Season 09 Episode 12: “Puppy-Gate” and Stripping as a Side-Hussle

WARNING: This episode includes discussion on stripping as a trade – we advise listener discretion

Alan reflects on the South Australian work-from-home ‘puppy-gate’ test of law when a local government worker claimed worker’s compensation for an injury she sustained while working from home. In this instance, she tripped over a puppy fence she’d installed in the home to segregate her puppy from a pet bunny.

Here is the breakdown of the case:

• Initial Decision: The Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (LGAWCS) rejected Ms. Vercoe's claim.
• The Appeal: Ms. Vercoe (the employee) appealed that decision to the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET).
• The Ruling: In October 2024, the SAET ruled in favour of Ms. Vercoe, finding that her injuries were compensable, arising from her employment.
• Appeal Decision (Full Bench of SAET): On 8 December 2025, the Full Bench of the SAET overturned their earlier ruling. The case was sent back to the original Tribunal member to reconsider and proper applications of the legal test.

“But can you appeal an appeal?” Sara begs to know. Trajce replies, “Short answer is, yes, potentially anything; the apex of the court structure is The High Court.” Trajce and Sara engage in debate with Alan about the merits of work from home, or anywhere for that matter (W-F-A), and the legal tests of environmental and technical safety.

For more information, refer to Vercoe v Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme (2024)

Alan presents a second case from Victoria about a construction worker stripper with a thumb injury, a decision in the County Court of Victoria. Alan explains, “The decision was whether or not to grant leave of the courts to consider the case.” He leaves the team guessing about the sex of the worker and circumstances pertaining to the case.

For more on these topics, tune in to:

· S01 E03: Pets ‘n’ Air Fryers

· S01 E07: Design When we Work-From-Anywhere

· S04 E02: The WooFA Work-From-Anywhere (WFA) Reality

· S07 E10: That Old Chestnut – Pets & Work From Home

S09 E11: The Beat Boy Fashion Archetype and Exploitation Tactics of Reality TV

WARNING: At the end of this episode, we refer to a mass murderer who made his way to a Reality TV show, and this may confront some people – we advise listener discretion.

Trajce’s nurtures his love of reality TV through research about the programming designed to evoke conflict among the show participants. “Some of these reality TV episodes showcase true talent among participants as competitors – like singing, sport, or survival skills,” explains Trajce, “but then there are the anti-talent shows – ‘I’m a celebrity, get me outta here!’”

Alan talks about the lack of privacy on reality TV shows. He quotes a contestant who says, “This experience is shark-infested, it’s like having my leg bitten off.” Sara protests, “but you sign consents – are you not seeking your 15 minutes of fame.”

Trajce asks, “What about the participants who are older?” In response to the crew’s discussion on the tortology of the sociological research term, ‘lived experience,’ Trajce adds, “There are some people who are experienced, but haven’t really lived.”

Trajce reflects on this love for the level of authenticity in the WhyWork show with Sara’s admission of her lack-of-fashion fashion archetype, “Seriously,” she complains, “it’s like my archetype is the non-archetype, playful, not quite centred in any one place, just like my Otter animal-archetype!”

For more on these topics, tune in to:

· S02 E08: Reality TV and Me – Trajce reflecs on his fascination (and obsession) with reality TV and the phenomena of ‘naming and shaming.’ The crew discuss the potential psychological impacts of being on these shows.

· S02 E10: Name and Shame: Where is the Filter? Broader in scope, this episode includes discussion of reality TV and the blurred lines around naming and shaming in media and society.

And two related books by Trajce Cvetkovski:

· Reality TV and the Art of Trivialising Work Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

· The Pop Music Idol and the Spirit of Charisma

Season 09 Episode 10: How Much do you C.A.R.E. About Work and Life?

WARNING: This episode refers to sexual escapades that may offend some people – we advise listener discretion.

This episode continues the thread from S09 E09: An Assault on Office Decorum, while the crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, debate methods to provide supportive workplace environments and develop defences to protect workers from harm.

Sara explains a systems-view on psychosocial risk management, providing workplace defences to subsequent psychological harm to workers (inspired by EMESRT’s 9 Layers of Defence in Vehicle Interactions ) – C.A.R.E. – listen in to learn more about this!

Trajce complains about ‘TMIF’ in some workplaces – ‘Too Much Information Sharing,’ as Alan reflects on the past episode’s stories of a worker who openly discussed his antics in ‘LARP’ – ‘Live Action Role Play’ sexual antics.

For more on psychosocial risk management, refer to PRAiSETM (Psychosocial Risk Assessment and Integrated Solutions for Employers) – Certified Assessor and Manager programs – and PRA, the new task-based Psychosocial Risk Analyser feature within the ErgoAnalyst software platform. These tools help teams visualise, quantify, qualify, and respond to both contextualised physical and psychosocial risks, merging technical rigour with empathy-driven co-design.