214. The wildest overemployment scam in tech history. PLUS! Fake empathy, nepo hires and salary secrets, with Rameez Kaleem

Truth, Lies and Work

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this is your Tuesday news round-up, hot take, and workplace surgery — all in one.

🔥 This Week’s Stories

📌 1. Empathsplaining: Are today’s leaders all talk, no trust?
From “I hear you” to “we care deeply,” modern leaders know how to sound empathetic — but are they actually avoiding hard conversations? Leanne explores a growing trend of emotional performance without action — and why Gen Z isn’t buying it.

📰 Source: Jeff LeBlanc – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeff-leblanc-93212510a_leadership-workplace-management-activity-7347583849054302208-Fzy0

📌 2. Silicon Valley’s million-dollar scammer
One engineer, 22 startups, $1 million a year — and barely any work. Al breaks down the most outrageous employment heist in recent tech history, what it tells us about the future of remote work, and the ethical chaos of overemployment.

📰 Source: The Pragmatic Engineer – https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/the-10x-overlemployed-engineer

📌 3. What really happens when leaders break their word?
A new study reveals that it’s not the gap between values and actions that kills trust — it’s how leaders explain that gap. Leanne digs into the psychology behind word–action misalignment, and why high-integrity leaders are judged more gently.

📰 Study: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/joop.70030
📰 Medium write-up: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/when-leaders-break-promises-this-is-what-saves-trust-198a94a6220b

🔥 Hot Take: Let’s Talk About Pay, with Rameez Kaleem

Why are companies still scared of pay transparency — and what’s that fear really costing them?

Rameez Kaleem, founder of 3R Strategy, says pay isn’t just a finance issue — it’s a culture issue. He explains why younger workers are demanding honesty, how pay secrecy fuels inequality, and how transparency builds trust even without revealing everyone’s salary.

🗣 Guest links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameezkaleem/

https://3r-strategy.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/a-case-of-the-mondays/id1691526371

💬 Workplace Surgery

❓ Should I hire my spouse into my small team?
A listener wonders if working with their partner will strengthen trust — or spark chaos.

❓ How far should employers go to protect wellbeing?
What’s realistic when you want to care for your team — but you’re also trying to survive as a small business?

❓ Can DISC fix team tensions — or is it just a fad?
With personality clashes brewing, one leader asks whether DISC assessments can help — and what other tools might work better.

🎧 Enjoying the show?
Follow, share, and leave us a review wherever you listen — and don’t forget to join us Thursday for an expert masterclass on how to manage people who are way smarter than you.

🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being
Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work/
Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
Email: [email protected]
Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat