# 306. Firing your HR department, restroom lurking and the accidental manager. PLUS! Does Gen Z value purpose over pay? With Dr Jake Tuber

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Podcast: [Truth, Lies and Work](https://stenobird.com/podcast/truth-lies-and-work-5599780)
Published: 2026-06-02T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HS2481244041.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HS2481244041.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3846

## Resource

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, hosts Al and Leanne Elliott are joined by returning guest, organisational psychologist Dr. Jake Tuber! Together, they tackle the biggest news in business, bust media myths, and solve your trickiest management dilemmas. This Week: Restroom Lurking, Firing HR and The Sales Promotion Trap. PLUS, Does Gen Z Actually Care About Purpose? 🔥 Stories Covered 1. Restroom Lurking: The New Workplace Space Crisis Leanne reveals the latest viral workplace trend: "Restroom Lurking." A Kickresume survey found that 44% of workers admit to using office restrooms to regain composure when overwhelmed. We discuss the deeper issue—the lack of quiet spaces in modern office design. Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2026/05/22/restroom-lurking-on-the-rise-as-workers-seek-refuge-from-job-stress/ 2. Tech Firm Fires Entire HR Department Al breaks down the shocking news from checkout software company Bolt, which laid off its entire HR department. The CEO defended the move, claiming HR "creates problems that don't exist." We discuss why this "smoke alarm" approach to policy is a catastrophic business decision that overburdens untrained leaders. CityAM Article: https://www.cityam.com/fintech-boss-defends-sacking-entire-hr-department-for-creating-problems-that-didnt-exist/ 🧠 Truth or Lie: Does Gen Z Value Purpose More Than Pay? The media claims younger workers only care about meaningful work and ethical alignment. Dr. Jake Tuber leads this week's segment to reveal why this is actually a "life stage phenomenon" rather than something unique to Gen Z. Previous generations felt exactly the same way in their twenties—they want meaning, but they aren't willing…

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