Cubicle Confidential Tim McClure & Chris DeSantis

Given the transient and mobile nature of the modern workforce, is poaching an ethical dilemma or a smart sourcing strategy? We help a restaurant owner contemplate countermeasures when an upscale rival raids his roster. Next, Chris and Tim help a consultant calm the waters when he is accused of aiding and abetting a defection. Also, a spirited point-counterpoint on the concept of “brunch” and a few confessions about runny eggs.
Segments in this episode:
Dine and Dash in Austin - “The restaurant up the road is swiping my servers”Scrambled not Poached in Spartanburg - “My client thinks I pilfered his people”The Gist: “The Ethics & Etiquette of Employee Poaching ” by Cherone Duggan (Workable.com)We want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com.
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Tim’s much-maligned reference shelf includes the American Heritage dictionary which defines a crush as:  “a usually temporary infatuation.” This week we help listeners work through the twists and turns of office obsessions. Chris waxes poetic about the rotary phone and the dating scene at Illinois Bell. Plus:  back by popular demand – the word of the day!
Segments in this episode
2Good 2Be 4Gotten in Tulsa- "My boss is hot. Can I? Should I? How do I?”Word of the day:  A noun … 10-letters … defined as “the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous pattern” … can you guess the word?Daddy Issues in Des Moines - "We are dealing with a perilous paternal paradox”We want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com.
Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Sometimes it’s hard to stand out from the crowd, sometimes it’s hard to hide.  We help listeners chart a course into -- and out of – the spotlight. Plus: an apology to Sean Evans, the “pretend agent” that launched a career, and the all-too-common confusion around Patrick Stewart and  Patrick Swayze.
Segments in this episode:
TV NV in NYC - “I want an internship but I’m not in Kansas anymore”Kitemath is an award-winning design team specializing in corporate communications. They work across media to solve problems and help companies connect with their employees, consumers and other key audiences. We thank Chris and Jen for designing our new logo.  Learn more about this amazing firm and the high-impact work they do at Kitemath.com.It’s Funny until someone Dies in Pittsburgh - “OMG, I emailed a carton about a stupid boss to my stupid boss”The Gist: “5 Ways to Make a Lasting Impression” by Jeff Vijungco from TheMuse.comWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening!
Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Recreational marijuana is all the buzz but what happens when Mary Jane dances a little too close to the office? We explore the complicated tapestry of state law, company policy and individual liberty. Is pot the new alcohol or is it a little more complicated?  On a completely unrelated topic … Chris, Tim and Jack talk about their favorite binge-worthy snacks. 
Segments in this episode
Taking the High Road in Durham - “I saw my employee smoking a joint!”Purely Hypothetical Scenario: If – for whatever reason – you suddenly get the munchies, what is your go-to snack?Dazed and Confused in Vancouver - “My staff wants a new kind of office party”The Gist: “Marijuana in the Workplace … How to Craft an HR Policy” as published by HSIWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com.
Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

When does a stretch goal become a fool’s errand? This week listeners share their challenges with unrealistic expectations both foreign (from a client) and domestic (from the boss). Chris shares one of his favorite tools for assessing personality types and channels his inner Ross Perot.
Segments in this episode
Baffled in the Bay Area - “S.O.S., the boss is setting beyond-audacious growth targets!”Fishing for Sponsors: DiSC® is a personal assessment tool used by more than one million people every year to help improve teamwork, communication, and productivity in the workplace.  Learn more at DiSCProfile.comDoing the Hustle in Houston - “My client’s fake deadlines are causing real problems”The Gist: “10 Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Customers ” by Skye SchooleyWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com.
Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Intelligensia Artificialis is not a real phrase but it should be. We tackle two takes on the omnipresent A.I. system, Chat GPT. How can a freelance writer stay relevant? If you find time in your day, should you ask for more work (or just play)? We close with a quick tour of A.I. trends for 2024. Bonus quiz: what do acoustic guitar, snail mail and cloth diaper have in common?
Segments in this episode
Man vs. Machine in Philly - "How can I keep A.I. from taking my writing gigs?”Fishing for Sponsors: Back by popular demand … a live, on-air taste test of spicy gummies from Pakistan, made possible by our friends at ExoticSnackGuys.comHAL’s the Word in Hartford - "Chat GPT cut my writing time in half, should I ask for more work?"The Gist: “Will A.I. Take Your Job? Fear of A.I. and Trends for 2024” by Kazimierz RajnerowiczWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent.
Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com.  
Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!