In this episode of Frequency, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss the ongoing challenges of returning to the office, and strategies for

maintaining engagement during the summer slump. The conversation also explores generational perspectives on work and the implications of the Venice Pledge regarding ethical AI.

They delve into whether the return to office debate is ever going to stop, and whether the quiet summer workload is a myth. A recent instagram video sparks a discussion about employee loyalty, commitment and engagement and the team unpack the recent Venice pledge and whether it will translate into action and impact.

The episode concludes with personal reflections and 'freakouts' about common workplace phrases that annoy Chuck and the importance of finding balance in decision-making in a world of extremes

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• The List of Companies Ordering Employees Back to the Office
• Keeping the momentum: How internal comms pros can maintain engagement in slower times
• The different reasons for why we work and what this means for employee retention
• Global Alliance Updates Responsible AI Guiding Principles for the PR and Communication Profession

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Jenni Field and Chuck Gose explore various topics including the concept of 'collywobbles', the importance of employee experience, and the impact of workplace culture on financial performance.

They discuss the Icology Flyover Festival taking place in August, a unique event aimed at internal communicators, and delve into a report revealing that 97% of employees feel the need to hide parts of themselves at work.

The conversation also touches on the disconnect in AI adoption within companies and the need for leaders to create environments that foster employee happiness - something Jenni feels strongly about!

They explore the complexities of trust in AI, the importance of understanding AI proficiency, and how organizations like Amazon are addressing these issues: the necessity of upskilling in the workplace, the evolving nature of dress codes, and the ethical implications of using voting systems in events.

The conversation also touches on the significance of appearance in professional settings and the need for clear guidelines as how we dress for work has changed - anyone ok with Crocs in the office?

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• Hidden at work: The human cost of covering in today’s workplaces
• Strong employer brands see higher stock returns
• Section's AI Proficiency Report
• AI will shrink Amazon’s workforce in the coming years, CEO Jassy says
• The 39 definitive rules of office fashion
• ICology's Employee Comms & Culture Flyover Festival
• Lisa Talbot (Jenni’s stylist)
• Methane-powered sea spiders

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss some of the latest research and insights this week covering AI and cultural intelligence, how to protect cultures and what employee advocacy really is. They kick off the conversation with the latest piece of research from the Institute of Internal Communication which is showing a real mix of positive and negative news for the industry.

Exploring employee advocacy and the role of the communicator in creating it,Chuck shares strong views on how we have got this so wrong.

The conversation explores some of the latest thinking in applying the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) model to AI and whether or not you should get rid of disruptive people in the workplace.

If you think there is something they should be talking about, get in touch on LinkedIn and let them know!

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• Future of the IC Profession Survey” from the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC)
• Jamie Dimon on Firing “a—Holes” to Protect Culture
• Why Employee Advocacy Starts With Culture, Not Just Content
• Cultural Intelligence: Your Compass in the World of AI

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Chuck and Jenni have both been on the road in the last week attending the IABC World Conference in Vancouver and Atomicon in Newcastle in the UK, and they kick off this episode with some of their reflections and learnings from both.

Throughout the episode they reflect on the changing nature of workplace culture, the importance of meaningful connections, and the challenges of presenteeism. The conversation touches on Jim Collins' concept of 'Good is the enemy of Great' and the need for companies to strive for superior results and lasting impact.

They explore the evolving expectations of employees regarding work social events and the signals that leaders send about taking time off when you’re sick. In this episode they discuss the challenges of workplace illness in a remote and hybrid world and the expectations placed on employees by leadership.

They get into some recent research that shows the impact of gender bias in reporting misconduct in the workplace, with the conversation turning to the history of the witch trials!

Finally, they address the rapid adoption of AI in organizations and the potential risks to employee autonomy and trust, emphasizing the need for thoughtful communication and support during these changes for employees.

