This Isn't Working

We've arrived at the end of S3! Join Sean and Tiffany for a recap of the last 2 years and how their relationship with work has changed thanks to (several) new jobs, starting this podcast, and the news in labor. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and let us know what you'd like to hear about on the pod here. Referenced during this episode: https://arbiteronline.com/2023/04/12/the-biggest-upcoming-supreme-court-cases-in-2023/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/ordersofthecourt/23

It's no secret that Tiffany and Sean work in the higher education industry. Combined, we have around 20 years of experience so we feel confident enough to come at our industry with a critical lens and tell you what is and isn't working - from actually going to school to working in the industry.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share your thoughts on higher education (or your critiques of your own industry) at hello@notworkingpod.com.

We always advise checking in on who wrote an article you're reading to see what their angle might be, but sometimes even sources we love (NYT, NPR) can write some truly bad material that sounds like it came straight out of the mouth of a CEO. Join us in a rage review of 5 such pieces of content as we break down why they're terrible. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share your most rage-inducing CEO-voiced article with us at hello@notworkingpod.com. Articles we read/reference for this episode: 1. America, we have a problem. People aren't feeling engaged with their work: https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1150816271/employee-engagement-gallup-survey-workers-hybrid-remote 2. Wowing the boss: being seen onsite is key, say 58% of workers: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wowing-boss-being-seen-onsite-important-say-58-workers-george-anders 3. Is Working From Home Really Working?: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/opinion/remote-work-salesforce-meta-working-from-home.html 4. Americans are becoming less productive, and that's a risk to the economy: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/07/1126967875/quiet-quitting-productivity-workers-ennui-working-jobs 5. The Next Time You Want to Complain at Work, Do This Instead: https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-next-time-you-want-to-complain-at-work-do-this-instead

Sean and Tiffany have a love/hate relationship with social media just like they do with work. For better or for worse, though, it's how we live our lives so it's important to understand what you're seeing online as it relates to work and labor more broadly. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share with us your best social media + business interaction here. Article we referenced: https://www.msn.com/en-ae/money/news/the-future-of-social-media-is-a-lot-less-social/ar-AA1a6imQ

As promised, Sean and Tiffany are looking to bring more voices onto the pod to share thoughts and ideas about what isn't working and how we can survive despite that. This week they welcome Emily Denny: a friend and former colleague of Tiffany's who manages to balance being a professional creative with maintaining personal creativity through her Substack (Food For Humans) among other endeavors. Learn what she thinks isn't working and the two foods she simply will not use in her cooking. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us how you make working and feeding yourself every day more tolerable here. Don't forget to subscribe to Emily's Substack: Food For Humans and follow @mother.thyme on Instagram for “ideas for how to make the Sisyphean task of making dinner bring you joy rather than dread.” (But mainly not recipes.)

Sean and Tiffany take a deep dive into 3 recent examples of the problems that can arise when the relationship between government and business gets sticky. Spoiler alert: It ain't pretty. We're not anti-government, but we would really appreciate it if they did more for actual humans instead of being on the side of big business.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us what you think about the match made in hell here.

In case you're new here, Sean and Tiffany know what it's like to feel completely stuck in a job you hate with seemingly no way out. Fortunately, there is always a way out. Tune in for our best tips for what to do when you're stuck.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if we missed anything here.

We aren't career coaches, but today we are playing career coaches on this podcast (sorta). Learn some of our best tips for how you can join the ranks of job hoppers like us who have had 6 jobs between two people over the last 2 years.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share your top job application tips here.

Sean and Tiffany discuss the “quiet” and “quiet-adjacent” work trends sweeping the nation's employees. If you thought it was only “Quiet Quitting,” you're in for a real trip. Sean and Tiffany discuss 6 trends that TikTok and journalists on the labor beat can't seem to get enough of. If only all of these trends were *actually* quiet. So we could all stop talking about them. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if we missed any other heinous trends here. Links from the episode Rage Applying: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-know-rage-applying-andrew-seaman/ Quiet Firing: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-quiet-firing-get-ahead-by-linkedin-news/ Quiet Promoting: https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/the-latest-quiet-trend-at-work-6143810/ Quiet Hiring: https://nypost.com/2023/02/26/forget-quiet-quitting-the-newest-trend-is-quiet-hiring/ Bare Minimum Mondays: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/bare-minimum-monday-marks-latest-quiet-quitting-trend/story?id=97493760 Quiet Thriving: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/12/14/youve-heard-quiet-quitting-now-try-quiet-thriving/

Welcome back loyal listeners! Sean and Tiffany return to share some (uncharacteristically) positive stories about something that *is* working: customer service! Listen in to some stories about great experiences, how you can (maybe) contribute to a better life for a worthy customer service rep in your life, and what you should always recommend if you fill out those surveys.PSA: It was our first time recording in a long time. Tiffany says “like” FAR TOO MUCH. She promises to work on that. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your positive customer service experiences here.

