Hello!
I have been busy compiling your favourite workplace newsletter – a combination of things you need to know and things that will make you laugh out loud.
In this issue there’s a workplace trend, fun snippets, case updates and sage advice in the “Dear Jen” column.
And of course, I share my recommendations for your viewing pleasure.
I hope this newsletter brings you some wisdom and joy!
Cheers,
Jen
What trend am I seeing out there in the workplace world?
We are heading into pay rise and promotion season, also known in some workplaces as “panic season”.
Employers are worried about losing good people when the budget will not stretch to meet expectations. At the same time, many feel pressured to hand out pay rises or promotions simply to avoid an uncomfortable “no” conversation.
That is why employers need the skills to handle difficult conversations with clarity and confidence before these moments become costly mistakes.
We’re here if you need us.
Deborah Stonley: deborah@jenniferbicknell.com.
Jennifer Bicknell: jen@jenniferbicknell.com.au
Buzzword of the Week: Careerfishing (also known as career catfishing)
Job seekers embellishing (or ahem, fabricating) their qualifications, experience, and skills to secure a job. Surely not!
Job of the Week – TikTok Content Director
An online gambling company recently advertised for someone who “lives and breathes TikTok”, spots trends before they break, and understands what makes people stop scrolling.
Somewhere, every parent who said “you can’t make a living off your phone” is being proven dramatically wrong.
Interview Fails: The “Please Don’t Do This” Edition
1. “I’m just here for the money.”
Honesty is admirable. Timing is everything.
2. “I didn’t really read the job description.”
They know. You didn’t need to confirm it.
3. “My biggest weakness? I don’t like being told what to do.”
A bold choice for a workplace built on… being told what to do.
4. “I left my last job because my boss was an idiot.”
The interviewer immediately wonders who the common denominator is.
5. “I don’t have any questions.”
Translation: “I’m not that into you.”
6. “I work best when I’m not supervised.”
That’s not independence. That’s a red flag with a lanyard.
7. “I’ll take anything, honestly.”
Desperation is not a selection criterion.
8. “I’m planning to start my own business soon.”
Nothing says “flight risk” like announcing your exit strategy mid‑interview.
9. “So what are your hobbies”?
“Competitive knife‑throwing” may be true, but it’s not the differentiator you think it is.
10. “I don’t really believe in KPIs.”
Unfortunately, KPIs believe in you.
Have you recently promoted a high-performing employee and want to support them to step up and succeed in their new role?
Are you hiring for a critical role and know the cost of getting it wrong is far greater than the recruitment fee?
Do you have a complex workplace situation and need a calm, experienced professional to coach an employee who may not fully recognise the impact of their behaviour, support a team through tension, or address a sensitive issue before it escalates?
This is where Deborah adds real value.
With more than 30 years of HR leadership and executive coaching experience, Deborah combines strong commercial judgment with a practical, human approach to help leaders make better decisions, build stronger teams and deliver results.
Deborah is someone you can bring in when the stakes are high, and you want more than advice; you want clarity, traction and a better outcome.
Contact Deborah: deborah@
Or Jennifer Bicknell: jen@
CASES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
FWC Says: Bring on the Costs Application
Costs orders in dismissal matters are rare.
So it was notable when, in a recent general protections case, the Fair Work Commission criticised the applicant for disregarding the facts, running incoherent legal arguments, and using AI to “extract” contract terms that were not there.
The Deputy President said he would “welcome” a costs application from the employer.
Take-Out Point: AI can save time, but used badly it can become very expensive. Poorly researched claims and imaginary contract terms may open the door to costs claims. Fortunately, the FWC is requiring disclosures about AI use in certain documents going forward.
See: Reece Hoverd v M & J D Pty. Ltd. [2026] FWC 1013 (25 March 2026)
FWC Awards $90,000 in Sexual Harassment Case
A café owner was found to have made unwelcome sexual advances towards an employee, including hugging her, kissing her on the lips without consent, and making lewd comments at work.
In the first concluded workplace sexual harassment case under the 2023 amendments to the Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission ordered the employer to pay $90,000 in compensation and penalties. This included $50,000 for hurt, distress and humiliation, with additional penalties and sums for underpayment and record-keeping breaches.
Take-Out Point: The message is clear: sexual harassment at work can now carry serious financial consequences, including substantial compensation and penalties.
See: Mejia v Capital City Cafe-Bar [2026] FedCFamC2G 468 (26 March 2026)
25 April 2026 – ANZAC Day.
27 April 2026 – Additional Public Holiday for Anzac Day (NSW, ACT and WA).
1 May 2026 – Administrative Professionals Day. A day to thank those who quietly keep the workplace from descending into chaos.
1 July 2026 – Payday Super commences. Start preparing now! Please don’t leave it until 30 June.
1 July 2026 – Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave Scheme increases again and reaches 26 weeks, paid at the minimum wage.
3 July 2026 – Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding Day! (No invite yet, but I’m checking my spam folder daily just in case.)
Dear Jen,
One of my team members has started sounding strangely legal.
They keep ending sentences with “allegedly” and using phrases in emails like “including, but not limited to…”.
Should I be concerned?
Cheers,
Jargon Jetlag Jane
Dear Jargon Jetlag Jane,
A sudden overuse of “allegedly” does not always mean trouble. Your colleague may have just discovered AI, or spent a few weeks bingeing Suits or a true crime podcast.
Unless there is a real workplace issue, don’t shadowbox… yet.
That said, if they suddenly use the words “without prejudice” near the coffee machine, it’s red flag time.
Cheers,
Jen
Line of Duty fans will love The Capture (2 seasons on ABC iview). It’s been described as a techno-thriller about the terrifying possibilities of surveillance, deepfake technology, and manipulated video. I describe it as a show that made me stay up too late even though I was covering my eyes with my hands.
From the creator of the incredible Happy Valley, Sally Wainwright, Riot Women (SBS online) is a brilliant dramedy about a group of English menopausal women who start a punk rock band for a local talent quest. It’s funny, fierce and full of heart. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and by the end you’ll be wondering why every workplace doesn’t solve its problems with a band rehearsal.
Fans of Norwegian Nordic noir will love Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (Netflix). This dark thriller follows a brilliant but troubled detective as he hunts a serial killer in Oslo. If you can live with the dubbing, it’s well worth the watch.
Fisk fans will know Aaron Chen as George, the lovable receptionist. In Aaron Chen: Funny Garden (Netflix), filmed in his new home of New York City, Chen delivers the same deadpan charm and beautifully awkward observations that make him so funny. Expect plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
Speaking of Fisk…
Kitty Flanagan’s new show, Bad Company, premieres on the ABC on 26 April. Starring alongside Kitty, Anne Edmonds plays the volatile artistic director of a once-prestigious theatre company now on the brink of bankruptcy. I cannot wait.
