Workplace Misconduct: A Mandatory Meeting

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In the HR world, workplace misconduct is considered especially heinous. At HR Tech, William Tincup and Ryan Leary of WRKdefined take over "9 to 5 HR Nightmares" to expose shocking stories from top industry leaders. Their mission: to reveal how weak candidate screening and compliance failures can devastate company culture. These are their stories—raw, real, and a reminder that modern HR practices are your first line of defense. Misconduct isn’t just a nightmare—it’s a ticking time bomb.

  1. 03/20/2025

    OnlyFans at Work, Toxic CEOs, and HR Nightmares: Unfiltered Tales of Workplace Misconduct

    In this episode we talk about the line between personal freedom and professional conduct, and how leaders — or lack thereof — create cultures that either thrive or implode. From a manager busted with an OnlyFans side hustle to a CEO who treated HR like a suggestion, this episode dives into workplace chaos, psychological fallout, and the lessons hiding in the madness. Key Takeaways ➡️ Unchecked leadership can create a culture of fear, silence, and toxicity. ➡️ Real-life stories expose the absurdity and severity of workplace misconduct. ➡️ Employees often avoid reporting issues due to fear of retaliation. ➡️ Family-owned businesses struggle with accountability at the top. ➡️ Sexual misconduct and harassment are often minimized or ignored. ➡️ HR faces a tough balance between protecting the company and supporting employees. ➡️ Toxic workplace culture severely impacts employee experience and retention. ➡️ Leadership accountability is critical for a healthy workplace environment. ➡️ Screening for misconduct is vital to prevent future HR nightmares. ➡️ Employees suffering in silence send the wrong signal to leadership. ➡️ Addressing misconduct requires both policy changes and a cultural shift. ➡️ Training and awareness can help prevent misconduct from escalating. This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

    15 min

  2. 03/13/2025

    Ep. 18 Russian Emails, Lies in Interviews, and the AI That Might Replace Us

    In this episode we talk about the hidden flags recruiters miss, the lies candidates tell, and the tools AI gives us to finally get ahead. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Mike Wolford live at the Fama booth during HR Tech to unpack real-life stories from the field and why the future of recruiting is all about data, not gut checks. Key Takeaways ➡ One contractor sent inappropriate emails in Russian, assuming no one would translate them — HR did ➡ Overly detailed excuses in interviews often signal dishonesty or manipulation ➡ Recruiters can spot bad actors by watching for unverifiable or overly polished claims ➡ AI can help forecast patterns recruiters miss — like MRI tech catching cancer earlier than humans ➡ Mike argues the real threat of AI is not violence, but preference — we’ll like bots more than people ➡ Recruiters who rely on phone screens are falling behind — it’s time to automate the basics ➡ Data-driven recruiting means knowing salary trends, response rates, and source effectiveness ➡ AI should handle tasks like scheduling and screening so recruiters can focus on strategy ➡ Strategic advisors win. Order takers and guessers get replaced ➡ Success at HR Tech is about helping recruiters transition into data-first talent pros This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Chapters 00:00 Live at Fama’s booth with Mike Wolford 01:00 The Russian email incident and HR’s translation surprise 02:00 Lies in interviews and spotting overcompensation 03:00 How AI helps recruiters see patterns before people can 04:00 Why AI will win our attention before it destroys anything 05:00 Recruiters must evolve into data-powered strategists 06:00 Scheduling, screening, and admin tasks belong to AI 07:00 What Mike hopes to get from HR Tech this year Guest Info Mike Wolford, Author of The AI Analyst LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewolford Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lex-duo-ai/ Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    8 min

