Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting

Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting

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Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting episodes

  • Ep. 19 OnlyFans at Work, Toxic CEOs, and HR Nightmares: Unfiltered Tales of Workplace Misconduct

    In this episode we talk about the line between personal freedom and professional conduct, and how leaders — or lack thereof — create cultures that either thrive or implode. From a manager busted with an OnlyFans side hustle to a CEO who treated HR like a suggestion, this episode dives into workplace chaos, psychological fallout, and the lessons hiding in the madness.


    Key Takeaways


    ➡️ Unchecked leadership can create a culture of fear, silence, and toxicity.

    ➡️ Real-life stories expose the absurdity and severity of workplace misconduct.

    ➡️ Employees often avoid reporting issues due to fear of retaliation.

    ➡️ Family-owned businesses struggle with accountability at the top.

    ➡️ Sexual misconduct and harassment are often minimized or ignored.

    ➡️ HR faces a tough balance between protecting the company and supporting employees.

    ➡️ Toxic workplace culture severely impacts employee experience and retention.

    ➡️ Leadership accountability is critical for a healthy workplace environment.

    ➡️ Screening for misconduct is vital to prevent future HR nightmares.

    ➡️ Employees suffering in silence send the wrong signal to leadership.

    ➡️ Addressing misconduct requires both policy changes and a cultural shift.

    ➡️ Training and awareness can help prevent misconduct from escalating.


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


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    16 min
  • Ep. 18 Russian Emails, Lies in Interviews, and the AI That Might Replace Us

    In this episode we talk about the hidden flags recruiters miss, the lies candidates tell, and the tools AI gives us to finally get ahead. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Mike Wolford live at the Fama booth during HR Tech to unpack real-life stories from the field and why the future of recruiting is all about data, not gut checks.


    Key Takeaways

    ➡ One contractor sent inappropriate emails in Russian, assuming no one would translate them — HR did

    ➡ Overly detailed excuses in interviews often signal dishonesty or manipulation

    ➡ Recruiters can spot bad actors by watching for unverifiable or overly polished claims

    ➡ AI can help forecast patterns recruiters miss — like MRI tech catching cancer earlier than humans

    ➡ Mike argues the real threat of AI is not violence, but preference — we’ll like bots more than people

    ➡ Recruiters who rely on phone screens are falling behind — it’s time to automate the basics

    ➡ Data-driven recruiting means knowing salary trends, response rates, and source effectiveness

    ➡ AI should handle tasks like scheduling and screening so recruiters can focus on strategy

    ➡ Strategic advisors win. Order takers and guessers get replaced

    ➡ Success at HR Tech is about helping recruiters transition into data-first talent pros


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Chapters

    00:00 Live at Fama’s booth with Mike Wolford

    01:00 The Russian email incident and HR’s translation surprise

    02:00 Lies in interviews and spotting overcompensation

    03:00 How AI helps recruiters see patterns before people can

    04:00 Why AI will win our attention before it destroys anything

    05:00 Recruiters must evolve into data-powered strategists

    06:00 Scheduling, screening, and admin tasks belong to AI

    07:00 What Mike hopes to get from HR Tech this year


    Guest Info


    Mike Wolford, Author of The AI Analyst

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewolford

    Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lex-duo-ai/


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    9 min
  • Ep. 17 Kill the Microaggressions or Kill Your Culture. You Choose

    In this episode we talk about the ripple effects of microaggressions, forgotten voices, and how one Fortune 50 company accidentally created a leadership vacuum by cutting its campus recruiting program. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Heather Jerrehian from ServiceNow and Yaz Dalal from Joveo at the Fama booth at HR Tech to unpack how culture is built or broken in the small moments.


