The Rational Workforce

When one artist gives unsolicited advice to another, particularly via Twitter/X, it's kinda' like pulling the pin on a pop culture grenade. That's what one of Hollywood's more popular actors just did and the results are... predictable. The actor's comments - although making a valid point - come off as a bit tone deaf when you run the numbers. Let's take a stroll down self-awareness lane together,...

Media outlets and the pundits running them want you to think "Rich Men North of Richmond" is a right-wing anthem. You know why? Because you're not taking the bait. In just a few short days, Oliver Anthony's song has rallied people from all walks of life to voice support, or at the very least, nod in agreement at the heartfelt lyrics that are oh so soulfully conveyed. As Truman famously said: "An h...

- In mid-July, the AB InBev CEO said sales haven't been "meaningfully impacted" - In late July, they did a round of layoffs - In early August, they reported a 10% revenue drop and a 30% operating profit drop by the U.S. unit That's... that's a pretty big change of events in just a few weeks, isn't it? As usual, those who make poor decisions get golden parachutes while workers get a quick education...

Welcome to The Rational Workforce's inaugural interview! Georgia St John-Smith was a high-flying recruiting exec in London who seemed to have it all. Great job. Big salary. Bougie flat. So, why did she walk away from it all to start an executive coaching and retreat center in Ibiza? You'll have to check out the interview to find out... but we cover so much more during this hour-long chat, like: -...

A recent article was just published asserting that it's okay (and sometimes even empowering) for managers to yell at their teams. If they're yelling: "Hey! Look out!" as an out of control forklift bears down on you in the warehouse. Okay... fine. But if they're yelling at you because you didn't put a cover sheet on your TPS report or some other inane reason... no way. We're all human and we all lo...

Whether you think Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts are going to far, not going far enough, or somewhere in between, it's starting to become clear that something isn't working. The knee-jerk reaction is to start ascribing blame... then the usual arguments begin to surface: - "If you're pro-DEI, you're anti-meritocracy!" - "If you're anti-DEI, you're a bigot!" (Or an "-ist" or practice an...

Another day, another tale of executives making moves that have employees paying the price. I've been a lifelong Disney fan - D23 fan club member, regular WDW visitor, shareholder, you name it - and the direction the company has taken during the past couple of years have been anything but magical. I hate seeing it as someone who is passionate about the brand, but I especially hate seeing how that d...

When most companies talk about "supporting diversity and inclusion," they often refer to a very limited interpretation of those words. Neurodiversity programs support individuals who think, see, feel, and experience the world differently... and they're often overlooked. (Or, at the very least, take a back seat to other diversity and inclusion efforts that capture more headlines.) Well, Walmart is...

Actors have joined fellow artists and writers by going on strike, and technology is at the heart of one of the biggest sticking points for both parties. Although it's tempting to think of folks in Hollywood as wealthy elites, these strikes impact hundreds if not thousands of workers. Is it worth it? Check out today's @therationalworkforce video and decide for yourself.

Amidst the cheering, rivalries, heartthrobs, and heartaches, it's easy to forget that sports is a business. And, as such, teams wrestle with some of the same issues other businesses face today. So when economic conditions change and supply chain issues rear their ugly head, sometimes you just need to make big investments to protect your brand, support your employees, and keep moving forward. This...

Just when you think someone has reached rock bottom, they find a way to drill deeper. In an effort to stop the absolute collapse of Bud Light, A-B's CEO has been making the media rounds lately... and his latest interview with CBS was a doozy. I've seen some epic levels of passing the buck, but this one is on another level. Check out the video. It's got to be seen to be believed.

Ever get the impression that executives at your company are a little out of touch with reality? That's because they probably are. When it comes to employee well-being, there's an ever-widening gap between perceptions and reality... and workers are paying the price. Today's video highlights the source of some of these problems and - more importantly - what employees, employers, and managers can do...

