Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work

Send us Fan Mail

This conversation was equal parts eye-opening and hilarious.  This week, we welcome 'The Labor Lawyer' Ryan Stygar to jam about all things employment law, workers rights and what you should to make sure you're protected. 

Listen, this episode has it all, storytelling,  actionable advice and yeah, penis jokes (hey, blame the sexual harassers). More specifically, we jam about: 

• Ryan's Journey to Becoming an Attorney
• Employment Law & Worker's Rights 101
• Current State of Worker's Rights
• The Three Things Every Employee Should Do 
• What To Do If You Have a Case
• When You Need to Call a Lawyer
• Rapid Round 

Check out more of Ryan here: 

• His Firm: Centurion Trial Attorneys 
• Podcast: Working Class 
• insta: attorneyryan 
• TikTok: attorneyryan 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Happy Detention Day Friends!

We recorded this on March 24th, which, is when the crew from The Breakfast Club headed to the library for detention. Little trivia for you.  And, March 24th is also the day, we jammed about the following topics:

Topic 1: Job Scams Get Sophisticated
Job scams are on the rise and getting more sophisticated.  From a CBS News Interview, LinkedIn's career expert, Catherine Fisher, we break down the cunning tactics of these digital-age con artists. From bogus UNICEF internships to AI-powered frauds on social media. It's nuts. We walk through the types of scams, how to spot these scams and the data you should never provide as a candidate (to, you know, not get scammed).  We also referenced the following: Consumer Affairs Article, Federal Trade Commission
Show Notes Updates- as of 4.15.24
Additional notes from ID.me: 

• We wanted to share that any attempt to hack ID.me is thwarted by ID.me's experienced security team, whose team members have numerous certifications in privacy and security program management. ID.me also meets the highest federal identity, privacy, and security for digital identity verification — including Identity Assurance Level (IAL) 2 and Authenticator Assurance Level (AAL) 2, as set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for all its identity verification pathways: self-service, video chat, and in-person. Online scams can trick people into creating an ID.me account with exposed information. ID.me encourages those who believe their ID.me account or personal information are compromised to notify us immediately so that the ID.me team can promptly address the issue.
• Show correction: In this episode we mistakenly referenced ID.me as a "government-run organization." We want to clarify that ID.me is not a government-run organization or agency. Rather, ID.me, a veteran-founded, veteran-operated digital identity company, is a trusted partner of 15 federal agencies and 40 state agencies across 30 states that offers streamlined login and identity verification.

Topic 2: Jarring Truths About Women's Health in Prime Working Years
A McKinsey Health Institute Report  rings the alarm on how women's health discrepancies are affecting those in their prime working years.  It's a stark reality that women's healthcare has been neglected, with research and investments  failing to address the unique needs of women. We unpack the impacts of this for  women  and what we all can do to help address this gap in the workplace. 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

It's Sunny Friends! Freakin' finally. And, in addition to the vitamin D - here's the news we jammed about this week:

Topic 1: Where Have All  The Plumbers Gone?
According to Bloomberg, The US will be short 550,000-plumbers by 2027. The reason why, frankly, blows.  We jam about the impacts of this shortage,  and the urgent need for a societal shift in perspective  towards trades.

Topic 2: New Gig Worker Rules 
Worker classification. It's what determines if someone is an employee or an independent contractor (gig worker).  Lawsuits are flying, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the forefront, challenging new legislation that could reshape the workforce, impacting everything from worker rights to how businesses operate and the future of the gig economy itself. References for all our fellow nerds :

• Final Rule - U.S. Department of Labor
• Added Protection or Opportunity Lost? Insurance Journal
• Businesses Escalate Fight Against Biden Rule on Gig Worker Pay - Washington Post
• TCF Report
• AP Article
• NELP Report

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Did you know, if you never negotiate your pay, you could leave almost $1M on the table over your career. Yeah, that's an 'M' -  as in million.

So, we called up our friend, Kate Dixon - one of the leading experts in all things compensation. Kate is the author of "Pay Up" and "Name Your Price". She's also the founder of Dixon Consulting - a compensation and leadership coaching firm.  

What we love about Kate (there are a lot of things to love about Kate, including her dog, Jeffrey), is that she consults with companies from Nike to Intel to Silicon Valley Start-Ups to architect their compensation strategies.  And, she also coaches executives and employees on how to get the best compensation package possible.  

She know's how this stuff works. From all angles. 

And, during our chat, she laid out what we all need to know to earn what we deserve. Here's what we covered: 

• 'Comp 101' - How Compensation Works:  A simple explanation of how the hell companies determine who gets paid what  (like pay bands, scales and functions)  
• Determine Your Market Rate: The best ways to determine your 'market rate' 
• Get in the Right Mindset: Mindset shifts necessary to advocate for yourself  
• How to Have the 'Ask' Conversation - 4-Part Recipe: A fool-proof 4-part way to negotiate your salary (for internal or external roles)
• The Future of Compensation: What's going to happen with pay? What should happen.
• Hype Songs: Yes, you should have one 

Listen, you'll leave this epidote with actionable advice on how to navigate offer negotiations so you earn what you deserve. 

Grab a notebook, you'll want to take notes. 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Happy March Friends!

We're back with three topics this week! Here's what we're jamming about:

Topic 1: Where Are The Moral Leaders?
We dive into the complexities of moral leadership, a hot topic brought into sharper focus by a HOW Institute study covered in HR Dive. We shed light on the growing disconnect between leaders' actions and the ethical framework employees yearn for, emphasizing why navigating this leadership chasm is critical for any organization's longevity.