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• Unhappy Hour: People used to relish getting sloshed with their colleagues after work. What happened?
• Research: Why Employees Work While Sick—and How Leaders Can Stop It
• Research: Women’s Complaints of Workplace Abuse Get Ignored More Than Men’s
• Good is the enemy of great
• Washington Post: More companies are mandating employees to use AI. Not everyone is on board

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss some of the latest stories about AI, employee experience, leadership and workplace challenges. They reflect on their health and energy levels during the recording, share insights about the upcoming Comms Reboot event in Toronto on June 25, and delve into the issue of negative signaling on social media.

The conversation transitions to the importance of employee experience in shaping organizational behavior looking at some of the latest research into the link between the two.

Jenni recently attended the Gallagher London Summit and shares some of the key stats and insights from the presentations across the two days. Some older stories that have bubbled up on social media are debated - specifically why venting isn’t the best thing to do to create change and they finish on a big question - how does work shift from 5 days on, 2 days off with the growing use of AI?

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• How employee experience drives employee behaviors
• Why venting isn’t the way to solve our problems
• AI And The End Of Traditional Work: Are We Entering A Post-Work Era?

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this conversation, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss various themes surrounding corporate culture, employee experience, and the impact of recent changes in workplace dynamics.

They explore the troubling shift in corporate culture from positivity to fear amidst the recent stories of cutting middle management roles.

They explore the disconnect between executives and middle managers, the challenges of internal communication, and the cultural differences in how deskless and office workers receive information.

They discuss the need for more strategic communication within organizations and the delicate balance businesses must maintain when addressing societal issues based on some recent research in the USA.

The conversation also touches on the role of values inside organisations, the expectations of employees regarding workplace culture and the importance of focusing on relevant communication.

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

• (05:55) From friendly faces to firing squads - the new corporate culture
• (14:02) Not just slash and burn
• (22:42) Workshop’s Internal Communication Trends Report for 2025
• (31:57) Business is a new stabilizer in a divided nation

Additional resources

• What do we mean when we talk about strategy and tactics?
• Tried-and-tested frameworks for communicating organisational change
• What can fit inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Connect with Jenni Field and Chuck Gose on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni discuss some big topics in the world of internal comms, employee experience and workplace culture.

⚫️ Is work/life balance your responsibility or the organizations?

⚫️ Is it a surprise that AI is making boring work more fun?

⚫️ What happens to managers when organizations get too big?

They explore the latest news and research into generational differences in workplace preferences, the importance of choice in work arrangements, while also addressing the impact of AI on productivity and motivation.

They delve into a few recent podcasts that discuss work/life balance and the role of line managers as organizations grow and hierarchy gets in the way of getting stuff done.

In this conversation, they also explore the challenges of timezones, the pressure of hustle culture, and the importance of play in our lives.

Links and articles mentioned in this episode:

(04:00) Working from beach had its time in the sun. Now it’s back to offices

(10:31) HBR Research: Gen AI Makes People More Productive—and Less Motivated

(15:52) They're Lying About Work Life Balance –The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

(26:10) HBR IdeaCast: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Agility, AI Strategy, and the Changing Role of Managers

Books mentioned in this episode:

📕 All It Takes is a Goal by Jon Acuff

📗 Long Haul Leader by Chris Ducker

📘 Playful Rebellion by Gary Ware

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Connect with Jenni Field and Chuck Gose on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Jenni Field and Chuck Gose explore the evolving landscape of employee communication and experience.

They dig into the growing disconnect with frontline workers, the surprising decision by Moderna to merge HR and IT, and why internal communicators should start thinking more like journalists. The conversation also dives into Gallup’s “remote work paradox,” highlighting how employees can be both highly engaged and deeply stressed.

Throughout, Jenni and Chuck emphasize the value of listening, the risks of surface-level metrics, and the growing need for clarity, connection, and courage in how organizations communicate.

The links and articles that inspired this week's episode:

(4:45) Frontline Friction Report from Unily and ScreenCloud

(11:05) Moderna merges HR and IT departments

(16:45) From headlines to deadlines

(22:57) Remote work paradox

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

Connect with Jenni Field and Chuck Gose on LinkedIn.