  3. 03/06/2025

    Ep. 17 Kill the Microaggressions or Kill Your Culture. You Choose

    In this episode we talk about the ripple effects of microaggressions, forgotten voices, and how one Fortune 50 company accidentally created a leadership vacuum by cutting its campus recruiting program. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Heather Jerrehian from ServiceNow and Yaz Dalal from Joveo at the Fama booth at HR Tech to unpack how culture is built or broken in the small moments. Key Takeaways ➡ Microaggressions in meetings may seem small, but they erode confidence fast ➡ Speaking over someone or repeating their idea louder is a form of cultural rot ➡ Leaders must amplify marginalized voices — it only takes one to set the tone ➡ Heather shares how ServiceNow's "People Pact" empowers peer-level accountability ➡ Yaz recounts a Fortune 50 company that cut campus hiring for two years during a recession ➡ That one cost-cutting move created a 12-year leadership void in their most strategic groups ➡ Culture is what you reward and what you punish — and what you allow ➡ The middle managers you ignore are actually the keepers of your company’s DNA ➡ Psychological safety and inclusion must be modeled from the top ➡ Pulling ideas from quiet voices can completely change product strategy ➡ Small moments like asking for input or crediting ideas shape long-term engagement ➡ Companies must think long-term about talent pipelines and internal mobility Chapters 00:00 Live at the Fama booth with ServiceNow and Jovio 01:00 Microaggressions in meetings and the cost of silence 03:00 The power of amplification and leadership modeling 05:00 How a quiet comment changed Dirt Devil’s product strategy 07:00 Building culture through consistent behavior and accountability 09:00 Why structure and tone in meetings matter 10:00 The “People Pact” at ServiceNow 11:00 How cutting campus hiring caused a 12-year talent gap 12:30 Why middle managers matter more than we think 13:00 What Heather and Yaz hope to take from HR Tech This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Guest Info Heather Jerrehian, VP of Product Management, Employee Workflows, ServiceNow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjerrehian Website: https://www.servicenow.com Yaz Dalal, Chief Growth Officer, Jovio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yazdalal Website: https://www.jovio.com Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    15 min

  4. 02/27/2025

    Ep. 16 Preschool Teachers, Drunk EMTs, and Masturbating Co-Workers: Welcome to Nine to Five Nightmares

    In this episode we talk about the dark side of hiring. The misconduct, the red flags, the things no one tells you in the interview. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down at Fama’s booth during HR Tech with Amy Warren and Micole Garatti to unpack the viral worthy, lawsuit laden, and reputation wrecking behaviors lurking in plain sight. If you’ve ever hired someone and crossed your fingers, this one’s for you. Key Takeaways ➡ Preschool teachers posting about hating kids and drinking on the job. Yes, this really happened ➡ One EMT got drunk, stole an ambulance, hit a person, and ran. All while on the clock ➡ 25 percent of candidates in entertainment and media flagged for misconduct on Fama reports ➡ A CFO candidate had multiple fraud charges and prostitution allegations. All verified ➡ Fama’s goal is to get workplace misconduct down to 5 percent. Currently around 10 percent ➡ One client saw a 116 to 1 return on investment using Fama in higher ed hiring ➡ Misconduct costs companies trillions globally. Prevention is cheaper ➡ Social screening is not about disqualifying people. It’s about making informed choices ➡ Executives with red flags cost exponentially more in brand damage and chaos ➡ Everyone has a global audience now. One bad hire can go viral and wreck your brand ➡ He masturbated behind a glass door while she was on a work call. HR can’t make this up ➡ Modern hiring means screening beyond the resume. TikTokers and CEOs alike Chapters 00:00 Live at HR Tech with Fama 01:30 Employee horror stories. Preschool edition 03:00 Drinking on the job and public scandals 05:00 The glass door story you’ll never unhear 07:30 Stolen ambulances and fleeing EMTs 09:45 Why misconduct will never be zero 11:15 Industries with the most red flags 12:45 The fraudulent CFO and his past 14:30 When your employee steals twice 16:00 Interpreting Fama reports like a human 18:30 ROI of social screening 20:00 How viral behavior destroys brands This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Guest Info Amy Warren, VP of Marketing, Fama https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyjwarren/ Micole Garatti, Director of Product and Content Marketing, Fama https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmicole/ Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/

    22 min

  5. 02/20/2025

    Ep. 15 Faceplants, Soulmates, and Tampons: Tales of Bad Interviews and Worse Interviewers