We're back! After a longer hiatus than we'd originally planned between seasons (life, amiright?) We are back in front of our mics to bring you the latest in labor starting with a lil bonus episode about the tens of thousands of layoffs that have been announced basically since we started our break. Tune in to hear how we spent our time off, where we think 2023 is heading, and the wild profit margins of some of these mega companies that announced layoffs in the last several months. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us what you think about all these announcements here. Learn more about layoffs: https://layoffs.fyi/ https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/latest-layoffs-ericsson-ey-more-6157626/ https://www.wsj.com/story/from-twitter-to-meta-tech-layoffs-by-the-numbers-0afd8714

In an unexpected turn of events for the end of Season 2, our special guest is: Tiffany's boss! (Or colleague to whom she reports directly because “boss” feels a touch formal). We asked Ryan for his perspective on 3 big work topics: ~*quiet quitting*~ (yes, AGAIN), being a working parent, and the new framework for mental health in the workplace issued last month by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. We also get his hot takes on some past topics, and Tiffany finds herself alone on an island with her love of a good G+T. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us your favorite episode from Season 2 here.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a 5 point framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace on October 20, 2022 and if you're a dedicated listener, the plan will sound super familiar to you. Did we consult on this framework? Technically, no. But after reading through it, we're pretty sure we could apply to be surgeon general if we ever want to make a serious career move. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us what you think about the framework here. Press release from HHS: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/10/20/us-surgeon-general-releases-new-framework-mental-health-well-being-workplace.html Framework: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html

Sean and Tiffany wrap up their summer reading of “Bullshit Jobs: A Theory,” by David Graeber by discussing how bullshit jobs are allowed to run wild in society. Spoiler alert: the reason is a downer! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you plan to read the book here.

Sean and Tiffany recap (in a non-middle school book report way) the book “Bullshit Jobs: A Theory” by anthropologist David Graeber and how seen and/or angry they felt throughout their reading. Discover what exactly a bullshit job is and the 5 types of bullshit jobs to find out if you've ever had one! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you plan to read the book here.

Employees have a tendency to feel guilty about all sorts of things they shouldn't, but Sean and Tiffany are trying to move beyond that. With mixed results. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you also think Quiet Quitting is not a thing here. Learn more about the research we did at the sites below: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx https://www.npr.org/2022/10/07/1126967875/quiet-quitting-productivity-workers-ennui-working-jobs https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/

Pour a cold one (or a hot one…or just coffee or water, really whatever you're feeling) and join us for the happiest hour of your work week as we chat navigating the HH scene at work. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you love or hate happy hour here.

Most of the pod is stuff companies do that we don't like so we thought we'd shake it up a bit and take a look at some things we do actually love (and of course, there are a few examples we still think aren't working). Find the articles we reference in this episode below to learn more! https://www.betterup.com/blog/best-job-benefits https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/job-perks?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjvaYBhDlARIsAO8PkE29m0ZEAsGUL1sy7wZBqb0ko9vs9Wb7E35HPjHhdkLuNrblSrPUkSMaArxlEALw_wcB&aceid= https://www.careeraddict.com/companies-best-benefits Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us which of these benefits you'd actually love to see here.

We have… mixed and limited experiences wielding any level of authority in the workplace, but you wouldn't know it based on the amount of time we've spent daydreaming that we do! In fact, we already have a short list of changes we'd make. What if we were in charge? Tune in to find out! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your go to “what if…?” daydream here.

Our very first interview features the incredible story of Rachel, Tiffany's friend and former colleague, who decided to take remote work to the next level this summer by taking a cross-country roadtrip while continuing to work from home, even when her home changed from week to week. We cover how she got the idea, the amazing adventures she's been on, and what's in store for the second half of her journey. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you'd consider a cross-country remote working trip here.

We all tell whitelies at work. From the resume to the customer service voice, you can't be fully truthful all the time when it comes to the work environment. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us your work white lies here.

Sean and Tiffany discuss Sean's experience being unemployed for a few months earlier this year, from the emotional distress to the complexities of filing for unemployment benefits. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and send us your thoughts on unemployment benefits here.

Happy Labor Day to all those who labor (hint: that means you)! Join Sean and Tiffany for a brief history of some of our most important labor wins from the 20th century, a look at where we are now, and what still needs to be done. Check out some of the resources we used to put this episode together: - The Productivity–Pay Gap | Economic Policy Institute - AFL-CIO - Recent Union Organizing Wins | AFL-CIO - Not just Starbucks: How union drives changed two Milwaukee coffee businesses - Starbucks | Union Election Data - Apple Workers at Maryland Store Vote to Unionize, a First in the U.S. - The New York Times - Wage Theft in America - Union Busting $$

WHAT. A. YEAR. Tune in to see how Sean and Tiffany are feeling about work generally now compared to a year ago as they celebrate the one year anniversary of their Big Quit. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and send us your Season 2 ideas here.

Sean and Tiffany have experience working in other countries and working with teams and clients spread out across the globe. Tune in to hear the fun/exciting/confusing/envy-inducing experiences they've had over the years. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share your work around the world experience here.

Some attempts at addressing mental health in the workplace always seem to miss the mark, but we have come up with a few strategies worth trying out. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and remember to seek professional help if you are in need and tell us about your strategies for a healthier work experience here.

There's a lot to unpack with mental health in the workplace. We're not experts so we'll keep it to our own experiences and those we know are fairly common in this toxic working culture we call capitalism. (If you need mental health assistance, we highly encourage you to seek the care you need.) Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us your thoughts on this episode here.

Imagine a world where you don't have to beg for your onboarding to be a smooth process. What would that be like? Join us to find out! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your best (or worst!) onboarding experience here.

We do not stan a shameless ladder climber, but we are in favor of growing, learning and advancing your career (and your salary). Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us your thoughts about advancing in the workplace here.

We've seen some very questionable eval practices in our day. That's why the only performance evaluation we truly care about is what you think of the pod. Rate and review us wherever you listen. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us if you think performance evaluations are a racket here.

Has someone at work ever said something that made you throw up in your mouth a little bit? Us too. See if your most-hated corporatisms made our list! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us your most hated corporate-isms here.

Sean has a lot of feelings on LinkedIn. Tiffany is… blissfully ignorant. Where do you fall on this spectrum? Listen in to learn more with Tiffany or commiserate with Sean! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your experience with LinkedIn here.

Spending most of our lives working isn't exactly what we'd call a “dream” but we have had some brighter moments in our working life. Join us to learn how our dreams have changed and what we dream of now. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your “dream” job here.

There are many things that motivate us to work, and just as many things that we find demotivating in the workplace. Tune in to learn what keeps us going and what stops us in our tracks. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us what motivates you here.

Sean and Tiffany discuss the pros and cons of remote/hybrid/flexible work styles. To no one's surprise, they're huge fans of remote work, but they give the others their 15 minutes of fame too. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us what work style you prefer and why here.

Some red flags make you roll your eyes; others send you running. From drama-driven colleagues to the dreaded “we're a family here!” join Sean and Tiffany as they review red flags to watch for in the workplace. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and share your workplace red flags here.

In the customer service industry, the people are represented by two separate, yet equally important, groups: the customers, who are not always right; and the workers, who have to pretend they are. These are our stories. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your crazy customer experiences here.

Looking for a job takes time, effort, and patience. It helps to have a friend to laugh at the many problematic things you see along the way. Join us for a roundup of some of the worst that HR has to offer. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your absurd job search experiences here.

Sean and Tiffany recount the glory of being able to quit their jobs on the same day, and how, even in their last moments, they got a few more swift kicks to the nuts on their way out. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and tell us about your best quitting story here.

Meet Sean and Tiffany: the work friends you didn't know you needed. We're millennials with jobs, and we've seen so much workplace nonsense we decided to start a podcast about it. Who are we and how did we get here? Tune in to Episode 1 to find out! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and keep us in the loop with what isn't working at your job here.

Leave your worksona behind and join us every Thursday for a new episode! Feel like this could have been an email? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok and drop us a line here with your work stories or episode ideas.