Dehumanizing hiring processes, swoop-and-poop bosses, and maybe the biggest question of all: does my design work even matter if I don’t care about propping up capitalism? This week, Sara and Jen answer dilemmas about pushing back against exploitative requests, working around a faux-inclusive boss, and managing disillusionment with design. And through it all, a theme emerges: How do you handle the tension between two conflicting truths? Links:The 2023 Content Design and UX writing survey results Sara worked on Ask a Manager: Should you do free work as part of a job interview?How to use “job crafting” to make your work more meaningfulGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

Canceled 1:1s, unrecognized accomplishments, meetings that drag on for eternity…oh my. When you have a conflict with your manager, it can feel incredibly risky to speak up. But having the courage to broach a difficult topic can be the first step toward real change. In this episode, Sara and Jen talk self-advocacy: how to identify your needs, outline desired outcomes—and actually START the conversation! Links:Read up on how the Wage Gap Shortchanges MothersCan you believe working moms get 58 cents for every dollar dads earn?Check out this study from Gender Action PortalMore on how work from home is increasing bias against working mothersRequired reading: Women in the Workplace 2022 study by McKinsey & Company and Lean InHow do you create a culture of psychological safety? Learn from Amy Edmonson’s Ted Talk and Alla Weinberg’s book A Culture of Safety. (Psst—you can download the book for free!)Go get that COIN (Context, Observations, Impact, and Next Steps, that is)Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Layoffs are on a lot of people’s brains right now—but the challenges and complicated feelings aren’t limited to those who were laid off. In a bit of a companion to last week’s episode, Sara and Jen help listeners work through how to move on after others have lost their jobs, how to find your footing if your role has changed in a post-layoff reorg, and how to be present and supportive to loved ones who are struggling when your own work is going well.Links:Identify your needs with BICEPSWe’re SURE you deserve to ask for what you need at workLet’s all “sit in the shit” with Samira RajabiGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

From the surprise notice, to the advance tipoff, to the not-even-one-year-in-your-role dissolution, layoffs take many forms. But hardly any of us give ourselves the space to grieve the loss before we throw ourselves back into the job search. This week, Sara and Jen discuss how to be kind to yourself after a layoff, build a sustainable action plan even in a tough job market, and avoid sinking into panic mode along the way. Links:Tracking tech layoffs with layoffs.fyi We ❤️ a feelings wheelIs it just grief, or is it institutional betrayal? (CW for sexual assault)Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Boundary-trampling coworkers. Absentee HR reps. And a whole lot of weird boss behaviors. This week, Sara and Jen help listeners make sense of toxic, abusive, and otherwise harmful situations—so they can process their feelings, get the support they need, and take meaningful action. Links:“Grey rocking” – how to bore a toxic narcissist out of your lifeGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

Learn how to advocate for yourself at work, address challenges of being heard and supported, recognize and honor personal boundaries, explore the inner critic, and discover the ease of expressing needs and setting boundaries in the workplace.

You deserve an equitable, actionable, and thoughtful performance review. So how do you move forward when you get…something else entirely? That’s what we’re tackling in our very first episode. Listen in as Jen and Sara coach people through big dilemmas—and even bigger feelings—about the wild and weird world of performance reviews. You’ll leave with new tools to help you rebound after unfair or unexpected feedback…or at least some good stories for the group chat.   Links:Common cognitive distortions at workThe 40 Best Questions to Ask in an InterviewGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Introducing Per My Last Email—coming April 13How can I get my boss to advocate for me and have my back? Should I disclose my disability? Why can’t I juggle all of this work? Work raises a lot of questions—and too many of them get stuck in our heads, rattling around until we feel overwhelmed and unqualified. No more. Join hosts Sara Wachter-Boettcher and Jen Dionisio for this brand-new podcast designed to help you work through all the big feelings and confusing situations that come up at work. Each episode, they’ll share real-life dilemmas listeners are struggling with—from how to respond to passive-aggressive emails to what to do when your boss gives you truly terrible feedback. Then they’ll share the tools they use in their coaching sessions to help listeners get through whatever work throws their way.  Per My Last Email starts April 13—so subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Because work gets weird. Sara and Jen can’t wait to help you get through it. Submit a dilemma to the show--Theme music: “(I’m A) Modern Woman” by Maria TProducer: Emily DuncanCreated by: Active Voice