What happens when a foreign nation offers a sitting U.S. president a luxurious, $400 million "flying palace"? In this episode of America's Employee Handbook, host Dani Sterbinsky dives into Qatar's royal family's unprecedented May 2025 proposal to gift former President Trump a lavish Boeing 747-8. Using the sharp lens of industrial-organizational psychology, Dani explores the explosive reactions across Capitol Hill, dissects constitutional boundaries, and draws compelling parallels with historic presidential gifts and notorious corporate scandals. Through vivid storytelling, insightful expert commentary, and engaging listener challenges, discover how breaches in ethical guardrails ripple through organizations, influencing culture, trust, and compliance. Tune in as Dani navigates the turbulence of emoluments, ethics, and organizational accountability—because compliance isn't just paperwork; it's the safety harness keeping AmeriCo flying smoothly.

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Ever feel like national economic headlines hit a little too close to home in your workplace? In this episode of America's Employee Handbook, we're clocking in on the economy. Viewing the U.S. government as "AmeriCo," we explore how big-picture market swings—from inflation and consumer confidence dips to sudden economic shocks—profoundly impact the employee experience.

Join Dani Sterbinsky as she applies concepts from Industrial-Organizational Psychology to explain how economic uncertainty fuels employee anxiety, erodes trust, affects motivation, and shakes our sense of psychological safety. We'll look at real-world examples and discuss why understanding local labor markets (economic geography) is key to retention.

Please tune in to gain practical insights on the hidden ways the economy shapes your daily work life in AmeriCo, and discover what leaders can do to support their teams through turbulent times.

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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative reveals a cautionary tale in change management. In this episode, Dani Sterbinsky applies principles of Industrial-Organizational Psychology to analyze what went wrong and what could have been done better. Learn how prioritizing empathy, fairness, and psychological safety can lead to more successful and sustainable organizational change.

References

Gustafsson, S., Gillespie, N., Searle, R., & Dietz, G. (2020). Preserving organizational trust during government restructuring: A case study of change management in a public agency. Organization Studies, 41(4), 645–664. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840620901234

Hughes, M., & Zhang, L. (2024). Revitalizing Organizational Change: A Modern Take on Lewin’s Change Model in the Digital Age. Journal of Organizational Dynamics, 35(1), 45–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840623112345

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In this episode of America’s Employee Handbook, host Dani Sterbinsky unpacks the inner workings of global alliances by comparing U.S. government strategies to corporate operations at "AmeriCo." Dani explores the dynamics of NATO defense spending and the impact of tariffs on North American trade, revealing how decisions in high-level policy can affect everything from national security to your local grocery bill. The discussion also delves into the intriguing Mar‑a‑Lago accord theory, a speculative yet thought-provoking idea that questions how coordinated economic strategies might reshape the global financial system. Interweaving insights from Industrial-Organizational Psychology and real-world examples, this episode invites listeners to research, share personal experiences, and reflect on how civic duty and informed dialogue are key to sustaining effective partnerships.

References

Chiaburu, D. S., Peng, A. C., & Van Dyne, L. (2021). Abrupt organizational changes and employee cynicism: A meta-analytic review. Organizational Psychology Review, 11(2), 135–159.
https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386620978716

Harvard Business Review. (2024). Why strategic partnerships fail: Communication breakdowns and abrupt policy shifts. Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org

Lin, X., Park, J., & Choi, Y. (2021). Misaligned incentives in global alliances: How cultural and strategic differences undermine collaboration. Journal of International Business Studies, 52(3), 417–433.
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-020-00336-8

NATO. (2023). Secretary General’s Annual Report 2023. NATO Public Diplomacy Division.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_70672.htm

U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (2022). The cost of tariffs to the U.S. economy. Retrieved from
https://www.uschamber.com/international/trade

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2020). Impacts of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. farm exports. Economic Research Service Report.
https://www.ers.usda.gov

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). (2023). Defense budget overview. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials/

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). (2021). Economic impact of Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs on U.S. industries.
https://www.usitc.gov

World Trade Organization (WTO). (2020). Trade profiles: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/trade_profiles_list_e.htm

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Welcome to the inaugural episode of America’s Employee Handbook—your onboarding session to the corporate jungle that is our government. In this deep-dive episode, host Dani Sterbinsky—veteran, certified HR professional, and IO Psychology expert—explores how leadership styles shape policy and impact our daily lives. Using the U.S. government as a massive corporation called “AmeriCo,” Dani examines President Trump’s second-term approach through industrial-organizational psychology. From the authoritarian shockwave of Schedule F and its implications for federal employees to the transactional rigor of immigration enforcement and the charismatic, populist maneuvers on the international stage, this episode unpacks how these leadership tactics can drive rapid change—at a potential cost. Please tune in to discover how research-backed insights can help us understand and influence the organization we call home. Join the conversation and share your perspective on what it would take to lead AmeriCo effectively! 

References:

• Awan, S. (2024). Charismatic leadership and employee engagement in the pharmaceutical sector. Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(3), 45–60.
• Barling, J., Dupré, K., & Kelloway, E. K. (2022). Leadership and turnover: The role of workplace climate. Journal of Applied Psychology, 107(1), 45–59.
• Chang, Y., & Wang, M. (2020). Transactional leadership: A double-edged sword in high-pressure environments. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 41(2), 215–230.
• Zhang, X., Liao, J., & Li, Y. (2021). The impact of authoritarian leadership on employee creativity and turnover. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 678910.
• FedScoop. (2025). Trump restores Schedule F via executive order. Retrieved from https://fedscoop.com/trump-restores-schedule-f-via-executive-order/
• Politico. (2025). Trump withdraws from Paris Climate Agreement. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/20/trump-withdraws-paris-climate-agreement-00199385

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