Chuck and Jenni have both been on the road in the last week attending the IABC World Conference in Vancouver and Atomicon in Newcastle in the UK, and they kick off this episode with some of their reflections and learnings from both.

Throughout the episode they reflect on the changing nature of workplace culture, the importance of meaningful connections, and the challenges of presenteeism. The conversation touches on Jim Collins' concept of 'Good is the enemy of Great' and the need for companies to strive for superior results and lasting impact.

They explore the evolving expectations of employees regarding work social events and the signals that leaders send about taking time off when you’re sick. In this episode they discuss the challenges of workplace illness in a remote and hybrid world and the expectations placed on employees by leadership.

They get into some recent research that shows the impact of gender bias in reporting misconduct in the workplace, with the conversation turning to the history of the witch trials!

Finally, they address the rapid adoption of AI in organizations and the potential risks to employee autonomy and trust, emphasizing the need for thoughtful communication and support during these changes for employees.

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• Unhappy Hour: People used to relish getting sloshed with their colleagues after work. What happened?
• Research: Why Employees Work While Sick—and How Leaders Can Stop It
• Research: Women’s Complaints of Workplace Abuse Get Ignored More Than Men’s
• Good is the enemy of great
• Washington Post: More companies are mandating employees to use AI. Not everyone is on board

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss some of the latest stories about AI, employee experience, leadership and workplace challenges. They reflect on their health and energy levels during the recording, share insights about the upcoming Comms Reboot event in Toronto on June 25, and delve into the issue of negative signaling on social media.

The conversation transitions to the importance of employee experience in shaping organizational behavior looking at some of the latest research into the link between the two.

Jenni recently attended the Gallagher London Summit and shares some of the key stats and insights from the presentations across the two days. Some older stories that have bubbled up on social media are debated - specifically why venting isn’t the best thing to do to create change and they finish on a big question - how does work shift from 5 days on, 2 days off with the growing use of AI?

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• How employee experience drives employee behaviors
• Why venting isn’t the way to solve our problems
• AI And The End Of Traditional Work: Are We Entering A Post-Work Era?

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this conversation, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss various themes surrounding corporate culture, employee experience, and the impact of recent changes in workplace dynamics.

They explore the troubling shift in corporate culture from positivity to fear amidst the recent stories of cutting middle management roles.

They explore the disconnect between executives and middle managers, the challenges of internal communication, and the cultural differences in how deskless and office workers receive information.

They discuss the need for more strategic communication within organizations and the delicate balance businesses must maintain when addressing societal issues based on some recent research in the USA.

The conversation also touches on the role of values inside organisations, the expectations of employees regarding workplace culture and the importance of focusing on relevant communication.

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• (05:55) From friendly faces to firing squads - the new corporate culture
• (14:02) Not just slash and burn
• (22:42) Workshop’s Internal Communication Trends Report for 2025
• (31:57) Business is a new stabilizer in a divided nation

Additional resources

• What do we mean when we talk about strategy and tactics?
• Tried-and-tested frameworks for communicating organisational change
• What can fit inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Connect with Jenni Field and Chuck Gose on LinkedIn.