Season 03 Episode 12: “To PPE or not to PPE?” asks Sara. No matter the philosophy driving work practice, a business is always tested at the pointy end of the law when the boundaries of work, health, and safety are pushed. The team debate the mandates for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Sara … Read more
WARNING: This episode discusses a fatality. The team lament the phenomenon of media reporting in an article about the public strain caused by grocery delivery delays. The cause of the delays was a fatality in a national grocer’s distribution and warehouse centre. “It’s not about the Brussels sprouts,” says Alan. Trajce is infuriated, “What about … Read more
WARNING: confronting content is discussed in this episode. “The triad of power, knowledge, and truth espoused by a politician, medical specialist, or famous person reflects a privileged position,” explains Trajce, “and it is most alarming when these people leverage these attributes to achieve their nefarious deeds.” He explains his angst that the 1943 ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy … Read more
Season 03 Episode 09: “Men can be challenged by their role expectations in society,” Alan reasons. Sara asks the boys to define ‘precarious manhood.’ She presents the idea of a pervasive culture of masculinity, in sport, at work, and in relationships. “The idea of ‘bigger, better, and rougher’ can be aspirational,” Trajce presents. Sara argues … Read more
Season 03 Episode 08: The boys query the symbolism of the size of the truck. “The bigger the truck, the smaller the…” muses Sara. “Supersize me! Raptor, Ram,” Trajce rolls the names across his tongue with a guttural snarl. A truck and its accessories are one’s identity, a sign of masculinity, and status for some … Read more
WARNING: Fatalities are discussed in this episode. “I didn’t really read the article, I just looked at the pictures,” admits Trajce. Alan and Sara burst into fits of laughter while Sara admits that she reads the comics before the news. Sara recounts a tale of tennis players who recall the play-by-play points of their matches, … Read more
WARNING: Fatalities are discussed in this episode. Trajce regales the story of the octopus ride at the amusement park: its carriage uncoupled from the main support arm and slid down side show alley. “Are you serious?” asks Sara, “That is out of a movie.” “A guilty plea, mea culpa,” says Trajce. “You know what was … Read more
WARNING – fatalities are discussed. Alan explains the current court case concerning the Whakaari / White Island volcano and discusses thrill-based recreational activities that can subject tourists to catastrophic events. “The island was smouldering like a magic dragon,” Sara elaborates. “I’ve been there!” exclaims Trajce. Trajce recounts his motivation to visit Whakaari by chartered helicopter … Read more
Season 03 Episode 04: We ask: “Who is at the heartbeat of your organisation?” In healthcare, that is often the nurse. Alan, Trajce, and Sara review complaints that were made by nursing staff to the regulator when hospital management announced their fitout of a nurses’ station that would remove a counter barrier. “It must be … Read more
Season 03 Episode 03 Reflects on Alan, Sara, and Trajce’s early, childhood career interests and extends the Season 02 discussions on getting along with our colleagues. “Work is work.” says Trajce, “but within that work construct… we must essentially get along.” Alan contends that respect must be upheld in social relations at work, whether you … Read more
Season 03 Episode 02 reflects on vicarious trauma in the workplace. Alan recaps on mental health first aid programming and the boundaries around that service scope requiring effective referrals to qualified and trained healthcare professionals. When the crew consider their work from home ideals, Sara dreams of her backyard spa, sauna, and wet kitchen for … Read more
“The stripper keeps coming back, straight out of the bottle,” says Alan. “You do not carve another man’s turkey,” is the meme entertained by Sara, as she reflects on a work party gone wrong. There were no boundaries and no planning, and the staff was teaming with Maslow’s hierarchy of primal needs: hunger! “Does the … Read more
Season 2 Episode 14: The river otter, the wise owl, and the transformation of a deer to a stag and back again. When ‘fuzzy science’ can be meaningful in terms of personality profiles, values, and our behaviours. Why not have fun and reflect on who we are, how we are, and why? This episode reveals … Read more
Season 02 Episode 13: This episode is dedicated to our teaching community. The podcast crew acknowledge that generalised stress can lead to dissociated behaviours and odd events can arise, like it did in the story of salmon stuffed in the professor’s pocket in a grocery store. Stress froths over in funny ways. Sara discusses the … Read more
Season 02 Episode 12: Worker health and wellbeing on the moon and in outer space: Can you dream it? “You can’t escape the iron cage of health and wellbeing,” says Trajce. “Not a cage, an opportunity,” Sara implores, as she imagines working on the technical requirements for the astronauts during their extra vehicular activity (‘EVA’) … Read more
Season 2 Episode 11: WARNING: A fatality is discussed in this episode. “Back to your techno days, Trajce,” says Alan. “I have a friend who organises amazing movie stunts,” says Sara. “Are you up for a ‘burn’?” asks Trajce. “With gel lathered all over the body and you light yourself on fire?” queries Sara, “I’ll … Read more
Season 2 Episode 10: The Matryoshka dolls keep opening. The podcast explores the ugly realities of the yoga guru fat shamer, the exposures when people subject themselves to reality TV, and more blurred lines when it comes to acceptable social boundaries. ‘Don’t push the envelope, don’t say it,” warns Trajce. ‘But if you say the … Read more
Season 02 Episode 09: “No more shoddy light fittings in hotel rooms!” exclaims Alan, “(I guess that) for any accommodation provider, there may be some bedroom activities (and) the bed must be strong.” “Honeymoon suite,” says Trajce. Sara laments the boundaries that erode during work travel and shares some stories about fruit and chocolate left … Read more
Season 02 Episode 08: Trajce ruminates over his fascination (read: obsession) with reality TV. He’s even written a book on it! The crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara discuss reality TV and the phenomena of naming and shaming. “I can see how the camera person may be considered a worker (under current health and safety legislation),” … Read more
