WhyWork Podcast

Alan Girle, Trajce Cvetkovski, & Sara Pazell
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The WhyWork Podcast is an organisational strategy session and legal dissection of workplace events that are laced with humour. Your bloggers, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, explore the contemporary and uncomfortable realities of work and the boundaries that are tested. Alan and Trajce dismantle case law and Sara pushes all to consider how to redesign the world of work so that business objectives are realised and that people thrive. Good stories are told. The WhyWork team throws shade on some of the stories and the people involved as they consider defensible and remarkable work design strategy. When you listen to the WhyWork Podcast, you realise that no skeleton in the workplace closet is too sacred to unearth. It’s like listening to the water cooler gossip but then shit gets real, and it all becomes serious – fast. This is a must-listen for executive and emerging managers, work design strategists, human factors specialists and ergonomists, work health safety and law specialists, organisational scientists, occupational health academics, and anyone humoured by office and workplace antics! Get ready to exclaim, “She said WHAT...?” and “He DIDN’T! OMG!”. Laugh along with us while you learn lots.

  1. S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 3

    1D AGO · BONUS

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 3

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 3 WARNING: This episode discusses the difficult journey of organ donation, which may confront some listeners – we urge listener discretion before tuning in to this special three-part series. In this deeply personal and provocative three-part special, Sara, Trajce, and Alan traverse beyond the usual boundaries of work dynamics leading to work health and safety case law. They enter the territory in which values, courage, relationships, healthcare institutions, and government frameworks intersect in messy fashion. In the latter episodes, the series is joined by Clinton “CJ” Harding, the kidney recipient, whose presence reframes the experience from sacrifice to shared humanity. Together, they explore what it really means to care at work, in friendship, and in life when the stakes are life and death – very real. After all the confrontations of poor service design in the public healthcare setting, Sara would still do it again if tested on repeat. “That’s not really an option, now,” jokes Trajce. This series invites listeners to reflect: What do we owe one another at work in life?How do organisations respond when employees make values-based decisions that don’t fit neat policy boxes?And how far would you go for a workmate?If this series prompts questions or curiosity about organ donation, we strongly encourage you to visit DonateLife and speak with your state or territory kidney transplant centre. For more healthcare insights, check out 'Healthcare Insights: The Voice of the Consumer, the Practitioner, and the Work Design Strategist.'

    44 min
  2. S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 2

    MAR 2 · BONUS

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 2

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 2 WARNING: This episode discusses the difficult journey of organ donation, which may confront some listeners – we urge listener discretion before tuning in to this special three-part series. In this deeply personal and provocative three-part special, Sara, Trajce, and Alan traverse beyond the usual boundaries of work dynamics leading to work health and safety case law. They enter the territory in which values, courage, relationships, healthcare institutions, and government frameworks intersect in messy fashion. Also, in this episode, the podcast crew invite discussion by special guest, Clinton "CJ" Harding, the organ donor recipient. At the heart of the series is Sara’s experience as a living kidney donor and CJ's opportunity to marvel at transitioning from accepting then moving from death's edge to a second lease on life. Sara reviews her nine-month decision-making journey that tested her resolve and made her confront both her values and capabilities. Unexpectedly, her decision confronted many of her friends, colleagues, and family, while testing the institutions, providers, and government support designed to support people through extraordinary choices. This series doesn’t romanticise donation. It sits honestly with the discomfort: Being confronted by strong opinions and projected fears,Navigating a public hospital system under strain,Discovering the near absence of employer, insurer, or structural financial support,And learning, sometimes the hard way, who can hold space, and who cannot.Sara laments the challenges she faced, unexpectedly, beyond her immediate biological and psychological sphere of live organ donation - the impositions that others placed upon her when projecting their own fears. If this series prompts questions or curiosity about organ donation, we strongly encourage you to visit DonateLife and speak with your state or territory kidney transplant centre. For more healthcare insights, check out 'Healthcare Insights: The Voice of the Consumer, the Practitioner, and the Work Design Strategist.'

    36 min
  3. S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 1

    FEB 23 · BONUS

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 1

    S10: Special-Release Bonus: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Part 1 WARNING: This episode discusses the difficult journey of organ donation, which may confront some listeners – we urge listener discretion before tuning in to this special three-part series. In this deeply personal and provocative three-part special, Sara, Trajce, and Alan traverse beyond the usual boundaries of work dynamics leading to work health and safety case law. They enter the territory in which values, courage, relationships, healthcare institutions, and government frameworks intersect in messy fashion. This series invites listeners to reflect: What do we owe one another at work and in life?How do organisations respond when employees make values-based decisions that don’t fit neat policy boxes?And how far would you go for a workmate?If this series prompts questions or curiosity about organ donation, we strongly encourage you to visit DonateLife and speak with your state or territory kidney transplant centre. For more healthcare insights, check out 'Healthcare Insights: The Voice of the Consumer, the Practitioner, and the Work Design Strategist.'

    33 min
  4. S10: Bonus Trailer 03: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?

    SEASON 10 TRAILER

    S10: Bonus Trailer 03: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?

    S10: Bonus Trailer 03: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? Payback conversations - a foreign, special guest: CJ Harding - kidney donor receipt - with discussions on reframing an experience of sacrifice to shared humanity. The crew explore what it really means to care at work in friendship and in life when the stakes are life & death.

    2 min
  5. S10: Bonus Trailer 02: How Far Would You Go for a Workmate?

    SEASON 10 TRAILER

    S10: Bonus Trailer 02: How Far Would You Go for a Workmate?

