Working It

If you’ve ever helped a colleague out just so they’d like you, or overburdened yourself to make your boss’s life easier, you may think of yourself as a good team player. But you might actually be a people-pleaser. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to NYU psychology professor Tessa West, who explains why people-pleasing rarely works in the long term. Later, Isabel talks to Christine Braamskamp, London-based managing partner of law firm Jenner & Block, who explains that a little people-pleasing is sometimes necessary – especially in a newer working relationship.Want more? Free links:Just say no if working while femaleAnxiety: the office fear factorPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Jake Fielding. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audioRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few things at work are more frustrating than tedious bureaucracy – and few things make employees happier than when their managers get rid of it. Isabel Berwick speaks to Huggy Rao, professor of organisational behaviour at Stanford, and co-author of 'The Friction Project,' to find out how managers can become 'shit-fixers’, clearing unnecessary obstacles from the path of their teams, while making sure they don’t go too fast for their own good. Later, Isabel speaks to FT senior business writer Andrew Hill to learn what the consequences can be when managers introduce too few checks and balances – and why generative AI might actually make bureaucracy worse.Want more? Free links:‘I work in a frustration factory’: how to make workplaces run betterLetter: Frictions and frustrations of modern office workingPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hybrid working is an entrenched part of most office workers’ lives – but at some companies, that could be changing. Major firms including Bank of America and UPS are taking tougher stances on working from home. Will workers drag their feet in returning to the office? And if so, how can companies convince them to come back? Kevin Ellis, the UK head of PwC, tells guest host Andrew Hill why he encourages younger workers to come to work. Later, the FT’s global business columnist, Rana Foroohar, speaks to Jeremy Myerson and Phillip Ross – authors of the book ‘Unworking,’ about how better tech could win remote workers over.Want more? Free links:Bank of America warns return-to-office laggards with ‘letters of education’UPS to cut 12,000 jobs as revenue outlook falls short on weak parcel demand The home-working revolution is harming younger workersEmployers and staff seek truce on office working Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dealing with the grief of a bereavement at work can be extremely difficult, both for the person suffering a loss, and for those around them. So how can you make life a little easier for grieving colleagues? How can you best support them while respecting their privacy? And how can you ensure bereavement-related absences don’t make life harder for other colleagues? Isabel Berwick speaks to Andy Langford, clinical director of bereavement charity Cruse for some practical tips on dealing with workplace grief. Later, she talks to Gabriella Braun, director of workplace consultancy Working Well. Gabriella explains that grief goes beyond death; we can feel grief in any number of workplace scenarios.Credits: https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/Want more? Free links:Workers and bosses opt for Christmas payments over partiesThe office grinch may have a point — it’s not fun if it’s forcedPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four years after the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work isn’t going away. But some managers are still unconvinced that workers actually do anything when they’re not in the office. Should those managers have a right to monitor their workers’ computers? And if workers are being snooped on, should they fight back? Isabel Berwick speaks to Liam Martin, co-founder of employee monitoring software company Time Doctor. She also speaks to Diana Rodriguez from Tech8 USA, a company that manufactures “mouse-jigglers” that keeps computers active when their users aren’t at their desks. Should managers be allowed to snoop on workers? Tell us here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/ or email [email protected] more? Free links:Workplace surveillance may hurt us more than it helpsSpooks in your machine: rise in WFH monitoring drives dissentSurveillance risks ‘spinning out of control’, warns UK workers’ unionRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January is peak hiring season, as workers reconsider their jobs and managers look to bring in fresh talent. But before you advertise a job to the big, wide world, ask yourself: could somebody already on staff move into this role? In this episode, host Isabel Berwick speaks to global HR expert Josh Bersin, who explains why companies such as Microsoft and Unilever emphasise internal development, and the benefits it can bring for employers and employees alike. Isabel also speaks to the FT’s deputy work and careers editor Bethan Staton about how workers can prime themselves to get that big internal promotion.Want more? Free links:Why staff loyalty is not always a good thingUK recruiters register sharp rise in jobseekers as employers cut backCredits:Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a new working year, and you've got lofty ideas about doing more of... everything! But how can you actually achieve more of the stuff that matters to you? Isabel speaks to Ali Abdaal, a former doctor and one of