    Key Takeaways

    ➡ Microaggressions in meetings may seem small, but they erode confidence fast

    ➡ Speaking over someone or repeating their idea louder is a form of cultural rot

    ➡ Leaders must amplify marginalized voices — it only takes one to set the tone

    ➡ Heather shares how ServiceNow's "People Pact" empowers peer-level accountability

    ➡ Yaz recounts a Fortune 50 company that cut campus hiring for two years during a recession

    ➡ That one cost-cutting move created a 12-year leadership void in their most strategic groups

    ➡ Culture is what you reward and what you punish — and what you allow

    ➡ The middle managers you ignore are actually the keepers of your company’s DNA

    ➡ Psychological safety and inclusion must be modeled from the top

    ➡ Pulling ideas from quiet voices can completely change product strategy

    ➡ Small moments like asking for input or crediting ideas shape long-term engagement

    ➡ Companies must think long-term about talent pipelines and internal mobility


    Chapters


    00:00 Live at the Fama booth with ServiceNow and Jovio

    01:00 Microaggressions in meetings and the cost of silence

    03:00 The power of amplification and leadership modeling

    05:00 How a quiet comment changed Dirt Devil’s product strategy

    07:00 Building culture through consistent behavior and accountability

    09:00 Why structure and tone in meetings matter

    10:00 The “People Pact” at ServiceNow

    11:00 How cutting campus hiring caused a 12-year talent gap

    12:30 Why middle managers matter more than we think

    13:00 What Heather and Yaz hope to take from HR Tech


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Guest Info


    Heather Jerrehian, VP of Product Management, Employee Workflows, ServiceNow

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjerrehian

    Website: https://www.servicenow.com


    Yaz Dalal, Chief Growth Officer, Jovio

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yazdalal

    Website: https://www.jovio.com


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com


    15 min
  • Ep. 16 Preschool Teachers, Drunk EMTs, and Masturbating Co-Workers: Welcome to Nine to Five Nightmares

    In this episode we talk about the dark side of hiring. The misconduct, the red flags, the things no one tells you in the interview. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down at Fama’s booth during HR Tech with Amy Warren and Micole Garatti to unpack the viral worthy, lawsuit laden, and reputation wrecking behaviors lurking in plain sight. If you’ve ever hired someone and crossed your fingers, this one’s for you.


    Key Takeaways


    ➡ Preschool teachers posting about hating kids and drinking on the job. Yes, this really happened

    ➡ One EMT got drunk, stole an ambulance, hit a person, and ran. All while on the clock

    ➡ 25 percent of candidates in entertainment and media flagged for misconduct on Fama reports

    ➡ A CFO candidate had multiple fraud charges and prostitution allegations. All verified

    ➡ Fama’s goal is to get workplace misconduct down to 5 percent. Currently around 10 percent

    ➡ One client saw a 116 to 1 return on investment using Fama in higher ed hiring

    ➡ Misconduct costs companies trillions globally. Prevention is cheaper

    ➡ Social screening is not about disqualifying people. It’s about making informed choices

    ➡ Executives with red flags cost exponentially more in brand damage and chaos

    ➡ Everyone has a global audience now. One bad hire can go viral and wreck your brand

    ➡ He masturbated behind a glass door while she was on a work call. HR can’t make this up

    ➡ Modern hiring means screening beyond the resume. TikTokers and CEOs alike


    Chapters


    00:00 Live at HR Tech with Fama

    01:30 Employee horror stories. Preschool edition

    03:00 Drinking on the job and public scandals

    05:00 The glass door story you’ll never unhear

    07:30 Stolen ambulances and fleeing EMTs

    09:45 Why misconduct will never be zero

    11:15 Industries with the most red flags

    12:45 The fraudulent CFO and his past

    14:30 When your employee steals twice

    16:00 Interpreting Fama reports like a human

    18:30 ROI of social screening

    20:00 How viral behavior destroys brands


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Guest Info


    Amy Warren, VP of Marketing, Fama https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyjwarren/

    Micole Garatti, Director of Product and Content Marketing, Fama https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmicole/


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/

    23 min
  • Ep. 15 Faceplants, Soulmates, and Tampons: Tales of Bad Interviews and Worse Interviewers

    In this episode we talk about the wildest interview fails and the hard truths behind hiring manager missteps. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Lorna Erickson and Victoria Gates from Expert Interviewers at the FAMA booth during HR Tech. From blood on the interview table to creepy questions about soulmates, it’s painfully clear — most managers aren’t trained to interview, and it shows.


