258. Does Christmas Change Your Mood? PLUS! Apple's Lost Leaders, Veteran Talent and the Top 1% of Employers

Dec 16, 2025

Explore the new 'Top 1% Employer' certification, highlighting progressive companies with innovative workplace practices. Discuss Apple’s recent leadership losses and the potential impact on its AI advancements and innovation. Dive into the effects of Christmas on mood, from boosting wellbeing to triggering stress. Plus, gain insights into the challenges veterans face transitioning to civilian careers and how their leadership skills often go unrecognized. Lastly, tips for making the most of holiday parties and navigating complex workplace dynamics.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

What 'Top 1% Employer' Actually Measures

Escape The City's Top 1% audit focuses on pay, inclusion, leadership, wellbeing and anonymous employee feedback.
It signals younger workers value purpose, flexibility and autonomy over superficial perks.

INSIGHT

Apple's Leadership Exodus Signals Strategic Strain

Apple has lost multiple senior leaders while its AI and Vision Pro ambitions face delays and scrutiny.
The leadership exits raise questions about Apple's ability to innovate versus competitors like Google and Meta.

INSIGHT

Veterans' Leadership Is Misread In Civilian Jobs

Veterans often feel 'lost in transition' from collective military culture to individualistic civilian workplaces.
Organisations frequently fail to recognise veterans' relational, shared-leadership skills and treat them as individual contributors.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Welcome back

This is Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Al and Leanne break down the biggest stories shaping the way we work, with practical insights for founders, leaders and anyone trying to build a better workplace.

🔥 Stories Covered

1. Escape The City launches its ‘Top 1 Percent Employer’ certification

Escape The City has introduced a new accreditation designed to spotlight genuinely progressive employers. The audit covers pay, inclusion, leadership, wellbeing, flexibility and anonymous employee feedback. Positive News highlighted four featured organisations:
• Sharky & George – flexible working, healthcare and nomad-friendly policies
• The Economist Educational Foundation – strong purpose and supportive leadership
• Rare Recruitment – a leader in inclusive hiring, especially for underrepresented groups
• Unifrog – £500 annual learning budget and company-wide bonus

It raises a bigger question: if we claim a workplace is “great”, what exactly should be measured?

Links:
positive.news/society/beyond-the-ping-pong-table-new-certification-endorses-truly-progressive-employers
app.escapethecity.org/certification\

2. Apple’s leadership shake-up

Apple has lost four senior leaders in quick succession, including its VP of Human Interface Design to Meta. Rumours of Tim Cook preparing to step aside continue to grow. Meanwhile, competitors are accelerating AI releases as the Vision Pro struggles to find momentum. Investors are calling for clarity on Apple’s AI strategy as the tech landscape shifts.
Link: edition.cnn.com/2025/12/06/tech/apple-tim-cook-leadership-changes

3. Supporting veterans in civilian careers

New research by James Hardie, guided by Dr Hayley Lewis, explores the transition challenges faced by UK veterans. Themes include identity loss, misunderstanding of collective leadership skills, culture shock around workplace politics and additional barriers for female veterans.
The core finding: veterans aren’t failing to adapt — organisations are failing to integrate them.

🧠 Truth or Lie: Is the Christmas spirit real?

Al and Leanne unpack the research behind seasonal mood shifts. Studies show Christmas can raise wellbeing through connection, ritual and nostalgia — but stress, comparison and financial pressure can weaken the effect. The “Christmas spirit” exists, but only when the conditions are right.

💬 Workplace Surgery

This week’s dilemmas:
• Is it unprofessional to skip the office Christmas party?
• Do employers have to approve every Occupational Health referral request?
• Is a manager undermining their employee, or is something else going on?

🧠 Mental Health Support

Mind UK: mind.org.uk/information-support
Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
Al Elliott: linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
Leanne Elliott: linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
Book a call: savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Coming up Thursday

We kick off our Christmas and New Year specials — highlights of 2025, expert predictions for 2026, and two feed-drop interviews.

P.S. You still have time to enter the competition offered by last week's guest, Rob Kalwarowsky, for a chance to win six weeks of coaching or his book. Go to robkalwarowsky.com/reason to get the Find Your Reason tool and enter the draw before Christmas Day 2025.