Truth, Lies and Work

176. Google’s 60-Hour workweek, Asda's bonus backlash and how to go from friend to boss. PLUS! Leaders are human too, with Dr Elaine Smith - This Week in Work, 4th March 2025

Mar 4, 2025

Dr. Elaine Smith, a Clinical Psychologist and Business Wellbeing Consultant, joins the discussion on compassionate leadership. She dives into Asda's controversial bonus cuts and their effects on morale, contrasting it with the tech industry's flexible approaches. The conversation shifts to the importance of vulnerability in leadership, revealing how addressing mental health can enhance workplace connections. Elaine also offers insights on transitioning from friend to boss, emphasizing empathy and communication for effective managerial relationships.

52:30

Episode guests

Dr Elaine Smith

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Asda's decision to scrap bonuses for over 10,000 managers highlights the impact of financial struggles on employee morale and retention.

Sergey Brin's call for 60-hour workweeks at Google raises concerns about employee flexibility and work-life balance in a competitive landscape.

The employability paradox suggests that promoting staff can enhance loyalty while simultaneously making them more appealing to other employers.

Deep dives

Asda's Bonus Cuts and Its Impact on Morale

Asda has announced the cancellation of annual bonuses for over 10,000 managers due to declining sales and market share, which significantly impacts approximately 14,000 employees. This decision follows one of the worst holiday seasons in the company's history, raising concerns about its workplace culture and employee morale. Many employees expressed a lack of confidence in the company's strategy, with reports indicating that morale among staff may plummet, prompting some top performers to consider leaving the company. The restructuring efforts and layoffs in recent years have only compounded the challenges Asda faces in reviving its corporate identity and stability.

Intro

2min

Asda's Leadership Crisis and Workforce Dynamics

18min

Embracing Vulnerability: The Human Side of Leadership

4min

Vulnerability in Leadership

5min

Understanding Leaders' Mental Health Challenges and Workplace Expectations

4min

Navigating Managerial Transitions

17min

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Tuesday, we bring you This Week in Work—your go-to for workplace news, a hot take from an industry expert, and our world-famous workplace surgery, where Leanne answers your toughest work dilemmas.

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ Asda Scraps 10,000 Staff Bonuses

More than 10,000 managers at Asda won’t receive their annual bonuses after a challenging financial year.
Full story: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/01/asda-scraps-staff-bonuses-for-thousands-after-torrid-year/

2️⃣ Google's Sergey Brin Calls for 60-Hour Workweeks

Sergey Brin has reportedly told Google employees to return to the office every weekday and suggested 60 hours a week as the “sweet spot” for productivity.
Full article: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/28/sergey-brin-says-rto-is-key-to-google-winning-the-agi-race/

3️⃣ The Employability Paradox: How Promotions Can Boost Loyalty & Turnover

The Employability Paradox is the idea that promoting staff increases their loyalty but also makes them more attractive to other employers.

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: Dr. Elaine Smith on Leadership & Wellbeing

Our guest this week is Dr. Elaine Smith, a Clinical Psychologist and Business Wellbeing Consultant. Elaine is the Psychological Wellbeing Lead at Hope.io and co-founder of Think Resilience, a new leadership retreat launching in East Lothian this April.

🧠 Key Insights:

Leaders Are Human Too: High-ranking leaders, regardless of their salary or seniority, need emotional and mental support just like anyone else.
The Illusion of Composure: Just because leaders appear composed and confident doesn't mean they aren't struggling beneath the surface.
Supporting Leaders Benefits Everyone: When leaders are supported to show vulnerability, it fosters connection, improves workplace culture, and can potentially lead to more compassionate decision-making.

🌐 More from Dr. Elaine Smith:

Leadership Retreat: https://www.thinkresilience.co.uk
Online Course: Creating Compassionate Workplaces: https://www.drelainesmith.com/online-leadership-course-stress-resilience
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elaine-smith-creating-compassionate-workplaces/

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: From Friend to Boss—How to Lead Without Losing Your Mates

A new team lead is struggling with a former peer undermining their authority. How do you establish authority without coming off as power-hungry?

📌 Q2: The Unlimited Holiday Trap

An "unlimited holiday" policy sounded great in theory but has created chaos. How can managers set boundaries without undermining company policy?

📌 Q3: The HR Battleground

An HR Director is caught in the middle of a company war over flexible working policies. Should they pick a side, or is there a way to mediate without losing credibility?

📢 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)