    Key Takeaways

    ➡ One candidate face-planted during an interview after pushing her portfolio too many times

    ➡ The interviewer froze and started flipping through her portfolio while she bled from the nose

    ➡ 7,000+ interview case studies revealed a shocking number of illegal and inappropriate questions

    ➡ One interview turned into flirting, then marriage, then a cringey engagement video reenactment

    ➡ Another manager asked, “Is your boyfriend your soulmate?” mid-interview

    ➡ Untrained managers ask about religion, politics, plastic surgery, and more — on record

    ➡ Structured interviews reduce bias and keep things professional, even if you stay human

    ➡ Candidates want to be evaluated. Proper structure builds trust in the process

    ➡ The interview is not the place for “what kind of tree are you” unless you're hiring a gardener

    ➡ Real training means simulations, quizzes, feedback, and accountability

    ➡ Expert Interviewers splits training and social storytelling with their “That Interviewer” series

    ➡ If you start off casual, you’re setting the tone — and often it’s the wrong one


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Chapters


    00:00 Live at HR Tech with Expert Interviewers

    01:00 William’s worst interview story of all time

    02:45 The faceplant, the blood, and the frozen response

    04:15 Interviewing without training leads to chaos

    05:00 Inappropriate flirting turns into a wedding

    06:30 The soulmate question and other terrible tactics

    08:00 The case for structure and professionalism

    09:30 What to do when candidates overshare

    11:00 Training methods that actually work

    13:00 Building the recruiter and hiring manager partnership

    14:30 Meet “That Interviewer” on TikTok

    15:30 What Expert Interviewers hopes to take from HR Tech


    Guest Info


    Lorna Erickson, Co-Founder, Expert Interviewers

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lornaerickson/

    Website: https://www.expertinterviewers.com


    Victoria Gates, Co-Founder, Expert Interviewers

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpreston/

    Website: https://www.expertinterviewers.com


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    18 min
  • Ep. 14 Alcohol, Employees, and Regret. The Cocktail That Keeps HR in Business

    In this episode we talk about how quickly good vibes at work turn into compliance catastrophes. Ryan Leary and William Tincup are live from the Fama booth at HR Tech, joined by Jenny Olson of NPR and Dave Wentworth of Schoox. The conversation pulls zero punches as we explore the liability, culture erosion, and plain old foolishness that comes from mixing alcohol with the workplace.


    Key Takeaways


    ➡ A conference planner got so drunk at her own event she cracked her head in the hotel lobby

    ➡ The CEO had to personally drive her to the hospital

    ➡ In-office happy hours might seem fun, but they’ve led to DUIs and toxic behavior

    ➡ Encouraging on-site drinking to “bond” staff is often a lawsuit waiting to happen

    ➡ A book called Corporate Drinker is calling out this exact issue in modern workplace culture

    ➡ Free alcohol is still the go-to draw for many companies trying to feel cool

    ➡ Ping pong tournaments, food trucks, and family days are safer and way more inclusive

    ➡ Banning alcohol at work and work events is the easiest way to prevent a PR disaster

    ➡ The pressure to “be fun” often leads to long-term damage to morale, trust, and safety

    ➡ Real employee engagement comes from thoughtful experiences, not open bars

    ➡ If common sense were common, we wouldn’t need HR


    Chapters


    00:00 Live at Fama’s booth from HR Tech

    00:20 Intros with NPR and Schoot

    01:00 The head injury that changed the vibe of the entire event

    02:30 Why no one thought to prevent it

    03:30 Office happy hours that go off the rails

    04:15 Corporate Drinker and the case for alcohol-free culture

    05:00 Alternatives that actually build community

    05:40 Why it’s so hard for employers to say no to booze

    06:10 Bringing families into workplace culture


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Guest Info


    Jenny Olson, Head of Communications, NPR

    Website: https://www.npr.org


    Dave Wentworth, Talent Platform Evangelist, Schoot

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmwentworth/

    Website: https://www.schoox.com/


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    8 min
  • Ep. 13 Bathtubs, Brawls, and Burnout: HR Nightmares from Every Corner of the Map

    In this episode we talk about the weird, the wild, and the totally preventable disasters companies face when expectations are unclear and accountability goes missing. Ryan Leary is flying solo at HR Tech as he sits down with guests from isolved, 360insights, and Haynes to unpack misconduct stories from across the country — and from a tiny island in Alaska.