the world's most-followed productivity experts, to hear about the role joy can play in working better. Later, Marc Zao-Sanders discusses timeboxing – a pragmatic way to focus on important tasks.Want more? Free links:When it comes to productivity hacks, are you an Arnie or an Elon?Ditch the bullet journal and stay in bed as long as you likeIt is your own fault if you get hooked on technologyPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all want to achieve more – and produce better work – without spending more time at our desk. Isabel Berwick asks senior FT columnist Tim Harford how best to tackle the problem of productivity. Tim shares some of his top tips for avoiding distraction and creating a state of “flow” at work. Plus, could AI come to the rescue? Originally broadcast June 2023.Want more? Free links:UK productivity growth driven by minority of high-performing companiesBritain needs a way out of economic stagnationWhy productivity is so weak at UK companiesCredits:Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023 was the year companies started experimenting with generative AI; 2024 is the year it might start triggering real changes in the workplace. Between technological ructions, a US election and a seesaw shift in employee-employer power, next year will be another year of flux in workplaces across the world. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, the FT’s US news editor, and Andrew Hill, its senior business writer, to find out more.Want more? Free links:High-flying City workers set to be most affected by AI, finds UK study Politics in the workplace: how should we deal with opposing views?Hybrid working boosts number of UK women in full-time jobs, study findsUK wage growth eases in sign of softening labour marketPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retirement used to be a cliff edge; you’d be working one week, and gardening the next. That’s changing. Now, retirement can mean working on the things you enjoy at a slower pace, and staying engaged with new ideas. Isabel Berwick speaks to author, columnist and Harvard Professor Arthur C. Brooks on the science of flourishing in later life, and what older brains can do that younger ones can’t. Later, she talks to former FT journalist Michael Skapinker about the importance of staying engaged with old colleagues and new ideas – even if you’re not doing the same thing every day.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the work Christmas party season: you're out of the office, and the alcohol is flowing. How can you make sure you don't embarrass yourself (or derail your career)? And how can you bounce back if you do go wrong? Isabel Berwick speaks to FT columnist and veteran party-goer Stephen Bush, author and comedian Viv Groskop and party-shy FT columnist Emma Jacobs to find out. Warning: contains drunken secret Santas, dancefloor embarrassment and toe-curling apologies.Got a Christmas party nightmare you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/ or to [email protected] more? Free links:Workers and bosses opt for Christmas payments over partiesThe office grinch may have a point — it’s not fun if it’s forcedCredits:Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year since 2005, the Financial Times has given an award to the year’s outstanding business book, as chosen by a panel of eminent judges. But how do they actually choose from such a wide array of excellent books? What made them select the shortlist they picked? And who took home the prestigious prize? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to a number of the shortlisted authors, including Amy Edmondson, author of ‘Right Kind of Wrong’; Ed Conway, who wrote ‘Material World’; Siddharth Kara, whose latest book is ‘Cobalt Red’; and DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, whose book ‘The Coming Wave’ discusses the fearsome risks that AI poses to humanity. Isabel also speaks to FT editor Roula Khalaf, and FT senior business writer Andrew Hill, who has stewarded the prize since it began.Want to get in touch? Write to Isabel at [email protected] more? Free links:FT Business Book of the Year 2023 – The ShortlistFT Business Book of the Year 2023 – The LonglistWorking It: Why successful companies need to be good at failureAI and the next great tech shiftElon Musk by Walter Isaacson — clashes of the titanMaterial World — the six commodities that shape our livesFT subscriber? Sign up to get Isabel’s free Working It newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday: ft.com/newslettersCredits: Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval and mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad bosses, tough conditions and colleagues who put us in the shade; we all have work problems sometimes and Working It is here to help you solve yours. Host Isabel Berwick teams up with Jonathan Black, director of the Oxford university careers service and writer of the FT’s Dear Jonathan career advice column, to help three listeners.Submit your workplace dilemmas, questions and worries here:https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/FT subscriber? Sign up to get Isabel’s free Working It newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, here.Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all been there: the presentation we’re dreading, the deadline we’ve been avoiding, the boss breathing down our neck. So how best to cope with the resulting stress and pressure? Host Isabel Berwick sources top tips from Chris Hunt, a bomb disposal operator, and Mark Wilson, professor of performance psychology at the University of Exeter. Both also explain how pressure affects you physiologically.Want to get in touch? Write to [email protected] Do you have a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan Black, director of the careers service at Oxford university, to help you with? Submit it using this link. Free FT links:Workplace anxiety - and how to overcome itFT subscriber? Sign up to get Isabel’s free Working It newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday, here Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LinkedIn started life as a simple jobs site. Now, it’s something far more complex, with influencers vying for attention, and tech bros spinning improbable yarns about how hard they work. How can ordinary people get better at using the site without becoming bores? How much is it acceptable to share about yourself on LinkedIn? And what can we learn from the site’s power users? Isabel Berwick speaks to Meagan Loyst – a LinkedIn “Top Voice” – to find out. Later, Isabel speaks to Hannah Murphy, an FT reporter who covers social media, to learn more about the way LinkedIn has changed – and what might happen next.Free Links:Influencers and CEOs take their brands to LinkedInWhat is Ryan Reynolds doing on LinkedIn?LinkedIn’s Ryan Roslansky: ‘You can only learn how to be a CEO by being a CEO’Why Linda Yaccarino took on the wildest job in Silicon ValleyPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Life and Art, from FT Weekend. It's a new twice-weekly culture podcast from the Financial Times. On Monday, we talk about life, and how to live a good one, in a one-on-one conversation that explores everything from food and travel to philosophy and creativity. On Friday, we talk about “art” – in a chat show! Three FT journalists come together to discuss a new cultural release across film, TV, music and books. Hosted by Lilah Raptopoulos, together with the FT’s award-winning writers and editors, and special guests.Click here to follow Life and Art, from FT Weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of working adults struggle with ADHD worldwide. The condition often affects people’s ability to focus and complete tasks, making professional life difficult. Shortages of ADHD medicines have compounded the problem, with some patients forced to go without, or ration, their medication. How can managers better understand employees who are struggling with ADHD? What adjustments can they make to improve working conditions? And what can workers themselves do to cope? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Dr Uthish Sreedaran, clinical director for psychiatry at Psychiatry-UK, and Leanne Maskell, founder and director of ADHD Works, which provides ADHD training and coaching.Got a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/Want to get in touch? Write to Isabel at [email protected] more? Free links:The benefits of revealing neurodiversity in the workplaceEmployers see the positive side of ADHD and autismWe’ve all got ADHD symptoms. Right?Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK has a well-reported productivity problem, with mediocre managers, poor communication and chronic underinvestment all hampering growth. What can Britain glean from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, all of which have more productive economies? And what lessons can be learned from Japan, the only major, developed economy that is less productive than the UK? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to FT senior business writer Andrew Hill to find out what ails Britain. Later, she chats to Leo Lewis (the FT’s Asia business editor) and Richard Milne (Nordic and Baltic bureau chief) to learn how the UK could perform better (or worse…)Why productivity is so weak at UK companies Sweden is navigating an international identity crisisLessons from Japan: High-income countries have common problemsThe UK is doing a shoddy job of keeping up with the neighboursGot a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/Want to get in touch? Write to Isabel at [email protected] subscriber? Sign up to get Isabel’s free Working It newsletter in your inbox every Wednesday: ft.com/newslettersCredits: Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tattoos used to be frowned upon in corporate settings. But as more of us get inked, is that attitude starting to, well, fade? Employers have been easing restrictions on tattoos – but if responses to a recent FT column are any guide, plenty of people still can’t bear them. Isabel speaks to the author of that column, Pilita Clark, about what tattoos can mean for your career. Isabel speaks to tattoo enthusiasts Isabelle Campbell (an FT VP working on product and technology) and Lucy Snell, a recent FT Group intern.Got a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/Want more? Free links:Tattoos have reached a turning point at workWhy millennials are uncovering tattoos at workTattoos bring a new form of body language to the office Credits:Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meetings are an inevitable part of office life – but how many of them are actually useful? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Kaz Nejatian, chief operating officer of ecommerce group Shopify, to find out why the company slashed staff meetings and what the effects of that policy – dubbed “Chaos Monkey” – have been. Isabel also speaks to Dr Joe Allen, director of the Center for Meeting Effectiveness at the University of Utah, to find out how managers can make meetings less painful.Got a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/Want more? Free link:If you invite someone to a meeting, there has to be a purposePresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Edmondson is a professor of leadership and management at Harvard Business School and one of the world’s most influential management thinkers. She talks to host Isabel Berwick about her new book, Right Kind of Wrong, in which she argues that companies can only hope to succeed when they make it ‘psychologically safe’ for their teams to fail. Plus, Brooke Masters, the FT’s US financial editor, tells Isabel about the time, early on in her career, when she made a mistake. What did she learn from the experience and how does Amy’s thesis play out across the US corporate world?Do you have a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan Black, director of the careers service at Oxford university, to help you with? Submit it using this link.Make the most of a discounted offer to Isabel’s Working It newsletter hereWant more? Free links:The art of making good mistakesFT 2023 business book of the year shortlistWhy bosses must take time to learn from failurePsychological failure: the art of encouraging teams to be openPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re getting better at talking about the roles that gender and race play in career progression. What’s less spoken about is class or social mobility. In this episode, host Isabel Berwick talks to John Friedman, professor and chair of economics at Brown University, who studies the impact of childhood inequality, and hears from Sophie Pender, a London-based corporate lawyer and founder of the 93% Club, a UK network that connects and empowers people who went to state school, about how class discrimination continues to affect people at work and what to do about it.Do you have a workplace dilemma? Isabel and Jonathan Black, director of the careers service at Oxford university, are on hand to help you out. Submit it using this link.Want more? Free links here:Harvard faces federal probe over legacy admissionsUniversity is more than just a springboard to a jobUK youth face being worse off than parents, says social mobility chiefKPMG survey on social class and career progression hereThe 93% Club herePresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of the pandemic, tens of thousands of people in the UK have retrained as psychotherapists or counsellors. What is it about the field that has attracted so many, and what does this phenomenon tell us about work? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to the FT’s Bethan Staton, who wrote a brilliant piece on this topic, to find out more. Later, she speaks to Michael Skapinker, who worked as an FT reporter, senior editor and award-winning columnist before training as a counsellor. Michael tells us what his new line of work has taught him and why he wishes he’d thought about it sooner.Got a workplace dilemma you’d like Isabel and Jonathan to help you with? Submit it here: https://telbee.io/channel/ygf7_gly04xgtckcb0g56a/Free links:‘Profession of the century’: why so many people are retraining as therapistsLetter: Therapy is no cure for a society in crisis External LinkTherapy at work: banks and law firms among those offering counselling as staff perkCredits:Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clear communication can be the difference between getting what you want at work, and missing out. But some of us are better at it than others. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to BBC News analysis editor Ros Atkins, best known for his viral explainer videos, about how we can learn to get to the point. Atkins has made his career conveying information effectively. His recent book, ‘The Art of Explanation,’ distils lessons from more than 20 years at the BBC.Some work jargon is a lot worse than othersWorkplace buzzwords to take seriously — and those to ignoreIf you thought business jargon was bad...Communication is a ‘leaky process’What Beyoncé and J-Lo’s Grammy speeches teach communicatorsPresented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not all that long ago, you might have done the same job – or kind of job – for your entire career, but as life expectancy increases and social mores change, a growing number of people are pivoting to new jobs in middle age. In this episode, recorded at the FT Weekend Festival at London’s Kenwood House, Isabel Berwick speaks to three experts to find out why changing careers can have surprising benefits – and how to do it best. Isabel is joined by Jan Hall, founding partner of leadership consultancy No 4 and co-author of a book exploring career change for senior leaders; Ana Baillie, a former financial and professional services lawyer now studying to be a midwife; and FT contributing editor and columnist Camilla Cavendish, author of ‘Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World.’Want more? For a limited time this summer, we're making related articles FREE to read for all Working It listeners:The City workers who swapped the office for the great outdoors New job, new you? Well, maybe . . .Would it be unwise to leave my well-paid job to pursue a career in film? I have done the same job for years — how do I now move my career on?FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? Which topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedIn On X, formerly Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwickSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brits love to moan about their managers – but maybe they have a point. The vast majority of bosses in the UK get no formal training on how to lead, and most MPs don’t think improving the quality of management should be a priority, according to polling and data from the Chartered Management Institute. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Ann Francke, head of the CMI, to find out where British managers go wrong – and what better leadership could do for the British economy. Later, she speaks to the FT’s US financial editor, Brooke Masters, and Lucy Fisher, the FT’s Whitehall editor and host of the Political Fix podcast. They discuss what UK leaders could learn from their US counterparts, and why bad British leadership starts from the top.Leadership skills neglected for too long, warns UK management bodyCBI to recruit new president as part of governance overhaulWhat Lucy Letby tells us about the NHS culture of secrecy and denialWorkplace flattery gets you everywhereRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Friday afternoon in the city. You’re surrounded by office blocks, there’s a restaurant or bar on every corner… so where is everyone? If occupancy and travel data are anything to go by, they’re probably at home. Isabel Berwick speaks to Stanford economics professor Nick Bloom and FT columnist Pilita Clark to find out whether cities will be ghost towns on Fridays for the foreseeable future. She also asks: if people aren’t at the office on Friday, what are they getting up to? Finally, Chris Silcock, the managing director for the UK and Ireland at Kellogg’s tells Isabel why the company lets workers knock off early on Fridays.Want more? For a limited time this summer, we're making related articles FREE to read for all Working It listeners. See:Thursdays really are the new FridaysGet ready for the four-day working weekBig US city downtowns ‘stuck’ behind smaller rivals in pandemic recoveryFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedIn On X, formerly Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwickSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, with production assistance from Lucy Snell. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New data from Gallup shows that almost one in five Brits say they feel angry at work – a sharp jump from last year and comfortably higher than our European counterparts. So how can we stop getting wound up in the office – and how should we deal with colleagues who fly into a rage? Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Mike Fisher, founder and director of the British Association of Anger Management, about how workplace fury works. Isabel also hears from Liz Fosslien, the bestselling co-author and illustrator of two books about how to embrace emotions at work: No Hard Feelings and Big Feelings.Want more? For a limited time this summer, we're making related articles FREE to read for all Working It listeners. See:Why we are all so angry at workThe hell of other people in the officeShould you cry at work? And other personal questionsFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedIn On X, formerly Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwickSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes are commonplace, and with good reason. They can help with staff satisfaction, retention and improve business outcomes. But all too often they are implemented in incoherent ways. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Lily Zheng, a DEI strategist and consultant, about how companies can develop initiatives that make a lasting difference.Want more? For a limited time this summer, we're making related articles FREE to read for all Working It listeners. See:Corporate diversity in the crosshairs after US Supreme Court ruling Exits of diversity executives shake faith in US companies’ commitmentsRecession is no excuse for going backwards on diversity FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedIn On Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwickSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineers are Simon Panayi and Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Work has changed immeasurably since the pandemic – and office design has adapted too. Laura Beales, co-founder and chief operating officer of Tally Workspace, tells host Isabel Berwick why beer taps are out and phone booths are in, while Ebbie Wisecarver, head of Global Design and Development at WeWork, discusses how the company’s approach to design has matured since Covid-19. Finally, FT columnist Simon Kuper discusses how he made his perfect office: a beautifully appointed, 19th-century flat in Paris.Want more? For a limited time this summer, we're making related articles FREE to read for all Working It listeners. See:How I made my perfect officeAfter 25 years working alone, I tried WeWorkHybrid working enters a third dimensionPrivacy at work and the rise of the ‘quiet space’FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedIn On Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwickSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Harvard Business Review once published a damning report about middle managers, saying that the very title “evokes mediocrity”. Was that fair? And what does it take to be a good middle manager? Host Isabel Berwick, the FT’s work and careers editor, discusses with Andrew Hill, the FT’s senior business writer and former management editor. This is a repeat of an episode published on October 18, 2022.Want more?Andrew Hill on why being a manager matters more than ever How demands on team leaders are intensifying Forget the toxic boss - meet the toxic underlingsFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow @isabelberwick on Twitter Subscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Novel.