About this episode
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.
This week we’re exploring what employees and leaders are really looking for at work right now — and how it’s shaping leadership behaviour, burnout, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture.
? Stories covered
Why are Gen Z leaving jobs so quickly?
According to a Fast Company article by Jeff LeBlanc, Gen Z workers aren’t job-hopping out of disloyalty. They’re growth hunting.
The research shows:
Nearly half of Gen Z plan to leave roles for better growth, not higher pay
86% won’t upskill without employer funding
43% feel too burnt out to learn outside work hours
Cost, not motivation, is the biggest barrier to development
This reflects a wider shift in workplace expectations. When organisations talk about growth but don’t support it structurally, people move on. Gen Z isn’t rejecting work — they’re rejecting stagnation.
? https://www.fastcompany.com/91452297/the-rise-of-growth-hunting-why-gen-z-changes-jobs-so-oftengenz-job-hopping
Jeff previously joined Truth, Lies & Work to discuss Gen Z, burnout, and leadership psychology: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/207-what-happens-when-leaders-start-being-kind-with-jeff-leblanc
You can also explore his book Engaged Empathy Leadership for practical, science-backed management advice: https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Empathy-Leadership-Redefining-Action-ebook/dp/B0FCGSC48C
Does complaining at work make teams less resilient?
Research highlighted by Stanford suggests that repeated complaining rewires the brain.
Over time:
Neural pathways linked to stress and threat detection strengthen
Baseline stress levels rise
Small irritations feel bigger
Negativity becomes automatic
For leaders, this matters. Teams that normalise constant complaining may unintentionally reduce resilience, decision-making quality, and psychological safety.
? https://x.com/shiningscience/status/2013113758386987099
What employee wellbeing benefits actually reduce burnout?
After a LinkedIn post went viral, Slate introduced a $200 monthly cleaning stipend for employees.
