Have you ever experienced any form of bullying or harassment in the workplace, which makes you wonder why you accepted that job in the first place? How exactly do you deal with workplace issues without sacrificing your future in the company?

Today's episode is a bit different from the norm: Attorney Ryan, aka The Labor Lawyer & Working Class podcast host, and I are joining forces to deliver a joint episode. We borrowed Working Class’s long-form, unfiltered interview style for this one, which was a lot of fun. We took turns discussing workplace issues we have experienced, and Ryan explained what the law says about them. 

Even though we both have some crazy stories from our past employment, I'm pretty sure many of you can relate to the things we go over. You might not feel safe discussing these things with others, but this episode will guide you in advocating for yourself when no one else will. We also get into some raw, funny, and vulnerable discussions about our past as well as the future of our country.

Join me as I speak with Attorney Ryan Stygar, a former firefighter for Cal Fire and San Diego County. He spent several seasons as a desert rescue specialist and wildland firefighter. Firefighter Ryan later left the fire department to earn a law degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Western School of Law. Now well-known across social media as The Labor Lawyer, Ryan is the author of various books across several genres and hosts the Working Class podcast, where he breaks down the most outrageous, engaging, and sometimes hilarious workplace lawsuits. Ryan’s videos deliver insights on workers’ rights issues in plain terms, demystifying what will and won’t fly at work, and inspiring workers to self-advocate or find an attorney to fight on your behalf.

"Nothing you tick off on a resume, no job title is going to give you peace. It's not going to complete you. Yes, money will make you happier, it will give you peace of mind, but it will not fix that hole. And no job title is going to fix that hole if you're not sure who you are."

- Attorney Ryan

In This Episode:

-How old is too old for the tech industry?

-The pressure that comes with being around "smarter" people

-Invisible Labor: Could this be the root cause of burnout in working women?

-Can we cope with the current layoff situation in tech?

-Where venture capitalists should be betting their money 

-What does an age-diverse team look like, and why does it matter?

-What is psychological safety?

-What makes a good leader?

-What brought Attorney Ryan to Employment Law?

-What is institutional inertia?

-Is talking about your pay a terminable offense?

-What does a hostile work environment look like?

-Understanding the concept of allyship 

-How to advocate for yourself in the workplace

-Why it's hard for people to recognize when they have a privilege

And much more

Resources:

-Fair Play Life Documentary: https://www.fairplaylife.com/documentary

-HBR Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45: https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-successful-startup-founder-is-45

-Ryan Stygar Books: https://www.ryanstygar.com/books-1

Connect with Attorney Ryan:

-Linktree: https://linktr.ee/attorneyryan

Connect with Maureen Clough:

-Instagram: @itgetslateearly - https://www.instagram.com/itgetslateearly/

-YouTube: @itgetslateearly - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGrHwk-y7ERaq7bCSjZYf1A?sub_confirmation=1

-Website: itgetslateearly.com - https://www.itgetslateearly.com/

-LinkedIn: maureenwclough - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenwclough/

-Facebook: It Gets Late Early - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088694515585