    Key Takeaways


    ➡ A traveling employee flooded three hotel floors — including the HR office — by falling asleep with the tub running

    ➡ A 20-year-old HR employee threw a presidential suite party that ended with security intervention

    ➡ One island-based company scrapped its attendance policy after some workers racked up 40 to 50 absences

    ➡ An attendance incentive offering 60,000 airline miles still didn’t move the needle on absenteeism

    ➡ That same incentive led to a relapse and eventual termination for on-the-job alcoholism

    ➡ A sales team brawl at a kickoff event forced hotel security to separate warring groups — think West Side Story

    ➡ HR leaders have had to bail out employees from jail after “misunderstandings” at company events

    ➡ One sales event ended with two leaders “doing what they had to do” on the beach in front of the entire team

    ➡ Sometimes the problem is not policy — it's unclear expectations and zero guardrails

    ➡ Sitka, Alaska has just 14 miles of road and a 2-day drive through Canada to access by ferry

    ➡ When cruise ships unload 5,000 people in Sitka, phone service dies. Businesses just have to deal with it

    ➡ A recent storm broke undersea cables, cutting off internet and cell service for 17 days


    Chapters


    00:00 Live from the Fama booth at HR Tech

    01:00 Flooded hotel rooms and international jet lag

    02:50 The presidential suite birthday party gone wrong

    04:00 Island life and 50-absence employees

    05:30 Sales team gang fight at kickoff event

    06:45 Poolside misconduct in full view of the company

    08:00 Why clear expectations matter

    09:30 Cultural context and mental health on isolated islands

    11:00 Cruise ships, broken cables, and 17 days without internet

    12:30 What each guest hopes to get out of HR Tech



    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here



    Guest Info


    Amberly Dressler, isolved

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/

    Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com


    Geoff Webb, 360insights

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-webb/

    Website: https://www.360insights.com


    Jaylene, Haynes


    Connect with us


    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    16 min
  • Ep. 12 Consultant Vanishes at Bacardi, Preschool Teacher Fakes Heart Attack: HR Cannot Catch a Break

    In this episode we talk about two HR disasters that sound like movie plots but were all too real. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Jackie Clayton from Textio and Allyn Bailey from SmartRecruiters at the FAMA booth during HR Tech to share stories about a consultant who vanished mid-assignment at Bacardi and a teacher who faked a heart attack to avoid getting fired — in front of a playground full of toddlers. You can’t make this stuff up.


    Key Takeaways

    ➡ A consultant placed at Bacardi developed a minibar habit that spiraled into a disappearance

    ➡ Hazmat was called to clean the hotel bathroom — the consultant was never seen again

    ➡ He’d done such poor work, the client felt “relieved” when the truth came out

    ➡ Allyn once managed a preschool employee who knew she was about to be fired

    ➡ The employee faked a heart attack in front of a group of toddlers and fled via ambulance

    ➡ HR blocked the termination because she might have developed an ulcer from workplace stress

    ➡ The experience was Allyn’s brutal intro to people management at age 20-something

    ➡ Both guests reflect on what could’ve been done differently — better feedback, slower decision-making

    ➡ Early-career managers often over-correct and make reactive calls without full context

    ➡ Sometimes the worst HR stories are preventable — with the right structure and communication


    Chapters

    00:00 Live from Fama’s booth at HR Tech

    01:00 Jackie’s Bacardi story: Consultant, minibar, and disappearance

    02:30 Hazmat in the hotel and a vanishing act

    03:45 Allyn’s early career in preschool HR chaos

    05:00 The fake heart attack and three-year-olds watching

    06:30 Why HR blocked the termination — workplace stress defense

    07:00 Reflections on better screening and early feedback

    08:00 Leadership lessons from managing too fast, too young

    09:00 Final thoughts and what both guests learned


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    Guest Info


    Jackie Clayton, VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIP, Textio

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackyeclayton/

    Website: https://www.textio.com


    Allyn Bailey, Brand Strategy and Communication, SmartRecruiters

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allynbailey/

    Website: https://www.smartrecruiters.com


    Connect with us

    William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup

    Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

    Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com



    12 min
  • Ep. 11: Workplace Misconduct: The DHL-FedEx Blunder & Lessons in Brand Awareness with Doug Shonrock from Joveo

    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    Ever sent a FedEx package to DHL? Sounds like a joke, right? Well, it happened—and it cost a major pitch. In this episode, Ryan Leary and William Tincup dive into workplace mishaps with Doug Shonrock from Joveo, unpacking the infamous shipping blunder that became a legendary example of brand oversight. From the high-stakes world of programmatic job advertising to why small mistakes can cost big dollars, this conversation is loaded with insights (and some laughs) about the workplace’s unspoken rules.


