WhyWork® Podcast | Professional adult content | Sponsored by ViVA health at work

S08-E12: Jumping Castles Part Two

WARNING: This episode includes discussion about fatal events impacting children and families – we advise listener discretion. The WhyWork Podcast Team, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, discuss the complexities of a prosecutorial strategy when fatal events occur at a school: children who die as a result of a windstorm and out-of-control, airborne jumping castle. Those involved … Read more

S08-E11: Toolbox Talk: Acknowledgement of Country

WARNING: This episode addresses cultural sensitivity issues in the workplace – we advise listener discretion. Trajce challenges his podcast team, Alan, and Sara, with a claim about cultural sensitivities. He shares a tale about a street sweeper’s unfair dismissal by a local government city council after he raised his concerns about the Acknowledgement of Country … Read more

S08-E10: Darth Vader and the handshake of death

Alan, Trajce, and Sara start this episode in discussion about the social etiquette of handshakes. Alan advocates for the politeness of the handshake in business negotiations, and Trajce explains his handshake aversions, and the origins of a handshake. In this reverie, Trajce reflects on his support band, warming up big names in the 1980’s, like … Read more

S08-E09: Psychosocial Hazard Salad

In this episode, the team discusses the challenges in the contemporary workplace of managing the complexity of psychosocial risks that can cause mental health disorders among workers – disorders like anxiety, stress, low mood, and depression. Sara laments the literature and assessment approaches that reveal the “What?” without explaining the “SO What?” and “NOW What?” … Read more

S08-E08: Levellin’ Up: Health Screening vs Human Rights

“It is my human right to go and get a meat pie from the local pie cart,” Trajce defends his actions. “Everyone is stressed, so what is your stress level?” enquires Alan, in his effort to empathise and disarm a respondent. “What’s your level, not your age, but your level?” asks Sara, “We’re levelling up … Read more

S08-E07: Danger, Design, and Digital Realities

WARNING: This episode discusses a injuries caused by recreational fixed plan – we advise listener discretion. “How do you design better work when the risks are invisible, intangible, or hard to map?” asks Trajce. In this forward-thinking episode, the WhyWork crew explores how Shared Virtual Presence (SVP) is transforming the way organisations approach risk, work … Read more

S08-E06: Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild Theme Park Rides: When Fun turns Fatal

WARNING: This episode discusses a serious injury to a child – we advise listener discretion. “Theme parks are workplaces where serious harm could eventuate,” bemoans Trajce. In this gripping episode, the WhyWork crew dive into the devastating case of a child who suffered a traumatic scalping injury while on a Wile E. Coyote-themed amusement ride. … Read more

S08-E05: Is it a crime? The syrupy sweetness of criminal recovery, comebacks, and swearing in the workplace

Does a criminal record mean a life sentence of unemployment? This episode dives into how past convictions keep people locked out of work. Alan reflects, “Inclusive hiring isn’t charity. It’s good business sense. We should not define skills and character by a past conviction.” Alan recounts a case of a government employee hampered by a … Read more

S08-E04: Nipple Tweaks & Bottom Taps: The border between play and predatory assault

WARNING: This episode includes discussion on sexual harassment – we advise listener discretion. Ever wondered when ‘just joking’ becomes sexual harassment? In this eye-opening episode, we unpack real stories of workplace encounters that cross the line—like unwanted bottom taps or nipple tweaks (Are these ever really okay?!) . Alan, Trajce, and Sara discuss why dismissing … Read more

S08-E03: Too much to carry: The case that alters the landscape of mining prosecutions

WARNING: In this episode, the podcasters discuss extreme mental health duress – we advise listener discretion. Noone died. But two workers were emotionally broken by the weight of their jobs – this time, the system noticed. In this episode of WhyWork, we explore a landmark $1.2M enforceable undertaking in mining. Not for a collision, Not … Read more