E056 - Toxic Isn’t Just a Buzzword: Let’s Talk Workplace Abuse

In this episode, Milou and Brian sit down with Kimberly Williams, VP of People, Culture, and Compliance at Walker Advertising and spokesperson for the End Workplace Abuse movement. They explore how toxic work environments harm employee mental health—and create real security risks. Topics include: - What workplace psychological abuse looks like - How trauma impacts decision-making and security awareness - The Workplace Psychological Safety Act and why it matters - Tools to document abuse (e.g., Hively, Work Receipts) - Why HR isn’t always the solution—and how to protect yourself - The real financial cost of “brilliant jerks” - Kim shares practical advice for individuals and organizations, and explains how listeners can support ongoing legislative efforts at endworkplaceabuse.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Workplace Psychological Abuse 05:49 Understanding the Impact of Workplace Trauma 08:35 Identifying Signs of Toxic Work Culture 12:54 Documenting Abuse and Engaging HR 16:42 Navigating Workplace Dynamics and Rights 19:48 The Movement for Workplace Psychological Safety 24:43 Legislative Efforts and Future Directions 31:07 Final Thoughts on Privacy and Workplace Rights