    In this episode we talk about the wildest interview fails and the hard truths behind hiring manager missteps. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Lorna Erickson and Victoria Gates from Expert Interviewers at the FAMA booth during HR Tech. From blood on the interview table to creepy questions about soulmates, it’s painfully clear — most managers aren’t trained to interview, and it shows. Key Takeaways ➡ One candidate face-planted during an interview after pushing her portfolio too many times ➡ The interviewer froze and started flipping through her portfolio while she bled from the nose ➡ 7,000+ interview case studies revealed a shocking number of illegal and inappropriate questions ➡ One interview turned into flirting, then marriage, then a cringey engagement video reenactment ➡ Another manager asked, “Is your boyfriend your soulmate?” mid-interview ➡ Untrained managers ask about religion, politics, plastic surgery, and more — on record ➡ Structured interviews reduce bias and keep things professional, even if you stay human ➡ Candidates want to be evaluated. Proper structure builds trust in the process ➡ The interview is not the place for “what kind of tree are you” unless you're hiring a gardener ➡ Real training means simulations, quizzes, feedback, and accountability ➡ Expert Interviewers splits training and social storytelling with their “That Interviewer” series ➡ If you start off casual, you’re setting the tone — and often it’s the wrong one This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Chapters 00:00 Live at HR Tech with Expert Interviewers 01:00 William’s worst interview story of all time 02:45 The faceplant, the blood, and the frozen response 04:15 Interviewing without training leads to chaos 05:00 Inappropriate flirting turns into a wedding 06:30 The soulmate question and other terrible tactics 08:00 The case for structure and professionalism 09:30 What to do when candidates overshare 11:00 Training methods that actually work 13:00 Building the recruiter and hiring manager partnership 14:30 Meet “That Interviewer” on TikTok 15:30 What Expert Interviewers hopes to take from HR Tech Guest Info Lorna Erickson, Co-Founder, Expert Interviewers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lornaerickson/ Website: https://www.expertinterviewers.com Victoria Gates, Co-Founder, Expert Interviewers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpreston/ Website: https://www.expertinterviewers.com Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    18 min

  6. 02/13/2025

    Ep. 14 Alcohol, Employees, and Regret. The Cocktail That Keeps HR in Business

    In this episode we talk about how quickly good vibes at work turn into compliance catastrophes. Ryan Leary and William Tincup are live from the Fama booth at HR Tech, joined by Jenny Olson of NPR and Dave Wentworth of Schoox. The conversation pulls zero punches as we explore the liability, culture erosion, and plain old foolishness that comes from mixing alcohol with the workplace. Key Takeaways ➡ A conference planner got so drunk at her own event she cracked her head in the hotel lobby ➡ The CEO had to personally drive her to the hospital ➡ In-office happy hours might seem fun, but they’ve led to DUIs and toxic behavior ➡ Encouraging on-site drinking to “bond” staff is often a lawsuit waiting to happen ➡ A book called Corporate Drinker is calling out this exact issue in modern workplace culture ➡ Free alcohol is still the go-to draw for many companies trying to feel cool ➡ Ping pong tournaments, food trucks, and family days are safer and way more inclusive ➡ Banning alcohol at work and work events is the easiest way to prevent a PR disaster ➡ The pressure to “be fun” often leads to long-term damage to morale, trust, and safety ➡ Real employee engagement comes from thoughtful experiences, not open bars ➡ If common sense were common, we wouldn’t need HR Chapters 00:00 Live at Fama’s booth from HR Tech 00:20 Intros with NPR and Schoot 01:00 The head injury that changed the vibe of the entire event 02:30 Why no one thought to prevent it 03:30 Office happy hours that go off the rails 04:15 Corporate Drinker and the case for alcohol-free culture 05:00 Alternatives that actually build community 05:40 Why it’s so hard for employers to say no to booze 06:10 Bringing families into workplace culture This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Guest Info Jenny Olson, Head of Communications, NPR Website: https://www.npr.org Dave Wentworth, Talent Platform Evangelist, Schoot LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmwentworth/ Website: https://www.schoox.com/ Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    7 min

