242. Amazon sacks HR, bosses blame Gen Z and new-job red flags. PLUS! Does your vibe really attract your tribe?
Truth, Lies and Work
The chameleon effect and mimicry
Leanne describes unconscious mimicry that increases liking and how mirroring can both help and backfire.
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this week’s headlines dive into generational friction, AI disruption, and Amazon’s latest layoffs — plus the psychology behind “Your vibe attracts your tribe.”
🔥 This Week’s Stories
🧃 Gen Z vs Everyone Else
The Telegraph says Gen Z are ruining the workplace — dodging phone calls, dressing down, demanding safe spaces, and setting firm boundaries. But is this generational chaos or cultural evolution? Leanne breaks down what’s really going on when work expectations clash across age groups.
📰 Source: The Telegraph – Six ways Gen Z are “ruining” the workplace
🤖 40 Jobs AI Might Replace (and 40 It Can’t)
Microsoft analysed 200,000 Copilot conversations to rank which jobs are most at risk from AI. Translators top the list at 98%, coders at 90%, and even DJs at 74%. But the real story isn’t about job loss — it’s about job evolution. Al explores how automation could actually create more work, not less.
📰 Source: Sky News – The 40 jobs most at risk from AI
📦 Amazon’s AI-Fuelled Layoffs
Amazon is reportedly cutting up to 15% of its HR division as CEO Andy Jassy doubles down on AI investment. Fortune reports that the People Experience & Technology team (PXT) is bearing the brunt. We unpack what happens to trust, culture, and psychological safety when “learn AI or be left behind” becomes company policy.
📰 Source: Fortune – Amazon plans new round of layoffs
🧠 Truth or Lie: “Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe”
Does your energy really shape the people around you — or is it just another social media myth? Leanne examines the science behind attraction, similarity, and social mirroring. From the “chameleon effect” to homophily, find out what really draws people together (and what pushes them apart).
💬 Workplace Surgery
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A remote employee might secretly be working two full-time jobs — what should you do?
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How do you motivate your team to actually upskill?
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You’ve started a new job full of red flags — do you fix it or flee?
🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being
– Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
– Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat
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