Are you being "pushed" back into the office without a formal mandate? 🏢

In this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein pull back the curtain on the subtle (and sometimes strange) ways corporate America is changing. We explore the rise of "Hybrid Creep"—the trend of linking promotions and pay to office attendance—and why companies are suddenly scrubbing DEI language from their public-facing materials.

From the "Death of Happy Hour" to bizarre rules like requiring employees to take off their shoes, we break down what these cultural shifts mean for your career and the lack of federal oversight on corporate behavior today.

In this special episode of The Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein break down the essential roadmap for anyone looking to turn their expertise into a thriving business. Whether you're leaving a corporate role or scaling a side hustle, we cover the administrative, legal, and financial hurdles you need to clear to succeed.

In this episode, we discuss:

🎯 Defining Your Niche: How to figure out exactly what your business is (and isn't).

🚀 The Launch Plan: Setting a timeline and preparing for Day 1.

⚖️ Legal & Admin Basics: Business structures, contracts, and the "boring stuff" that protects you.

💰 Pricing Your Services: Value-based vs. hourly—how to charge what you're worth.

📣 Marketing & Networking: Getting your first client and building a sustainable brand.

On this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar & Laura Brounstein break down the intersection of power, politics, and the future of work—from viral White House portraits to the high-stakes AI arms race in hiring.

📸 The Vanity Fair White House Shoot: We discuss the viral, unretouched White House portraits by Christopher Anderson. Is this a new era of political transparency, or a deliberate "hit piece" using macro-photography?

💰 OpenAI Ends the Vesting Cliff: In a massive move for the AI recruiting wars, OpenAI has eliminated the traditional vesting cliff. We discuss what "Day One" equity means for the talent war and if other tech giants will be forced to follow suit.

🗽 74,000 Applications for Mamdani Jobs: Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani received a staggering 74,000 applications for his administration, with an average applicant age of just 28. We look at why young workers are flocking to local government and what this says about the 2025 job market.

👻 Professional Ghosting is Peak 2025: From "ghost jobs" that never existed to candidates vanishing before their first day, we tackle the "Ghosting Index" and why professional courtesy seems to be disappearing.

On this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar & Laura Brounstein dive into today's hottest workplace issues, including the Michigan football scandal, worker fatigue, explaining COBRA, the structural reasons women are falling behind in the workplace, and office holiday gifts.
 
0:00 Introduction 

3:00 Michigan Football Scandal

8:45 Combatting Worker Fatigue and Burnout in the Office

15:55 COBRA Explained

19:00 The Women's Workplace Gap: Why Women Are Falling Behind in Careers

23:50 Holiday Gift Ethics: Rules for Bosses, Employees, and Secret Santas
Please watch, share and subscribe!

On this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Peter Rahbar & Laura Brounstein tackle the biggest buzz in the working world—from looking your best to navigating the hottest AI careers and the ever-tricky art of self-promotion.

🔥 Looking Hot for Work: We discuss the latest trends and why looking good might just boost your career (and your mood).

🧑‍💻 Gen Z Loves the Office (Seriously): Younger workers are leading the charge back to in-person. Find out why Gen Z is embracing the office and what that means for the future of hybrid work.

🤝 IRL Interview Prep: Ditch the video calls—in-person job interviews are making a comeback! We share tips on how to nail your next face-to-face meeting and land the job.

🚨 Code Red at OpenAI & Hottest AI Jobs: After a dramatic week in tech, we break down what the latest shake-ups at OpenAI mean for the industry and which AI careers are booming right now.

📈 Judging Your LinkedIn Posts: How much self-promotion is too much? We discuss the fine line between personal branding and oversharing, and how to make your posts count.

Please watch, subscribe and share this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast with your friends and colleagues!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar tackle three essential workplace topics that every leader and employee needs to navigate this season.
📰 This Week's Topics:
🤖 Workplace AI Ambassadors Rise - Companies like ServiceNow are identifying 1,000 high performers to serve as internal AI influencers who train colleagues on AI adoption. How organizations are using peer-to-peer AI champions, what makes an effective AI ambassador program, and why this approach works better than traditional training.
📉 How to Communicate Layoffs with Empathy - Are we really laying off workers by text message? Research shows poorly handled layoffs result in 31% increased turnover and 74% productivity decline among remaining employees Best practices for delivering difficult news, supporting both departing and staying employees, and maintaining trust during workforce reductions in the AI era.
🎉 Holiday Party Dos & Don'ts 2025 - Should you have a holiday party? YES! Essential etiquette rules, legal pitfalls to avoid, alcohol tips, and how to ensure your office party builds culture instead of creating HR nightmares.