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you often feel underqualified and full of self-doubt at work, you may be suffering from imposter syndrome. But as host Isabel Berwick finds out in this episode, in some cases that may actually improve your performance. Isabel speaks to Sian Beilock, president of Columbia University’s Barnard College, a cognitive scientist who studies how people perform under stress, and Viv Groskop, author, comedian and host of the podcast 'How to Own the Room'. Sian unpicks the psychological aspects of imposter syndrome while Viv gives us advice on how to manage it and even make it work in your favour. This is a repeat of an episode published on June 28, 2022.Want more?Sian Beilock on how to banish self-doubt at work … and on overcoming the ‘spotlight effect’ How to get over your fear and learn to speak upViv’s website https://vivgroskop.com/FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow @isabelberwick on Twitter. Subscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review! Produced by Novel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can be dispiriting that six years after the #MeToo movement went viral, alleged office sexual predators continue to be unmasked by the media – including the recent FT exposés of hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, and of star architect David Adjaye, both of whom dispute the allegations against them. In this episode, host Isabel Berwick speaks to her colleague Madison Marriage, who led the Odey investigation, about how hard it can be to get victims to come forward. Meanwhile FT business columnist Helen Thomas explains why she thinks these high profile cases are causing a sea change in corporate culture. Plus, Isabel speaks to Tessa West, professor of psychology at New York University and author of Jerks at Work – Toxic Co-workers and What to Do About Them, about how to fend off unwanted advances.Want more?Latest on the FT’s investigations into Crispin Odey and David AdjayeYou can watch our video documentary Crispin Odey: the fall of a hedge fund maverick from this Thursday, July 20.The UK parliament’s Treasury Select Committee is inviting people to submit evidence by September 1 towards its investigation into sexism and misogyny in the financial services industry.FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInOn Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwick, as well as Madison Marriage at @miss_marriage and Helen Thomas at @helentbizSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Laurence Knight. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever find yourself lost for words? Or maybe you have too much to say? This week’s episode features a masterclass in chit-chat from Matt Abrahams, a lecturer in communications at Stanford University, podcast host, and author of the forthcoming book 'Think Faster, Talk Smarter'. Good conversation is an essential tool of self-promotion in the office. So what do we make of Matt’s advice here at the FT office? Host Isabel Berwick gets the views of award-winning FT columnist Pilita Clark and Stephen Bush, who writes the FT’s daily Inside Politics newsletter.Want more?Top ways to be a super schmoozerBig Tech is doing small talk no favoursWork etiquette: How to make small talk at a diplomatic functionFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInOn Twitter, you can follow Isabel at @IsabelBerwick, as well as Pilita Clark at @pilitaclark and Stephen Bush at @stephenkbSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Laurence Knight and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US surgeon-general Vivek Murthy recently issued a report calling attention to an epidemic of loneliness and isolation; he warned that people’s lack of social connection was “as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day”. Worst affected are men: in 2021, a study by the Survey Center on American Life said the percentage of men without any close friends had jumped from 3 per cent to 15 per cent since 1990. Can the workplace help alleviate the problem? Host Isabel Berwick talks to Jonathan Black, FT columnist and director of the University of Oxford’s careers service, FT reporter and Unhedged host Ethan Wu, and Max Dickins, author of the memoir Billy No-Mates: How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem. Want more?The loneliness epidemic threatens our health as well as our happinessLonely bosses seek opportunity in a crisis of disconnectionFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline and Laurence Knight. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Simon PanayiRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the British broadcaster Davina McCall woke up one morning in her forties dripping with sweat, she didn’t know what was happening to her. She’d never heard the word perimenopause. But as she did her research, she became in her words an “accidental activist”, determined to raise awareness and help menopausal women, especially in the workplace. In a recording taken from the recent FT Live Women in Business summit, Working It host Isabel Berwick talks to Davina about her campaign and how she’s managed her career through menopausal symptoms. Want more?Employers should do more to keep menopausal women in the workplaceHow buying my first bespoke suit helped me through a life crisisUseful links:https://www.menopausecafe.net/https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/views-insights/menopause-and-employment-how-enable-fulfilling-working-liveshttps://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/menopause-and-workplacehttps://thisisdavina.com/FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline and Philippa Goodrich. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer was Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a repeat of a popular Working It episode, Isabel Berwick asks if HR has an image problem. For some managers, the phrase “human resources” has become synonymous with the idea of needless corporate policies that get in the way of growth. From the employee's perspective, there is often doubt on whether HR is there to protect them - or the company. Host Isabel Berwick speaks with Jamie Fiore Higgins, an author and executive coach who spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, about her experience of HR at the investment bank. Isabel also speaks to Georgina Shaw, a people partner at Lush, a company without a conventional HR department, and discusses HR’s role in the corporate structure with Andrew Hill, the FT’s senior business writer.FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Novel.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all want to achieve more - and produce better work - without spending more time at our desk. Isabel Berwick asks senior FT columnist Tim Harford how best to tackle the problem of productivity. Tim shares some of his top tips for avoiding distraction and creating a state of “flow” at work. Plus, could AI come to the rescue?Want more?Will ChatGPT be Homer Simpson’s Salvation?How Cal Newport rewrote the productivity gospelFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will generative AI and ChatGPT in the workplace make some jobs redundant or will they simply change the way we work, ridding us of some of the more mundane, boring parts of our job? Isabel Berwick hears from Jeff Wong, head of the innovation team at professional services firm EY, who believes this new technology will free employees to become more productive. Plus, Madhumita Murgia, the FT’s artificial intelligence editor, gives a round-up of sectors that could see profound changes, while Mary Towers, a policy expert on employment rights at the UK’s Trades Union Congress, an umbrella body for unionised labour, says employees should be given more control over how generative AI is introduced in the workplace.Want more?We are all secretaries nowWPP teams up with Nvidia to use generative AI in advertisingFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Jake Fielding.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The formal workwear of pre-pandemic office life doesn’t feel quite right any more. But what should we put on in its place? Isabel Berwick hears from two of the FT’s best writers on fashion about what to wear for our hybrid working lives. Jo Ellison, editor of the FT’s HTSI magazine, gives her tips for updating your look, and the FT’s Robert Armstrong sings the praises of the navy blue suit. Want more?Will we ever say goodbye to gorpcore?Work and weekend wardrobes - do we need boundaries?What’s so great about the wardrobe of ‘Succession’?FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email Isabel at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive editor is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finance firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are trying hard to get their staff to show up more often in the office. But occupancy rates seem to be stuck at permanently lower levels than pre-pandemic. Isabel Berwick hears from Professor Scott Galloway at NYU, on why he thinks more office time would be good for us all. And the FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson has been listening to chief executives voicing their concerns about an epidemic of loneliness. Want more?BlackRock calls employees back to the office four days a weekLonely bosses seek opportunity in a crisis of disconnectionYou can’t pin workforce problems all on GenZFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel invisible at work? Making sure your successes are recognised is more important than ever now that hybrid working is the norm in so many jobs. Host Isabel Berwick hears from two experts on building your profile at work: author and consultant Aliza Licht talks about growing your ‘personal brand’ while FT contributor Viv Groskop explains why that’s different from your professional reputation and why you shouldn’t get the two confused.Want more?Personal branding: we may cringe, but it worksOnly connect: hybrid work fuels demand for female networksFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email Isabel at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 The way employers recruit staff is changing. There’s a shift towards selecting people for their key skills, rather than solely on their educational qualifications or job titles. Isabel Berwick hears from Josh Graff at LinkedIn and from the FT’s Andrew Hill about what employers - and workers - are seeking in today’s job market. Want more?Six insights into how business can bridge the skills gapFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Jake Fielding.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does sorting out your personal finances fill you with anxiety and trepidation? What can you learn from your money mistakes? Money Clinic host Claer Barrett, and Isabel Berwick, host of the FT’s work and careers podcast, Working It, answer listeners’ questions in this special episode, taken from a webinar made in conjunction with the FT’s financial literacy charity, FLIC.Want more?The first lesson for female financial education? Money is powerHow to ask for a pay rise - and when to give oneIsa season this year is a stampedeFind out more about FLIC here You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbFollow Isabel Berwick on LinkedInFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected] you’d like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Audrey Tinline. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve probably all had one: a boss whose traits include a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, a lack of empathy and a sense of entitlement. They’re all traits of a narcissist. Psychologist Ramani Durvasula, an expert on the subject, tells host Isabel Berwick why so many narcissists end up in positions of leadership, and how to handle them. Plus, psychotherapist Naomi Shragai, author of 'The Man Who Mistook His Job For His Life', explains why some narcissistic traits are essential to getting ahead at work. This is a repeat of an episode first published on October 25 2022.Want more? CEO NarcissismHow to handle a narcissist in the workplace Lustful leaders: the good, the bad, and the narcissistic FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Novel.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s been a lot of big finance and economics news in 2023. Whether it's stories about rising interest rates, tech industry layoffs or bank runs, it can almost feel like you need an MBA just to make sense of it all. That’s why the Financial Times is launching a bonus series called Behind the Money: Night School. Over the next five weeks, this show will help you understand the concepts behind the biggest economic stories of this year. U.S. managing editor Peter Spiegel chats with FT journalists as they unpack the basics around things like energy markets, inflation and the rise of artificial intelligence. This series is supported by Blinkist. If you want to find out more about conversations like this, check out the Blinkist app.Behind the Money: Night School is out now. Find it by subscribing to the Behind the Money podcast wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How difficult is it to fix a workplace that’s gone wrong? It’s a question being asked in the UK following allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment at the country’s leading business lobby organisation, the CBI. Host Isabel Berwick hears from Frances Frei, the Harvard Business School professor who helped change the internal culture at Uber in 2017 after allegations of sexual harassment and sexism there. And Ann Francke, chief executive at the UK’s Chartered Management Institute, tells Isabel that leaders who preach inclusivity must do more to make sure they practise it, too.Want more?Rebuild the CBI, do not bury itCBI President apologises for scandal and pledges to rebootCan Frances Frei fix Uber?FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the UK, more women are being appointed to boards, but not so often to other leadership roles in large companies. Meanwhile, wage growth for women in the US appears to have stalled and progress on closing the gender pay gap has seen little change over the past 20 years. Latest data also show that about 80 per cent of UK employers pay men more than women on average in their organisation. Host Isabel Berwick combs through the latest data and asks what needs to change, with the FT’s labour and equality correspondent Taylor Nicole Rogers and columnist Pilita Clark.Want more?Women struggle to close America’s gender pay gapNearly 80% of UK employers pay men more than womenFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Audrey Tinline and Lulu Smyth. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. The sound engineer is Jake Fielding.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re living in a time of multiple crises — from bank collapses to business failures. So what are the best practices when it comes to anticipating the worst-case scenario and dealing with risk? Isabel Berwick discusses the ways flawed judgement and tribalism get in the way of risk assessment, as well as how to plan ahead with Michael Skapinker, author and FT contributing editor, and John Mullins, an entrepreneur and a professor of management practice at the London Business School.Want more?From SVB to the BBC: why did nobody see the crisis coming?https://www.ft.com/content/4d589d5c-f2cb-4568-93dd-acda6fab931fFT Business Bookshttps://www.ft.com/content/b47c143f-0aeb-4c82-8c18-ad86d13ee0b3FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Manuela Saragosa and Audrey Tinline. The sound engineer is Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rising numbers of adults are choosing to reveal a diagnosis of neurodiversity at work and companies have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for them. But what’s the best way to do that? Isabel Berwick hears from Dan Harris, the founder of Neurodiversity in Business, Nancy Doyle from Genius Within, Janice Rae, who runs TechTalent Academy, and the FT’s Emma Jacobs, who’s been hearing from business leaders diagnosed as neurodivergent. Want more?The benefits of revealing neurodiversity in the workplaceHow to design an office for every type of brainFT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter with one click, here. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and what’s coming next. We'd love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at [email protected] or Isabel directly at [email protected]. Follow Isabel on LinkedInSubscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!Presented by Isabel Berwick. Produced by Manuela Saragosa and Audrey Tinline. Mix by Jake Fielding. The sound engineer is Breen Turner.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.