  7. 02/06/2025

    Ep. 13 Bathtubs, Brawls, and Burnout: HR Nightmares from Every Corner of the Map

    In this episode we talk about the weird, the wild, and the totally preventable disasters companies face when expectations are unclear and accountability goes missing. Ryan Leary is flying solo at HR Tech as he sits down with guests from isolved, 360insights, and Haynes to unpack misconduct stories from across the country — and from a tiny island in Alaska. Key Takeaways ➡ A traveling employee flooded three hotel floors — including the HR office — by falling asleep with the tub running ➡ A 20-year-old HR employee threw a presidential suite party that ended with security intervention ➡ One island-based company scrapped its attendance policy after some workers racked up 40 to 50 absences ➡ An attendance incentive offering 60,000 airline miles still didn’t move the needle on absenteeism ➡ That same incentive led to a relapse and eventual termination for on-the-job alcoholism ➡ A sales team brawl at a kickoff event forced hotel security to separate warring groups — think West Side Story ➡ HR leaders have had to bail out employees from jail after “misunderstandings” at company events ➡ One sales event ended with two leaders “doing what they had to do” on the beach in front of the entire team ➡ Sometimes the problem is not policy — it's unclear expectations and zero guardrails ➡ Sitka, Alaska has just 14 miles of road and a 2-day drive through Canada to access by ferry ➡ When cruise ships unload 5,000 people in Sitka, phone service dies. Businesses just have to deal with it ➡ A recent storm broke undersea cables, cutting off internet and cell service for 17 days Chapters 00:00 Live from the Fama booth at HR Tech 01:00 Flooded hotel rooms and international jet lag 02:50 The presidential suite birthday party gone wrong 04:00 Island life and 50-absence employees 05:30 Sales team gang fight at kickoff event 06:45 Poolside misconduct in full view of the company 08:00 Why clear expectations matter 09:30 Cultural context and mental health on isolated islands 11:00 Cruise ships, broken cables, and 17 days without internet 12:30 What each guest hopes to get out of HR Tech This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Guest Info Amberly Dressler, isolved LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com Geoff Webb, 360insights LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-webb/ Website: https://www.360insights.com Jaylene, Haynes Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    15 min

  8. 01/30/2025

    Ep. 12 Consultant Vanishes at Bacardi, Preschool Teacher Fakes Heart Attack: HR Cannot Catch a Break

    In this episode we talk about two HR disasters that sound like movie plots but were all too real. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Jackie Clayton from Textio and Allyn Bailey from SmartRecruiters at the FAMA booth during HR Tech to share stories about a consultant who vanished mid-assignment at Bacardi and a teacher who faked a heart attack to avoid getting fired — in front of a playground full of toddlers. You can’t make this stuff up. Key Takeaways ➡ A consultant placed at Bacardi developed a minibar habit that spiraled into a disappearance ➡ Hazmat was called to clean the hotel bathroom — the consultant was never seen again ➡ He’d done such poor work, the client felt “relieved” when the truth came out ➡ Allyn once managed a preschool employee who knew she was about to be fired ➡ The employee faked a heart attack in front of a group of toddlers and fled via ambulance ➡ HR blocked the termination because she might have developed an ulcer from workplace stress ➡ The experience was Allyn’s brutal intro to people management at age 20-something ➡ Both guests reflect on what could’ve been done differently — better feedback, slower decision-making ➡ Early-career managers often over-correct and make reactive calls without full context ➡ Sometimes the worst HR stories are preventable — with the right structure and communication Chapters 00:00 Live from Fama’s booth at HR Tech 01:00 Jackie’s Bacardi story: Consultant, minibar, and disappearance 02:30 Hazmat in the hotel and a vanishing act 03:45 Allyn’s early career in preschool HR chaos 05:00 The fake heart attack and three-year-olds watching 06:30 Why HR blocked the termination — workplace stress defense 07:00 Reflections on better screening and early feedback 08:00 Leadership lessons from managing too fast, too young 09:00 Final thoughts and what both guests learned This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations. You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here Guest Info Jackie Clayton, VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIP, Textio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackyeclayton/ Website: https://www.textio.com Allyn Bailey, Brand Strategy and Communication, SmartRecruiters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allynbailey/ Website: https://www.smartrecruiters.com Connect with us William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com

    12 min
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In the HR world, workplace misconduct is considered especially heinous. At HR Tech, William Tincup and Ryan Leary of WRKdefined take over "9 to 5 HR Nightmares" to expose shocking stories from top industry leaders. Their mission: to reveal how weak candidate screening and compliance failures can devastate company culture. These are their stories—raw, real, and a reminder that modern HR practices are your first line of defense. Misconduct isn’t just a nightmare—it’s a ticking time bomb.

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