Join us for expert analysis on this pre-Thanksgiving edition of the Across the Bar Podcast and get the insight for a strong finish to 2025!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar unpack four explosive workplace scandals that are dominating headlines and sparking critical conversations about accountability and culture. This week's topics include:
📋 Epstein E-mails Released - The new Epstein e-mail release and their workplace implications. What corporate leaders need to know about associations, reputational risk, and due diligence.
⚖️ Attorneys Behaving Badly - Kirkland & Ellis attorneys are getting training on how to be nicer to adversaries. How workplace culture could enable bad behavior in the legal industry and elsewhere.
🔥 Condé Nast Union Battle Explodes - Four union employees were fired after confronting HR chief, sparking federal labor complaints. What this high-profile retaliation case means for employee rights, union organizing, and HR accountability.
🧘 Nike Cancels Wellness Week - Why major companies are scaling back employee wellness programs, mental health initiatives, and what this signals about shifting workplace priorities and cost-cutting measures.
👩 NYT's "Women Ruin Workplace?" Backlash - The New York Times podcast controversy asking if women ruined the workplace sparks massive outrage. Analyzing the gender politics, workplace feminism debates, and what went so spectacularly wrong.

Please watch, share and subscribe to the Across the Bar Podcast!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar explore the critical workplace trends that reveal where work culture and the economy are headed.
📰 This Week's Topics:
🗳️ Mamdani and your Workplace - What the election of NYC's new mayor Zohran Mamdani means for your workplace, and whether companies will really leave NYC. 
👥 Male Affinity Groups Emerge - The surprising rise of men's vulnerability groups in workplaces. Why companies are creating safe spaces for men and what it means for workplace culture and DEI initiatives.
🌯 Chipotle as Economic Canary - How Chipotle's struggles reveal deeper economic warning signs as customers aged 25-35 pull back spending. What this bellwether brand tells us about consumer confidence, wage pressures, and the two-speed economy affecting your workplace.

Please listen to the Across the Bar Podcast as we discuss these topics and other issues impacting your workplace! Please watch, share and subscribe!

In this Halloween episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar discuss the latest issues impacting the workplace, including:
😔 What If You're Asked to Lay Off Your Team? - Navigating the emotional burden of conducting layoffs as a manager, how to have difficult termination conversations, and other basics you should know as a manager
🤖 Should Managers Use AI for Performance Reviews? - Should managers be using artificial intelligence to write employee evaluations, maintaining authenticity in feedback, and balancing efficiency with personalization
📱 Is Texting During Meetings OK? - Meeting etiquette debate: when multitasking is acceptable, setting professional boundaries, and respecting workplace communication norms
👩‍💼 Why Are Women Leaving the Workforce? - Understanding the female workforce exodus, childcare challenges, pay equity issues, and what companies can do to retain women employees
🏛️ Government Shutdown Fallout - How federal shutdowns impact workers, contractors, and the broader economy, plus lessons for workplace stability

Across the Bar provides you with the workplace insights that you need on today's trending employment stories! Please watch, share and subscribe!

Join hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar on Across the Bar Podcast as we dive into this week's biggest workplace news:
⏰ Is 7am Too Early for Meetings? - The heated debate over early morning work meetings, employee burnout from scheduling conflicts, and setting healthy workplace boundaries
💼 100-Hour Workweeks Exposed - Are extreme work hours for real? Breaking down 996, 100-hour work weeks and toxic hustle culture, whether work-life balance can exist, and the reality of corporate work expectations
🗣️ Political Speech at Work Dangers - Why discussing politics in the workplace is risky, navigating controversial conversations with coworkers, and protecting your career from political fallout
🏢 JPMorgan's NYC Tower Opens - Inside JPMorgan Chase's massive new headquarters building in New York City and what it signals about return to office policies and corporate real estate

Join us for expert analysis on the latest workplace trends! Please watch, subscribe and share!!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar dive into the pivotal workplace trends shaping the future of work and corporate America.
📰 This Week's Topics include:
🏢 NYC Office Comeback - Manhattan office leasing hits highest volume since 2019 with 23.2 million square feet leased. What this surge really says about RTO policies, AI replacing jobs, and what CEOs think about Mamdani.
🤝 Surviving the M&A Boom - Essential strategies to protect your career and position during a mergers or acquisition. We tell you the contract provisions that  you should be negotiating for.
✈️ CEO Private Jet Hypocrisy - Executive private flight spending jumped 19% while companies cut costs and lay off workers. We discuss the double standards in corporate cost-cutting and what executives should be thinking about before they book their next flight.
💬 Stay Interview Revolution - The retention strategy seeing a 40% increase in adoption. Learn how stay interviews work, why they're more effective than exit interviews, and how to implement them at your company.

Join us for expert analysis on the latest workplace trends! Please watch, subscribe and share!

🏛️ The Real Costs of the Government Shutdown For Workers - The real economic impact of federal shutdowns on workers, contractors, small businesses, and the broader employment market
🤖 Beat AI Resume Bots - Is it a smart idea to play games with AI resume bots to get past automated hiring tools
✊ White Collar Union Movement - Why professional workers are unionizing, and what collective bargaining means for your career
📺 CBS Leadership Shakeup - Breaking down the new executive changes at CBS and what leadership transitions mean for media industry jobs

Get the workplace insights you need on today's trending employment stories! Please listen, share and subscribe!

