Working with Demons and Witches

Season 3 Ep. 5 When $7,000 Equals a Life: The Amazon Tragedy Exposed

Season 3, Episode 5 explores the death of 20-year-old Amazon worker Caes Grusbeck, examining how low regulatory penalties, production pressure, and unsafe workplace design contributed to a preventable fatality. Ocean combines factual reporting, legal context about Indiana's OSHA penalty caps, HR analysis, and symbolic 'demons and witches' archetypes to unpack systemic failures and offer practical safety takeaways. The episode urges accountability, stronger engineering controls, and a culture where workers can speak up without fear, while offering listeners resources and guidance for staying safe at work.

Keeper's Pause: A Day Off Update

Hey, Keepers. This week has been pretty hectic, so I'm going to take a day off, and I will catch up with you next week. Take care. Thanks.

Season 3 Ep.4 When Bosses Weaponize AI: 'Learn Fast or Get Replaced'

In this episode of Working with Demons and Witches, Ocean responds to a listener facing threats from a boss who insists a younger worker familiar with AI will replace them. The episode explores the limits of AI as a tool, the legal and cultural risks of managers blaming employees for AI errors, and practical steps employers should take—training, clear expectations, and compassionate leadership. Listeners get a mix of legal analysis, metaphors about workplace demons and witches, a pop quiz on compliance, and survival tips for navigating AI-related job anxiety.

Season 3 Ep.3- Sandwiched Between the Bully and Her Boss: A Desk of Dread

Season 3, Episode 3 follows a 25-year-old financial aid worker who faces escalating harassment after disclosing PTSD and anxiety accommodations: a trainer turned bully, a supervisor's secret partner, and a friend-turned-manager conspire to block a reasonable desk change and monitor her every move. The episode outlines the employee's documentation and HR interactions, highlights legal risks like disability discrimination and retaliation, and offers practical advice on escalating accommodations, protecting mental health, and seeking a transfer or legal help.

Season 3 Ep. 2 ‘We Need to Talk’ Text: A 16-Year-Old’s Scare at Work

In Season 3, Episode 2, workplace coach Ocean walks through a story where a 16-year-old employee is terrified by a vague text from a senior manager and later discovers a coworker set him up by sharing the manager’s ex-wife’s photo in a group chat. The episode examines how jokes and unclear communication can harm young employees. Ocean and PCE WINS break down the incident with legal and leadership lenses, highlighting the importance of compassionate communication, dignity for minors at work, and clear boundaries to prevent power misuse and workplace humiliation.