surged by 72% from 2021 to 2023 
  • The data shows bullying, harassment, and discrimination account for nearly half of reported incidents. The good news, however, is that high levels of reporting may indicate a healthier organizational culture, according to the FCA. (Financial News)
  • Increases in misconduct align with the data we saw in the State of Misconduct at Work in 2023, with signs of misconduct in job seekers increasing from 9% to 11% between 2022 and 2023. Because misconduct is contagious – when people see misconduct going on they are more likely to commit it themselves – and these increases occur at the same time as organizations push workers to return to the office, it’s likely return to office policies are a factor in the rise of misconduct. (State of Misconduct at Work in 2023)
• Research finds that 1 in 4 Lawyers experience workplace bullying 
  • A recent LinkedIn article reports that a study of over 6,000 Illinois attorneys found that a quarter of lawyers experienced workplace bullying last year. Women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ lawyers were more likely to be victims of bullying. The data also showed a clear age gap in bullying with 39% of lawyers aged 25 to 35 reported bullying, while just 12% of those aged 66 to 75 said the same. Considering the legal profession is one ripe with strong power dynamics, the data makes sense. (LinkedIn)

Tune in next time for more misconduct at work and 9 to 5 Nightmares!

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

Today on the #9to5Nightmares HR podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti cover two breaking misconduct stories involving a former Alaska judge and the former CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch. And, we provide an update on a past story involving MrBeast.  

Here’s what you need to know: 

• A Judge in Alaska resign earlier this year after news broke of his hostile work environment and sexual misconduct. Months later, conflicts of interest have come to light. Now, 44 of his cases are being reviewed, and prosectors and defense lawyers are requesting convictions be overturned, vacated, and more. (Reuters)
• The former CEO of Abercrombie Mike Jeffries, his romantic partner, and a recruiter at the company have been arrested on sex trafficking and international prostitution chargers charges for recruiting, drugging, and sexually assaulting male models at “Sex Events” from 2008 to 2015. The company promised young men modeling and career opportunities and allegedly threatened to destroy the ment’s careers if they did not participate. (The Justice Department)
• In a previous episode, we talked about the sexual misconduct allegations around MrBeast’s longtime friend and employee, Ava Tyson. At the time, MrBeast denied sexual misconduct and grooming within the MrBeast organization. Since then, an independent law firm has completed an investigation and found no evidence of sexual misconduct and grooming. Despite that, the investigation did uncover several other instances of workplace harassment and misconduct. As a result, MrBeast says he has fired several employees. (The New York Times and AP)

Tune in next time for more misconduct at work and 9 to 5 Nightmares!

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

Today on the #9to5Nightmares HR podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti cover four spooky stories ahead of Halloween! Episode 4 covers recent misconduct scandals and a warning about one of our favorite holidays! 

Hear about: 

• Don’t be *that guy* to wear the racist, offensive, or “sexy” Halloween costume that gets you fired from your job. This year, say no to assassination attempt “jokes”, Nazi costumes, blackface, and more. Halloween is supposed to be a time for fun or even spooky. Your costume should reflect that! 
• Wynn Resorts is still navigating the consequences of former-CEO Steve Wynn’s misconduct allegations. In their second class action lawsuit, the hospitality powerhouse agrees to a $70 million settlement with shareholders after the CEO’s alleged sexual misconduct and then a years-long cover up. Steve Wynn is also barred from holding any position at a publicly traded company in Nevada.
• Ex-Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo’s sexual misconduct costs New Yorkers over $25 Million. Over the last three years, the State of New York has been investigating and navigating misconduct allegations against the former governor by 11 women for sexual misconduct.
• Digging into the Fama Files, Fama recently found someone applying for an EMT position who had previously gotten drunk, stole an emergency vehicle, drove it into a pedestrian, and then drove away! *gasp* 

Tune in next time for more misconduct at work and 9 to 5 Nightmares!

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it! 

Today's 9 to 5 Nightmares podcast, hosts Amy Warren and Micole Garatti walk through some recent and alarming workplace misconduct scandals. 

• New court ruling in the case, Okonowsky v. Garland, found that employers can be help liable for hostile work environments created through social media. This landmark ruling came after a Federal Bureau of Prisons employee was harassed by a male colleague on his personal social media channels off work hours. This ruling expands the definition of where and when employers can be help liable. Read more on the ruling and it’s impact here. And, learn why so many employers are choosing to re-screen employees to prevent this here. 
• The extremely unfortunate passing of Friends’ star, Matthew Perry, turned out to be workplace misconduct by healthcare professionals. Two doctors are now being investigated and held accountable for his death by means of ketamin overdose.  
• Similarly, we talk about a time last year when Fama found a doctor selling body parts on X.