Hello!
Despite the fake deadline of Christmas, 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, news snippets, 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?
The “Fake Deadline of Christmas”.
Did I miss a memo, or is the world coming to an end on 24 December if we don’t all complete every single task on our to-do lists?
BRIEFLY…
Job of the Week: Pay to Become the Chief of Staff to Zomato CEO
The CEO of Indian food delivery company Zomato posted an ad for a chief of staff on LinkedIn. He said he wanted someone with “a learning mindset” and not much experience (ie baggage). The ad went viral because it said that the successful applicant wouldn’t receive a salary in their first year. They would have to pay a “fee” of 20 lakhs.
The ad received over 18,000 applications. Those who made any mention of money (even being willing to pay the fee) were rejected. The fee was just a filter used to find those wanting to fast-track their career. The CEO always intended to pay a salary because “money is an essential thing to keep people’s lives
running…”
Take Out Point: Anyone else confused? I hope whoever he hires is a mind reader.
See: Zomato Chief of Staff Ad
One More Job of the Week: “Regional Operations Manager | S*xy Never Left Aged Care”
Now that’s what I call an eye-catching job title!
The role pays $180,000 plus super, is in Melbourne, and is “s*xy” because it presents an attractive career opportunity.
See: Sexy Job Ad
Elon Says The Gravy Train Is Over
Elon Musk has a new job. As co-director of President-elect Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been busy identifying allegedly wasteful government practices for his 205 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
And it’s not just government departments in his sights, he’s been targeting individual employees. In a post viewed over 32 million times, Musk called the “Director of Climate Diversification at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation” a “fake job”. Musk fans embraced his views with a torrent of memes and comments including “Sorry…, gravy train is over.”
On a separate note, DOGE is hiring, but only apply if you can be described as a “super high-IQ small government revolutionary[y] willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting”.
Take Out Point: It’s a good time to not be a US Federal Government employee with a family and a mortgage.
See: Elon Says Gravy Train Is Over
Phew! Tradies Will Join Yoga Instructors On Core Migration List
According to the AFR, the Federal Government is set to create a three-tier skilled migration system. There will be “visa streams for low-paid care workers, highly paid professionals earning more than $135,000, and a “core” stream for workers earning between $70,000 and $135,000 where there is a skills shortage”. There has been concern in the construction industry that trades were not included in the fast track stream, however changes to the skilled occupation list will “include adding housing construction trades to the core list”. The changes will also benefit agriculture, cybersecurity, health and education.
The list currently includes yoga instructors and martial arts coaches.
Take Out Point: It’s a relief to know that more tradies will get visas – just as long as those essential yoga instructors don’t miss out!
See: Core Migration Skills List
(Sorry, this is behind a paywall – subscriber only).
S*xy Concreters Calendar
Speaking of tradies…
Some Gold Coast concreters are raising awareness of men’s mental health with the “S*xy Concreters Calendar”. In the words of one of the concreters: “I’m used to being around big tough men and with tradies we’re up earlier and out late doing the big jobs, but it doesn’t matter how big you are, (mental health) will bring the biggest guy down to their knees”.
Take Out Point: Well said.
See: S*xy Concreters Calendar
(Sorry, this is behind a paywall – subscriber only).
Do you know how to manage disputes between colleagues?
The ‘Awkward to Awesome’ Workshop will empower your managers and team with essential skills and techniques to tackle challenging conversations with confidence.
Don’t let unresolved workplace issues hold your business back. Empower your team with the skills to have difficult conversations. Increase productivity. Decrease recruitment costs. Boost profits! Check out the ‘Awkward to Awesome’ Workshop.
Or grab the most practical online course in town. Run, don’t walk to my website for my highly informative and entertaining online course – “Difficult Conversations In The Workplace: A Lawyer’s Guide to Not Needing a Lawyer”. Spend an hour with your favourite unlawyerly lawyer for just $149 plus GST, or organise a coaching session.
Dear Jen,
We all have to buy a colleague a $20 Secret Santa present.
I’ve been allocated an obnoxious twat who infects the office with his post-gym B.O.
My bestie and I think it would be hilarious if he had to unwrap a bottle of cheap cologne in front of everyone at our Christmas party.
Genius, huh!
Cheers
Anonymous Elf
Dear Misguided Elf,
Nothing quite screams ‘tis the season, like using Santa to bully a colleague. (Not).
Give HR one less headache the day after the party. Buy your colleague some festive socks or a desk plant.
Cheers
(A silent partner of Santa’s legal team) Jen
My Gift To You!
Don’t worry if you didn’t get to watch all of this year’s recommended shows. The “After Work” annual compilation drops on 17 December. Subscribe via the newsletter link, LinkedIn (Jennifer Bicknell) or head to the newsletter section of the website.
What I’m Watching (On Paramount)
“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan is nothing if not prolific. His latest, “Landman” is sans horses. It’s all about the Texas oil industry. Billy Bob Thornton is hilarious (in a good way). Jon Hamm and Demi Moore also pop in and out. I’m kinda hooked.
What I’m Watching (On Paramount)
I’m not brave enough to be a law enforcement officer, but I do love shows about them. “The Agency” is a spy thriller about a CIA branch in London. It’s based on the French series “Le Bureau des Légendes”. Not sure it’s in the same league, but it’s produced by George Clooney and Richard Gere is in it, so that counts for something right?
What I’m Watching (On ABC iview)
“Douglas Is Cancelled” is a 4 part series about a tv presenter who is accused of making a sexist joke at a family wedding. He can’t remember doing it but that doesn’t stop Twitter going bonkers. Will Douglas’ career survive? An addictive watch (once your mind computes that in this show, its star, Hugh Bonneville, is not the Earl of Grantham from “Downton Abbey”).
Coming Up… (On ABC iview – From 20 December)
The Michael Cassel Group’s “A (Very) Musical Christmas”, filmed on the set of “Hamilton” in Sydney, features all your favourite musical theatre stars including Eddie Perfect, Cody Simpson, Casey Donovan, Justine Clarke, Tim Draxl, Jason Arrow, Marney McQueen, Keiynan Lonsdale, Elise McCann, Beau Woodbridge, Akina Edmonds, Drew Weston, Vidya Makan, Seann Miley Moore, Ruva Ngwenya, Erin Clare, and Lorinda May Merrypor. Fabulous!
