When Your Boss Just Doesn't Get It, Part 1

Jasmine Carter

Welcome back to You’re Still on Mute, the podcast where you spill the tea your email drafts would never dare. I'm Jasmine Carter, and with me—at least virtually—is my favorite voice of reason, Laura Simmons.

Laura Simmons

Hey, Jasmine! And hey to all the listeners living that all-too-relatable cubicle distress. Today’s all about those moments when your boss is just—what’s the word? Oblivious. When leadership totally misses the mark.

Jasmine Carter

Honestly, the bar for common sense feels so low sometimes. I heard from one of our listeners—let’s call her Morgan—who had the ultimate facepalm moment. Her boss scheduled a mandatory all-hands on a major holiday. Like, no, I’m not kidding, Laura! The team was flipping out, half of them logging in while literally serving mashed potatoes, and some just ghosted the thing altogether. The group chat was basically a meme war at that point.

Laura Simmons

I feel for Morgan. Like, you can hear the disbelief in her story! Who thinks, “Let’s add a two-hour meeting to everyone’s calendar right in the middle of family time?” It’s wild. And oh, that side chat—I mean, you know it got savage. No trust falls, just eye rolls and maybe a second helping of pie.

Jasmine Carter

That chaos… It honestly took me right back. One job I had—CEO announces, “We’re switching to unlimited PTO!” Like, it’s some magical freedom ticket. But nobody actually took time off; everyone thought if they booked a real vacation, they’d look like the weakest link. Instant burnout, just more anxiety. I remember one woman postponed her vacation three times. Unlimited just means “good luck asking.”

Laura Simmons

Exactly! Legal limits didn’t change, but the guilt trip? Sky-high. Some bosses see all these butts-in-seats and “camera on” as proof everyone’s doing great, but it’s just survival mode. Iit all comes back to not recognizing burnout when it’s right in front of you.

Jasmine Carter

Mmm, that’s right. They’re counting attendance and pretending it means engagement. But if your team’s giving you more cryptic “out sick” emails or dodging the webcam more each week… maybe check if everyone’s running on fumes, not just hitting their targets. Where was I going with this? Oh right, managers—look for the actual vibes, not just who clicks “accept” on the meeting invite.

Laura Simmons

So true. ‘Cause if people start treating your meetings like dentist appointments, maybe don’t make it worse with a surprise Monday or Thanksgiving. Just a thought!

Laura Simmons

Alright, let’s switch gears. Let’s talk feedback, or—well—when feedback’s like shouting into the void. We got an email from “Dave,” who’s been submitting the same suggestion at quarterly meetings. Every. Single. Time. For two years. Not even a “good idea, but…” Just… crickets.

Jasmine Carter

That is rough. Imagine putting yourself out there over and over and getting nothing but stares. I mean, Dave probably could’ve written his idea in skywriting, and the reaction would’ve been the same—“Thanks for your thoughts, moving on.”

Laura Simmons

That brings me back. When I started in corporate comms, companies loved to brag about “open door policies.” You’d see the posters everywhere, but no one really wanted to hear anything that wasn’t pure agreement. It was like, “Speak up!—oh, not like that.”

Jasmine Carter

“Open door” just meant “say only safe things.” I dunno, sometimes sharing feedback feels risky, especially if you actually call out a gap in the process. Suddenly, you get labeled “not a team player”—and that’s not a badge you want in your file.

Laura Simmons

Totally. It’s tough to walk that line between honest input and keeping your job drama-free. Most people just stop trying. Let’s be real—peace usually wins over change, ‘cause bills don’t pay themselves, right?

Jasmine Carter

Facts. And it’s so easy to feel defeated, especially if the same employees who always nod are the ones who get praise, while the question-askers get side-eyed. Does it ever actually work out, Laura? Like, the squeaky wheel breaks through?

Laura Simmons

I wish I could say yes every time, but in my experience… it’s like winning the lottery. Sometimes, maybe, you land on the right day and someone listens. But honestly, it’s just safer to blend in unless you’re ready to risk becoming “that person.”

Jasmine Carter

Okay, I gotta bring this one in—maybe my favorite gripe of the week. We got a call from a startup employee, completely losing it over the “perks.” Weekly pizza, branded hoodies, tote bags, socks—anything but, you know, actual raises or a decent benefits package. It’s like, “Here’s your cold pizza, don’t talk about pay.”

Laura Simmons

Oh, I’ve lived this. Once had HR roll out “mandatory fun”—team lunches with icebreaker games. All I wanted was my sandwich in peace! One guy in finance pretended to have dentist appointments for every “fun day.” Honestly, I respected the hustle, even if the excuse was always, “root canal... again.”

Jasmine Carter

Motivational pencils, Laura. We got those one year. Meanwhile, what everyone really wanted was better hours or, you know, dental coverage that actually helps with those—uh—endless root canals.

Laura Simmons

Seriously! It makes you wonder if management asks people what they actually value, or if they’re just choosing the cheapest distractions. “Sure, your workload doubled, but look, cupcakes!”

Jasmine Carter

If you’re a manager listening—wild suggestion—try asking what matters before rolling out swag bags. Most of us just want fair pay, time to recharge, and actual listening, not another branded fidget spinner. I mean, respect’s always gonna beat out a t-shirt. Am I right?

Laura Simmons

Without a doubt. Company “perks” don’t fix broken priorities. Do the basics right and the morale takes care of itself.

Jasmine Carter

Alright, we’re dropping the mic for today. What’s the weirdest perk you’ve ever gotten, or the moment your boss was truly out of touch? Drop us a message. Laura, always ranting with you is the highlight of my week.

Laura Simmons

The pleasure’s all mine, Jasmine. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. This is You’re Still on Mute—where you can say what your email signature never will. Catch us next time for more unfiltered stories! Take care!