WARNING: This episode contains confronting material. Season 02 Episode 07 explores work travel antics and the mishaps that can occur when an employer expects workers to share a room. Sleep disorders are mentioned, though alcohol is a prevailing theme in this story of mishap. Sara reminds Trajce and Alan about an old state government jingle, … Read more
WARNING: This episode discusses work venues that commercialise sex as their trade. There are sexual overtones in the discussions. Season 02 Episode 06: How are you going to risk assess the work of sex workers? “Sometimes the legal structure is too good for it’s own good,” says Alan. When you operate with blurred lines in … Read more
WARNING: This episode discusses work venues that commercialise sex as their trade. Season 02 Episode 05: Alan annunciates ‘c-o-u-g-a-r’ in honeyed tones…“Silicon chip inside her head” (not inside her hip!) – the lyrics – Trajce finally realises the lyrics in Bob Geldof and the Boom Town Rat’s song, but laments that ‘hip’ would rhyme better … Read more
Season 02 Episode 04: The crew discuss the work-from-anywhere phenomenon in sport when the enforcement of work health safety regulations is a reluctant approach and we (society) want the fight of sport to occur on the field. “This is food for thought”, says Trajce, “criminal law (sanctions) can still apply to illegal acts occurring on … Read more
WARNING – A FATALITY IS DISCUSSED Season 02 Episode 03: Bouldering is now an Olympic Sport. It’s time to crush the yellow, blue, green, white, and black in bouldering (like black belts!). What about when the sporting field or the tennis court is your workplace? “Aggression and the will to fight is part of the … Read more
WARNING – A FATALITY IS DISCUSSED Season 02 Episode 02: The wheels are slow to turn in the Hollywood industry to minimise risk on the set of television or movies. Harrison Ford is injured on a Star Wars set in the Millennium Falcon, Alec Baldwin was involved in an on-set fatality, and there are material … Read more
Season 02 Episode 01 describes how the podcasters, Alan, Sara, and Trajce met. The crew discuss the vulnerabilities of the human experience through storytelling. Trajce reflects on his career love of music production, Sara talks about her yoga practice, and Alan reveals his interest in agriculture and his vintage tractor operations. During these reflections, the … Read more
Psychosocial wellbeing and design for diversity Season 01 Episode 12 challenges cultural approaches to conflict. The emotional experience is a reality, and we are emotional beings. In workplace law, Alan reminds us that workers might not realise that they are triggering emotional responses among workmates. Sensory processing is yet another facet of understanding the reality … Read more
Interpersonal conflict at work In Season 01 Episode 11, Trajce and Alan probe perceptions among workers and the impacts on workers in toxic workplaces. Camera footage tells one story but cannot reveal worker vulnerabilities and perceptions that arise when toxicity has eroded interpersonal relationships. Trajce and Alan unpack the conflicts that can occur at work, … Read more
Workplace design for performance In Season 01 Episode 10, we pursue the end game of good work design. We suggest that workplaces build purchase, agency, and capability in work design throughout their organisation, propped by conventional designers and, yes, the lawyers also to help predict and defend against safety-critical events. Sara prompts listeners to think … Read more
Technology at work A choodle or a poowawa? Hybrid dogs or hybrid work, it’s all up for laughs in Season 01 Episode 09! When we design good work it requires science, expertise, consultation, and engagement with subject matter experts, coupled with an inventive mind (which means a workplace that tolerances ‘fuzzy work’ where we can … Read more
Workplace fatigue Season 01 Episode 08 tells a tale of a tragic road rage story, the complexity of fatigue, shift work, and high performance versus coping. The over-productive worker and those who approach burn-out are examined. Fatigue can seem invisible, so how do we examine the symptoms when we work from anywhere? Ultimate, we ask: … Read more
Mental health and working anywhere and everywhere Seaso 01 Episode 07 discusses health in the built environment, from the office space to the home space. The air that I breath and the water that I drink: how is this ensured in the home working environment? What about the potential risk of exposure to domestic violence? … Read more
We explore how to connect, consult, and engage with workers Season 01 Episode 06 discusses candor at work and how to be real. We encourage employers to discuss the messy realities of work. Candor is a two-way street and effective pathways are needed to discuss ‘what’s what’ in a frank and open manner. We encourage … Read more
When work exposes you to the dark side of life Season 01 Episode 05 challenges listeners to think about highly confronting scenarios. We caution that the episode discusses suicide and exposure to horrific scenarios, like child pornography and abuse. This is addressed because this is a reality of work for many people, including those who … Read more
Voluntary acceptance of risk at work Season 01 Episode 04 explores voluntarily acceptances of risk. Does your employer specify, “Don’t have rigorous sex while travelling for work?”, or “Please do not wear stilettos else risk a fall”. Are we alert or should we be alarmed? From work parties, travel, to rock concerts, this discussion challenges … Read more
There are fleas all over it Season 01 Episode 03 examines the work-from-home phenomenon and the ambiguity around what is permissible for home luxuries and work requirements. “There are fleas all over it”, says Alan, when considering what to do with the dog at home, the boundaries of work and home life, and the freedoms … Read more
Wildlife at the workplace and wild experiences like when mishaps occur with sex during work travel Season 01 Episode 02 stirs up the hornet’s nest and discusses the busy, busy, bee-siness of work travel, sex, bee stings (unrelated), and the avatars that we choose to represent ourselves in our workplace chat rooms. Injuries can occur … Read more
When a workplace Christmas party gets a little slippery Season 01 Episode 01 invites listeners to consider what happens when a celebration like a Christmas party or social gathering goes seriously wrong. There can be blurred lines, drinking, nudity, giggles, and the assumptions that everyone in the team wants to party in the same way … Read more