Forget the dry HR manual—the year’s most important workplace lessons weren’t found in a compliance document; they were on your screen. From high-stakes heists to late-nigh comedy and sharp TV dramas, our EntertainHR series spent 2025 examining what not to do in the office based on examples from pop culture.
We covered everything from what Hacks can tach you about bad bosses, why the Louvre heist should inspire you to review security, and how the chaos of TikTok means HR professionals need to rethink their social media policies.
Here are the top must-read EntertainHR posts of the year to give HR leaders actionable, entertaining insights on avoiding the biggest management mistakes.
Jokes Aside—What Hacks Teaches Us About Bad Bosses
Hacks explores the employment relationship between Deborah and Ava; no matter how familiar the pair may behave with each other, Deborah is always Ava’s boss. Because of the haphazard way this duo was thrown into a working relationship, it is no surprise that there is a complete lack of defined job responsibilities for Ava. Deborah’s comedy is rooted in her life, so Ava needs to get to know Deborah to evaluate how Deborah, whose act needs a revamp if she is going to continue performing after her 2,500th and final show at the Palmetto, can best stage her comeback to the mainstream.
When it Comes to Employee Performance Reviews and Feedback—Don’t Be a Swiftie
Taylor Swift, the billionaire pop icon, is famous for sending her fans secret messages in just about everything she does or says. And while speaking in code and dropping Easter eggs may work to get the Swifties excited, such tactics are a disaster when it comes to giving employees feedback about their performance.
BTS of “It Ends With Us”: Speaking out on Social Media
“It Ends With Us,” is a romantic drama film based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, and I spent time catching up on the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni, et al., BTS drama on-set. If you didn’t spend your holidays reading the 80-page complaint filed by Blake Lively, here’s what you need to know.
One great thing about television shows based in the workplace is that they provide countless examples of what to do, and what not to do, in the face of seemingly absurd, though often commonplace, occurrences. No show embodies this more than Superstore. Superstore is a comedy about the daily lives of a group of big box store employees who work for the fictional American superstore, Cloud 9. The show stars America Ferrera as Assistant Manager Amy Sosa and Ben Feldman as Store Associate Jonah Simms who, along with their castmates, navigate their daily work lives at Cloud 9.
Tick tock, TikTok: Why Employers Should Evaluate Social Media Policies
While the risks of social media in the workplace may seem obvious to some, platforms are complicated to navigate as it applies to employees and their rights. Work-place content has become incredibly popular on social media platforms, like TikTok, and there are several considerations that these trends have brought to light.
What We Can Learn About Security from the Louvre Heist
Despite the unsophistication of the thieves and the simplicity of the robbery, the days after the heist saw people examining their own security measures. While most employers will never have to deal with an art heist — or any heist — they can still learn from the Louvre.
NLRB Love Is Blind Complaint May Radically Alter Reality Television
As reality television enthusiasts prepared for the Season 8 premiere of Netflix’s Love is Blind this Valentine’s Day, the show’s producers are navigating a recent National Labor Relations Board complaint that could lead to very real-world implications.
What SNL Can Teach Us About Employee Retention
Comedians spanning five decades gathered to celebrate one of TV’s longest running shows, Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary. SNL’s longevity has been a mixture of the ability to stay current and the ability to retain talent for decades. Several of its stars have spent 10 to15 years on the show, and many of those behind the scenes have worked at SNL their entire career. While the work is often demanding, with long hours, many of those behind the scenes have remained with the show, largely due to NBC’s great benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, great retirement plans, and most importantly – a strong emphasis on creative freedom.
“Per My Last PTO Request”: What Demoted Gets Right About Workplace Anxiety
Hosted by Ross “Corp” Pomerantz and Natalie Marie, Demoted gives voice to everything employees love to complain about in office culture. Each week, the hosts invite listeners to anonymously share their Corporate Confessions—those hilarious, cringe-worthy, or just plain chaotic moments that define modern work life. They also answer real questions from real people trying to survive the professional world. One recurring theme that stands out is how often employees express anxiety around using their paid time off. Many listeners hesitate to take the vacation time they’ve earned, fearing it will reflect poorly on their work ethic or hurt their chances for advancement.