Topic 2:  The Silver Tsunami Is Coming
When the 'silver tsunami' comes crashing down, workplaces everywhere will feel the impact.  We're seeing a staggering 2.7 million more retirees stepping back than anticipated, sparking discussions about stock markets, burnout, and the shifting landscapes of corporate pensions. It's a wave that's reshaping the workforce.   We referenced these links: 

• An Unanticipated Retirement Wave is Happening Right Now in the U.S.
• Another ‘Great Retirement’ Wave Hits the US After Stocks Rally
• 2024 Marks the Beginning of “Peak 65”, as More Americans Reach Retirement Age Than Ever Before–and it’s not Slowing Down for a While

Topic 3:  Ruth Gottesman is a Bad Ass Woman.
We love when people use their money to do a lot of good. 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the last week of February, Friends!

There were two news stories this week that give us hope (like, a lot of hope) for the future.  Check it out:

Topic 1: The 4-Day Work Week Totally Works
We've got the latest scoop on a landmark study analyzing the UK's four-day work week pilot, which could signal a sea change for how we approach the grind. We reviewed Autonomy's study of "Making it Stick: The UK Four-Day Work Pilot. Year One". The data's painting a picture of a win-win: energized employees and robust organizational growth.  Is it here to stick? 

Topic 2: We're in a Productivity Boom, Ya'll!
1994 was the last time the US experienced a productivity boom - increasing the economic pie and changing how work worked. Are we here again? We check out the New York Times article that questions if the quarter-over-quarter productivity increases are putting us in another productivity boom.  

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Hiya Friends!

We're back with New Week, New Headlines this week. And we're talking shop. Here's what we jammed about:

Topic 1: Choices: CEO Pay Cut or Layoffs?
Why do some CEOs and C-Level execs take a pay cut instead of laying folks off? Why don't others? We tackle the reasons. Plus a spotlight, from CNBC, on how former Nintendo CEO, Satoru Iwata's cut his salary to avoid layoffs.  

Topic 2: Indeed's State of Workplace Findings
The Indeed Survey with The Harris Poll, 2023 launched last week with some surprising (71% of people are looking for jobs), and not surprising (people want hybrid) findings about what workers are looking for in future employers.  They also listed the Indeed’s Best Jobs of 2024 and fun fact - mental health is big. Tech jobs? not so much. 

Hot Job Board of the Week!
On sabbatical? Need to just try something completely different? Looking to do your own Eat, Pray, Love USA-Style? Well, Mel found the site for you.
Coolworks Job Board

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This one is goooood, Friends! 

Ready to escape the 9-5, take control and find balance without sacrificing income. Learn the art of the entrepreneurial leap with Brett Trainor and embrace the power of fractional/freelance work that fits into the life you want to have.

Brett,  of the Corporate Escapee* joins us to map how to pivot out of corporate. In this episode, we tackle: 

• What's a Corporate Escapee?
• Who Should Escape? Who Shouldn't?
• The Market for Fractional / Freelance, etc
• The Money in Fractional / Freelance
• Planning Your Pivot out of Corporate
• The First Three Steps You Need to Take 
• And the Biggest Piece of Advice to Make the Leap 

Listen, we left this conversation with Brett feeling optimistic and clear about how to make this move. We hope you will too.

*We highly recommend you check out: 

• Brett's LinkedIn
• The Corporate Escapee Podcast Group - LinkedIn
• Brett's LinkTree - Join the Slack Community, Listen to the Pod, etc.  

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Heeeeeeeeey Friends!

Well, we're making it a fun news week. Because, you know what, we all deserve some good news to balance out the news-news. So, here's what we're talking about this week:

Topic #1: RTO Costing Employees $561/mo
Yes, according to Fortune, the average employee returning to the office spends $561 per month. That is comparable to the average two-person household’s grocery bill in the U.S. for the entire month, or as Francesca pointed out - a lease on an Audi. And, those aren't the only costs.

Topic #2: CEO Optimism Rises. Do We All Finally Get Our Hot Girl Summer?
For the first time in two years, CEOs' optimism about the economy is on the rise and above 50%, according to The Conference Board. We break down what that could mean for employees, and our summer.
NOTE: I (Francesca) cherry picked the good news out of this study - to show some sun coming through the clouds. For a super balanced view of this report, check out this breakdown by Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, at The Conference Board. 

Hot Job of The Week: Sales Beast at King Kong
Best job description of all time. 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Friends! The news doesn’t stop. And neither do we (except for naps, Francesca loves a nap).

Here’s what we’re jamming about this week:

Topic 1: Are We Headed Back to Victorian Child Labor?
Could Florida's latest child labor law proposal (re: Tampa Bay Times) be the tipping point for teen workers? Authors of this bill are looking to allow teens to work more than 30 hours a week, and in riskier situations.  And, this isn’t just a Florida issue. Child Labor violations increased 44% last year alone.   

Topic #2: A Tale of Two Job Markets
The U.S. job market. On paper, according to Reuters, it's booming, but we're peeling back the layers to reveal what's really going on behind those low unemployment rates with a take from WSJ. We tackle the economic trifecta of halted interest rates, inflation highs, and wage growth that's throwing businesses and job seekers for a loop.

New! Job of the Week
We’re highlighting a job that just looks boss. This week, it’s Director of Snacks! Who wouldn’t want that on their name plate?

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!  

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials!  You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group:  We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas,  questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to [email protected]