First Bud Light sales began to slow. Then market cap dropped. Then they lost their #1 best selling beer status. Then distributors (and their families) started feeling the pain financially. Now two bottling plants are forced to close their doors, costing hundreds of jobs. Today's episode takes a look at yet another group of innocent bystanders who are paying the price for Bud Light's demise and hig...

SCOTUS just made a landmark ruling on affirmative action's role in college admissions and - as expected - it is causing quite a stir. So what does this mean for workers and for employers? At the very least, be sure emotionally-charged discussions are likely to arise on your next Zoom call or around the water cooler. But what else can you expect? We spend a few minutes breaking it down.

Google has recently been called out for violating its own inclusiveness policies... and their response was surprising. Companies like Google have been supporting pride events for decades, but as some of those events feature increasingly brazen content, the once quiet Christians (and others) are pushing back. Defenders of the events say they're good-natured parody. Opponents are standing their grou...

A new report from the Wall Street Journal reveals that independent workers - a.k.a. consultants, freelancers, solopreneurs, gig economy workers, et al - are generally happier and more satisfied with their pay. Speaking as someone who punched out of corporate 4+ years ago, I can attest to this fact. The independence and the rewards are enormous, but it's not all sunshine and roses. In today's episo...

I've done a lot of job-hopping during my career and there's one piece of advice (or two) that I wish I received when I was younger. I've been on the lowest rung on the corporate ladder, a C-level executive, a business owner, and a board advisor - and everything in-between - and this advice stands no matter where you are on your career path. It could save you from a lot of heartache. Check it out....

Interesting discussion brewing on Twitter today about the use of the term "cis" and whether or not it's a slur. Okay... "discussion" may be a bit optimistic of a term. There are a lot of people hurling nastygrams at one another surrounding the topic, but it's an interesting concept to ponder in a day and age when DEI is so front-and-center in so many professional and cultural ways. Let's break it...

** This isn't a joke ** Here, in the year of our Lord two-thousand and twenty three, A-B is going to pick up the most prestigious award in marketing. Bonus lunacy: their global Chief Marketing Officer gave a seminar on "relentless focus on connecting with consumers." Yeah... I don't get it either. Yes, A-B is a huge global company, but here at home, they've: - Abandoned their base - Left the LGBTQ...

The LA Dodgers career page states that the organization's mission is to "create a culture where diverse voices and experiences are valued." They want workers to "feel empowered" so that "ALL employees can succeed." Flowery words, but do they walk the walk? Based on the latest controversy surrounding The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Catholics, you're completely justified in asking that quest...

A new study was just released highlighting that employee engagement - a measure of involvement and enthusiasm at work - is at an all-time low. Given the state of the world today, this news isn't terribly shocking. What is surprising, however, is how the fight between "who's wrong / who's right" is shaping up. In this video, we take a look at the phenomenon, the causes, and more importantly, the so...

Bud Light has lost revenue, shrank market cap, and has lost the pole position as America's leading beer. Now reports highlight how this is starting to impact distributors, drivers, salespeople, and other team members. Today's episode looks at what's happening, how executives are trying to leverage their plight for sympathy, and how workers can empower themselves when their employers make moves the...

If you've never screwed-up on the job, raise your hand. Okay... you with your hand up... you're lying. Knock it off. Throughout the workplace - from interns to executives - mistakes happen on the daily. They can be soul-crushing defeats or they can be great opportunities for learning and improvement. Which direction it goes is largely on the manager. In today's video, we talk a bit about the "Dear...

Ever feel like you're not being heard at work? That your voice is drowned out by others? That your opinion on things - particularly on a social or political topic - is unwelcome? If so, you're probably not alone. No matter how much or how little you want your workplace to be home to such discussions, the fact of the matter is that they happen on a regular basis... and they're probably going to bec...

Making the transition from in-office to at-home work probably wasn’t easy. Tech hiccups, switching to virtual collaboration, finding a quiet spot to call your office… the whole nine yards. But, eventually you got used to it. Maybe even learned to enjoy it. Then, just as you’ve gotten used to it… BAM… your boss is making you come back to work. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world, but there’s...