244. Waitrose axes autistic volunteer, A.I. clones and managing hiring chaos. PLUS! Are first born children natural leaders?

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 stories dig into workplace trust, exploitation, and the psychology of staying too long.

🔥 This Week’s Stories

🛒 Waitrose Under Fire for Axing Autistic Volunteer
A 27-year-old man with severe autism was reportedly “sacked” after his family asked if he could be paid for some of his work. After volunteering at Waitrose for four years and clocking up more than 600 hours unpaid, his placement was suddenly suspended.
We explore the line between inclusion and exploitation — and what true inclusive employment should look like.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15211181/Autistic-volunteer-sacked-Waitrose-family-asked-start-paid-years-stocking-shelves-free.html

🧠 AI Clones Are Coming for Your Coworkers
Two co-founders from the $2.1B AI recruiting startup Eightfold just raised $35M for a new company, Viven — an AI “digital twin” of every employee that lets coworkers message your clone when you’re offline.
We unpack the privacy risks, ethical dilemmas, and whether this is innovation or invasion.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/15/eightfold-co-founders-raise-35m-for-viven-an-ai-digital-twin-startup-for-querying-unavailable-coworkers/

📅 The 3-Month Notice Period Problem
Three-month notice periods used to be for senior executives. Now they’re everywhere — from middle management to entry-level jobs. We ask whether forcing people to stay longer is about succession planning or control — and what it’s doing to motivation and trust.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/career-advice/working-three-months-notice-period-drain/

🧩 Truth or Lie: Are Firstborn Children Natural Leaders?

Firstborns dominate CEO lists and political leadership — but is it nature or nurture? We explore decades of research showing that while firstborns do have a statistical advantage, it’s more about parental attention and early responsibility than genetic destiny.

💬 Workplace Surgery

1. “How do I manage chaos when hiring without spending a fortune?”

2. “My manager invited me to lunch — do I have to go?”

3. “Can I opt out of birthday collections at work without looking antisocial?”

🧠 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