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.

Season 09 Episode 09: An Assault on Office Decorum

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

The crew, Alan, Trajce, and Sara, discuss a confronting case, Evan Ashley Solstace v Metley Toleda Ltd [2023] FCA 456, which made headlines: ‘Creepy office work is slammed by judge for filthy acts at work.’ The judge called the situation, “Shambolic!”

“Great word,” reflects Trajce.

Sara explains some of the findings resulting from Alan’s case research, “This worker was found to engage in purposeful lewd workplace behaviours. He would fart in the hallway, burp aloud, go to the loo with the hallway door open, and solicit sex talk among colleagues while openly sharing stories about his polyamorous and furry lifestyle.”

While admitting the inappropriateness of the workplace behaviours, Alan struggles with the connection of these behaviours to sexual harassment industrial law, which tethers Trajce and Sara to good debate on this topic. Sara sets her boundaries, “Hey,” she tells the guys, “We are great friends – but hear me now: I do not ever wish to know the explicit details of your bedroom gymnastics!”

Tune in for more on this case and other discussions on workplace taboos.

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.

Season 09 Episode 08: Sankalpa - The Power of Intention and Gratitude

WARNING: This episode refers to victim impact statements after tragic circumstances – we advise listener discretion.

The podcast team are elated that the Magpie referenced in the S09 E07: Trading Up - Work in the Sex Trade recording was successfully freed to the wild. Sara admonished, “I don’t know what Trajce was doing – I think he was trying to negotiate with the Maggie to usher in its surrender.” However, the escapade allowed the team a break from the serious stuff and see the comical side of life.

“I set my intention daily,” Sara explained, “and today was about joyous laugher with you both.” Sara shared her yogic philosophy on Sankalpa, setting an intention at the beginning of the day and, later, reflecting on the day with gratitude. The boys, Alan and Trajce, struggle with the concept until the pause to reflect on their quality time with their respective partners. This episode explores personal reflections as Sara gears up to share her news in a future episode, and the team relate the ideas of simple pleasures to intentional leadership, design, and victim impact statements - something which Trajce has written about extensively.

Season 09 Episode 07: Trading Up – Work in the Sex Trade

WARNING: This episode refers to adult entertainment work domains – we advise listener discretion.

Alan explores workplace claims involving an adult entertainment specialist, debating work arrangements and business entitlements. In doing so, he reveals some of the traits of a business contracting ‘done right.’ Work is work and the sex trade represents a legitimate industry and workplace with regular entitlements, says Trajce. Sara commends Alan, “I’m so glad you thought to discuss successes,” as she reflects on studying success and the value of simplicity as much as, if not more than, studying potential workplace failures and complexity. The session is interrupted by the caw of a lost Magpie down the hall from the recording studio.

For more on the sex trade, listen to S02 E06: Mi Casa es su Casa. For more on High Reliability Organisations, listen to S05 E14: You are my HRO.

For more on human factors, safety events, and the multiple fatalities at the theme park, Dreamworld Gold Coast, listen to S03 E06: Cha-cha-cha Thrill Rides.

Season 09 Episode 06: Skylarking yet Held to a Higher Standard

WARNING: This episode refers to workplace bullying and harassment - we advise listener discretion.

This episode explores the job duties that prevail even after you’ve clocked off – at least, in view of public expectation. The crew debate: Does your job outlive its tenure and should you be judged by it in your personal life?

“Never have I ever!” exclaims Trajce, while Alan shares tales of some ‘nudie nut’ coppers and party time frivolity. He adds to these stories with a story about a member of the public gambling on the running speed proficiency of some police officers by testing whether they can catch him after smacking them on the derriere in a “Catch me if you can!” escapade. Sara adds to the stories with some of her own, like the entitled chef who smacked her butt during her waitressing days, and the workplace ‘crib room’ tests of her fortitude when she was the sole woman on site.

For more on spanking in the workplace, refer to S04 E08: The Archaic Adage of Deserving a Good Spanking

Season 09 Episode 05: It is All Too Human: Why Prosecute?

WARNING: This episode includes discussion on a serious workplace injury - we advise listener discretion.

Degloved and prosecuted - Why pursue an employee whose judgment lapsed, and they are already in a world of pain from a gruesome workplace injury? The team are flummoxed by the idea of governmental prosecutions of individuals versus organisations, given their beliefs that workplace incidents reflect systemic imbalances and erosion factors.

The podcasters, Alan, Trajce, and Sara review a case of a workers who was degloved by a meat grinding auger, a recreational indoor climbing pursuit that ended in disaster, and a school prank that could have caused more pain that the chargrilled science room wall it created. Sara refers to four types of human factors, debunking a common misconception that humans are simply error-prone mishaps waiting to upset productive work.