    S10: Bonus Trailer 02: How Far Would You Go for a Workmate? Testing institutions and confronting friends through extraordinary life choices. Prepare for a special bonus-release series on live organ donation for a workmate.

    2 min
  6. S10: Bonus Trailer 01: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?

    SEASON 10 TRAILER

    S10: Bonus Trailer 01: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate?

    S10: Bonus Trailer 01: How Far Would You Go For a Workmate? A special three-part, provocative bonus series releasing soon.

    1 min
  7. S09 E12: “Puppy-Gate” and Stripping as a Side-Hussle

    JAN 26

    S09 E12: “Puppy-Gate” and Stripping as a Side-Hussle

    Season 09 Episode 12: “Puppy-Gate” and Stripping as a Side-Hussle WARNING: This episode includes discussion on stripping as a trade – we advise listener discretion Alan reflects on the South Australian work-from-home ‘puppy-gate’ test of law when a local government worker claimed worker’s compensation for an injury she sustained while working from home. In this instance, she tripped over a puppy fence she’d installed in the home to segregate her puppy from a pet bunny. Here is the breakdown of the case: Initial Decision: The Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (LGAWCS) rejected Ms. Vercoe's claim.The Appeal: Ms. Vercoe (the employee) appealed that decision to the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET).The Ruling: In October 2024, the SAET ruled in favour of Ms. Vercoe, finding that her injuries were compensable, arising from her employment.Appeal Decision (Full Bench of SAET): On 8 December 2025, the Full Bench of the SAET overturned their earlier ruling. The case was sent back to the original Tribunal member to reconsider and proper applications of the legal test.“But can you appeal an appeal?” Sara begs to know. Trajce replies, “Short answer is, yes, potentially anything; the apex of the court structure is The High Court.” Trajce and Sara engage in debate with Alan about the merits of work from home, or anywhere for that matter (W-F-A), and the legal tests of environmental and technical safety. For more information, refer to Vercoe v Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (2024) Alan presents a second case from Victoria about a construction worker stripper with a thumb injury, a decision in the County Court of Victoria. Alan explains, “The decision was whether or not to grant leave of the courts to consider the case.” He leaves the team guessing about the sex of the worker and circumstances pertaining to the case. For more on these topics, tune in to: · S01 E03: Pets ‘n’ Air Fryers · S01 E07: Design When we Work-From-Anywhere · S04 E02: The WooFA Work-From-Anywhere (WFA) Reality · S07 E10: That Old Chestnut – Pets & Work From Home

    44 min
  8. S09 E11: The Beat Boy Fashion Archetype and Exploitation Tactics of Reality TV

    JAN 19

    S09 E11: The Beat Boy Fashion Archetype and Exploitation Tactics of Reality TV

    S09 E11: The Beat Boy Fashion Archetype and Exploitation Tactics of Reality TV WARNING: At the end of this episode, we refer to a mass murderer who made his way to a Reality TV show, and this may confront some people – we advise listener discretion. Trajce’s nurtures his love of reality TV through research about the programming designed to evoke conflict among the show participants. “Some of these reality TV episodes showcase true talent among participants as competitors – like singing, sport, or survival skills,” explains Trajce, “but then there are the anti-talent shows – ‘I’m a celebrity, get me outta here!’” Alan talks about the lack of privacy on reality TV shows. He quotes a contestant who says, “This experience is shark-infested, it’s like having my leg bitten off.” Sara protests, “But you sign consents – are you not seeking your 15 minutes of fame?” Trajce asks, “What about the participants who are older?” In response to the crew’s discussion on the tortology of the sociological research term, ‘lived experience,’ Trajce adds, “There are some people who are experienced, but haven’t really lived.” Trajce reflects on this love for the level of authenticity in the WhyWork show with Sara’s admission of her lack-of-fashion fashion archetype, “Seriously,” she complains, “it’s like my archetype is the non-archetype, playful, not quite centred in any one place, just like my Otter animal-archetype!” For more on these topics, tune in to: · S02 E08: Reality TV and Me – Trajce reflects on his fascination (and obsession) with reality TV and the phenomena of ‘naming and shaming.’ The crew discuss the potential psychological impacts of being on these shows. · S02 E10: Name and Shame: Where is the Filter? Broader in scope, this episode includes discussion of reality TV and the blurred lines around naming and shaming in media and society. And two related books by Trajce Cvetkovski: · Reality TV and the Art of Trivialising Work Health, Safety, and Wellbeing · The Pop Music Idol and the Spirit of Charisma

    17 min
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Trailers

About

The WhyWork Podcast is an organisational strategy session and legal dissection of workplace events that are laced with humour. Your bloggers, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, explore the contemporary and uncomfortable realities of work and the boundaries that are tested. Alan and Trajce dismantle case law and Sara pushes all to consider how to redesign the world of work so that business objectives are realised and that people thrive. Good stories are told. The WhyWork team throws shade on some of the stories and the people involved as they consider defensible and remarkable work design strategy. When you listen to the WhyWork Podcast, you realise that no skeleton in the workplace closet is too sacred to unearth. It’s like listening to the water cooler gossip but then shit gets real, and it all becomes serious – fast. This is a must-listen for executive and emerging managers, work design strategists, human factors specialists and ergonomists, work health safety and law specialists, organisational scientists, occupational health academics, and anyone humoured by office and workplace antics! Get ready to exclaim, “She said WHAT...?” and “He DIDN’T! OMG!”. Laugh along with us while you learn lots.

Information

  • Creator
    Alan Girle, Trajce Cvetkovski, & Sara Pazell
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    205
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © WhyWork 2023
  • Show Website
    WhyWork Podcast