    In this episode, we look at employer branding, recruitment marketing, DE&I partnerships, and strategic networking at HR Tech. Doug shares why understanding your audience matters in both advertising and day-to-day business interactions—because sometimes, the simplest mistakes make the biggest impact.


    Key Takeaways


    ➡️ A DHL pitch got rejected because it was delivered in a FedEx envelope—brand awareness fail!

    ➡️ Small workplace mistakes can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost business.

    ➡️ Understanding company values and branding isn’t just for marketing—it’s for every role.

    ➡️ HR Tech has shifted from direct sales to strategic partnerships and networking.

    ➡️ Joveo's evolution: From programmatic job ads to full candidate funnel optimization.

    ➡️ Why DE&I partnerships are a major focus for HR vendors and talent platforms.

    ➡️ HR Tech has changed over 25 years—direct employer buying is fading, partnerships are rising.

    ➡️ The importance of engaging every employee in the business mission—no task is “too small.”

    ➡️ If you work in recruitment marketing, know your audience, their competitors, and their values.

    ➡️ HR vendors are looking for new partnerships, especially in DE&I and candidate supply.

    ➡️ Don’t assume your team understands the stakes—communicate, align, and reinforce.

    ➡️ Always double-check your workplace processes, from shipping to strategy.


    This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


    You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


    💬 Ever made a costly workplace mistake? Share your horror story in the comments!


    🔗 Connect with us here:

    🔗 Connect with William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

    🔗 Connect with Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


    Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network


    🔗 Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com

    🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined

    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined

    📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/

    🐦 Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined

    📩 Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    9 min
  • Ep. 10: Addiction, Empathy, and Missteps: HR Stories That Shape Leadership

    Torin Ellis and Rob Boersma bring unforgettable workplace stories that go beyond bad behavior to the tough leadership calls behind the scenes. From managing an addicted but high-performing employee to diffusing hostile interviewees, their experiences reveal the human side of HR’s toughest challenges.

    In this episode, we dive into addiction and enabling, lessons in leadership accountability, and how empathy and clear processes can transform outcomes. Rob and Torin also explore how emerging tech, like AI-powered skills matching, is reshaping the future of recruitment. It’s a mix of hard lessons, practical advice, and new ideas for HR professionals.


    Key Takeaways

    1. Addiction in the workplace can present tough leadership challenges—balancing accountability with empathy is key.
    2. High performance doesn’t excuse misconduct; clear processes and support systems are essential.
    3. Hostile candidates during interviews can derail hiring—empathy and preparation help defuse tension.
    4. AI-based skills matching is disrupting the "crappy keyword search" approach in recruitment.
    5. Leadership lessons often come from missteps; documenting processes builds accountability and fairness.
    6. Site visits and hands-on learning can help recruiters build trust and avoid conflict with candidates.
    7. Empathy doesn’t mean enabling—it means providing resources and holding people accountable.
    8. Companies need a stabilization system for DEI initiatives to withstand shifting market pressures.
    9. HR’s client is always the employee first; everything else builds from that foundation.
    10. Walking the HR Tech floor reveals buzzwords like AI, but outcomes matter more than jargon.
    11. A strong organizational ethos is the backbone for long-term DEI success.
    12. Transparency and clarity in leadership decisions build trust and prevent future challenges.

    13. This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.


      You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here


      Connect with Torin Ellis to unlock potential with precision and purpose here and you can also connect with him on LinkedIn here

      Connect with Rob Boersma on LinkedIn or at Talent.com

      William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

      Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

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      21 min

    About Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting

    From the publisher's feed

    In the HR world, workplace misconduct is considered especially heinous. At HR Tech, William Tincup and Ryan Leary of WRKdefined take over "9 to 5 HR Nightmares" to expose shocking stories from top…