Join hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar on the Across the Bar Podcast as we dive into this week's biggest workplace news:

🏛️ Government Shutdown Impact - How the federal government shutdown is affecting workers, contractors, and the broader employment market

🤖 AI Lies - Why companies are falsely claiming that AI is responsible for layoffs and a slowdown in hiring

💼 Would You Work for Elon Musk? - The bad boss dilemma: red flags of toxic leadership, working for difficult CEOs, and whether it's ok to take a job with a bad boss

Get the workplace insights you need on today's trending employment stories!  Please listen, share and subscribe!

Join hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar on the Across the Bar Podcast as we dive into this week's biggest workplace news:
📺 Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Drama - Breaking down the late-night host suspension controversy - why it happened and what it means for free speech
🏢 Return to Office Mandate Failures - Why RTO policies are crashing and burning, plus why hybrid policies may be the best policy for your workplace
🛂 H-1B Visa Fiasco - The latest immigration visa chaos affecting tech workers, employers, and the ongoing skilled worker shortage

Get the workplace insights that leaders should have from today's trending employment stories. Please listen, subscribe and share!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar tackle the critical workplace issues dominating headlines and boardrooms across America.
📰 This Week's Topics include:
🗣️ Workplace Free Speech Crisis - Employees getting fired over Charlie Kirk-related comments and the ongoing debate about political expression at work (note: recording occurred just before the Jimmy Kimmel Suspension)
🧖‍♂️ Sauna Networking - The hot new trend of conducting business meetings and networking in saunas and whether it is advisable for you
💰 Two-Speed Economy Impact - Amazon and BofA increased base pay for their minimum wage workers and how economic inequality is creating different workplace experiences for different workers
🧠 Mental Health Priorities - The urgent need to address workplace mental health issues and actionable solutions for employers
Join us for in-depth analysis of these topics and more. Whether you're in HR, management, or navigating today's complex workplace culture, this episode addresses the conversations happening in every office today. Please listen, subscribe and share with your colleagues!

Join hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar on The Across the Bar Podcast as we dive into this week's biggest workplace news:
💰 Elon Musk's Epic Payday - Breaking down his record-breaking $1 trillion pay package and what it says about executive compensation
🚔 Hyundai ICE Raid - The shocking ICE raid at Hyundai facilities 
📱 DIML Videos Take Over - Why Day in My Life (DIML) work videos are going viral on TikTok and LinkedIn, and what employers think
🍫 Nestlé CEO Scandal - The latest corporate drama involving the Nestlé CEO affair scandal rocking corporate leadership

Get the workplace insights you need on today's trending employment stories! The Across the Bar Podcast is your go-to source for workplace news and employment trends. Please watch, share and subscribe!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, hosts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar break down four major workplace stories shaking up the professional world, including: 

👑 New Vogue Editor - Chloe Malle's appointment as the new Vogue editor and what it means for fashion industry leadership
📱 Burner Phones for US Travel - Foreign companies and governments are telling staff to use burner phones when traveling to the US amid growing surveillance concerns
⚖️ Federal Union Fallout - The Trump administration's decision to terminate federal union contracts and its impact on government workers' rights 
💼 CEO Scandal - Nestlé CEO's dismissal following revelations of a workplace affair and the broader implications for executive accountability

Join us for expert analysis on workplace politics, leadership changes, international business security, labor relations, and corporate governance. Whether you're in HR, management, or just interested in workplace trends, this episode covers the stories everyone will be talking about this week. Please watch, subscribe and share! 

In this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, workplace experts Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar break down the hottest workplace trends and career tips! 🎯
What We Cover:
🌟 New Job Success - Proven strategies for making an outstanding first impression at your new job!
🏦 JPMorgan Union Drama - Inside scoop on the new union organizing efforts at Wall Street's biggest bank
💰 Intel's Government Deal - What lessons should other CEOs from the government's move to take a 10% stake in Intel
⏰ Early Bird Trend - The growing workplace movement where employees start earlier to leave earlier (and whether it actually works!)

Whether you're starting a new position, navigating workplace changes, or staying on top of corporate news, this episode delivers the latest workplace and  culture trends. Watch, subscribe, and share with your colleagues!

In this week's episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, Peter and Laura discuss the latest issues in the workplace, including how AI can get you fired, whether Quiet Cracking is actually a trend worth talking about, CEOs gone wild at AT&T and elsewhere, and whether the VP of PTO takes too much vacation! Please watch, subscribe and share with your colleagues!

What was old is new again. In this episode of the Across the Bar Podcast, Laura Brounstein and Peter Rahbar discuss why in-person interviews are back, why working mothers are being pushed out of the workplace - again, the continuing Sydney Sweeney controversy, and expenses gone wild at Food52! Please listen and subscribe!