The Working Week with Ben Askins

• Why everyone HATES airlines | The Working Week Show

  Why does everyone HATE airlines? In this episode of The Working Week with entrepreneur Ben Askins - with over 1 in 2 flyers facing travel problems - Ben tackles the top 5 most annoying things airlines do in 2025. You’ll get Ben’s unfiltered take on why airlines quite literally take customers for a ride when it comes to hidden additional costs, and how cheap flights have ruined the customer experience.  Ben is joined by renowned travel journalist and broadcaster, Simon Calder, who you’ll have seen on multiple news outlets as someone who has become the face of British travel information and tourism advice.  Whether you’re a regular traveller who's had enough of bad customer service, or you're someone who is quite simply interested in how we can make the aviation business better for everyone, this one’s for you! You’ll also get Ben’s best advice for employers and companies, and a few laughs along the way!  If that sounds like you, hit SUBSCRIBE and we’ll see you in the next episode.                                                                                               We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Ben to share your work stories - anonymously or otherwise - and he’ll answer your biggest questions.  Follow Ben:  📸 Instagram:   / benaskins.official    🎥 TikTok:   / ben.askins   Follow the pod: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkingweekpod/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkingweekpod Follow Simon Calder:  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simon_calder/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caldertravel Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:55 Why are people so hacked off with airlines?  03:56 Paying extra for seats 06:40 If that’s not drip pricing, drip pricing doesn’t exist as a thing! 08:00 Why luggage produces so much revenue 12:43 Why do you have to pay to change your name? 15:30 I took an airline to court…and won 20:13 Ben speaks to leading UK travel expert and broadcaster, Simon Calder 35:14 Why does everyone hate airlines? Ben’s final say Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for FREE and you’ll have access to weekly episodes 10 hours before they go live on YouTube.  Sign up for Ben’s management course here: https://www.benchmarkmanagement.co/ Credits:  https://www.tiktok.com/@travel/video/7266920119354264865?q=how%20airports%20treat%20luggage&t=1747069179596

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• The WORST office dress code ever? | The Working Week Show

  Are we witnessing the END of the OFFICE DRESS CODE?                                                                                                                                         In this episode of The Working Week with entrepreneur Ben Askins - with just 7% of workers in the UK still wearing a suit to work, and nearly half of Americans saying they wear suits less frequently now than they did 10 years ago - Ben debates whether getting suited and booted for work is a thing of the past.  Ben is joined by “The Corporate Agony Aunt”, Isobelle Panton, who has amassed a huge following online for her tips on how to navigate corporate life effectively after years of first-hand experience working in the business world - specialising in Personal Brand and Sales Strategy Consultancy.                                                                                                                                   You’ll get Ben’s unfiltered take on when bosses and managers SHOULD be allowed to impose rules, the truth behind wearing political slogans in the office, and the modern day challenges companies face when it comes to the work dress code. You’ll also get Ben’s best advice for employers and businesses, and a few laughs along the way! Whether you’re an employee wondering what NOT to wear in the workplace, or you’re a company in need of a workwear shake-up, this one’s for you!                                                                                                                                    If that sounds like you, hit SUBSCRIBE and we’ll see you in the next episode.  We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Ben to share your work stories - anonymously or otherwise - and he’ll answer your biggest questions.  Follow Ben:  📸 Instagram:   / benaskins.official    🎥 TikTok:   / ben.askins   Follow the pod: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkingweekpod/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkingweekpod Follow Isobelle: https://www.instagram.com/corporateagonyaunt/ https://www.tiktok.com/@corporateagonyaunt Chapters: 0:00 Intro 01:38 Is this the most ridiculous dress code ever?  02:36 This dress code is just dangerous 04:08 The death of the suit? 06:07 The history of the business suit  08:55 Why uniforms are a good idea 10:00 Is it ok to wear political slogans in the office?  13:44 The rise of the corporate beard 16:50 What NOT to wear to work in the summer 19:00 What is acceptable to wear on zoom calls? 21:00 Sexism in the workplace and women’s workwear  26:12 Ben’s interview with The “Corporate Agony Aunt”, Isobelle Panton 38:04 Should companies relax dress codes? Ben’s final say Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for FREE and you’ll have access to weekly episodes 10 hours before they go live on YouTube.  Sign up for Ben’s management course here: https://www.benchmarkmanagement.co/ Credits:  https://www.tiktok.com/@questioningthecubicle/video/7498435270635818282?q=my%20work%20sent%20me%20home%20for%20wearing&t=1746188484934 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMbKluqLSHY https://www.tiktok.com/@mag___s/video/7496522291363302687?q=flipflops%20to%20work&t=1746617652666 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZpEpNPaxsw https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ENAiUoupRM4  https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdR3Wx6n/

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  39:49
• After 100 YEARS, is the 9-5 working day finally FINISHED?

  After 100 YEARS, is the 9-5 working day finally FINISHED? In this episode of The Working Week with entrepreneur Ben Askins - with 57% of people in full-time employment saying they’d like their working day to start earlier than 9am and finish earlier than 5pm - Ben debates whether the 9-5 still makes sense in 2025. Ben is joined by Joe Ryle, Director of The 4 Day Week Foundation, which leads the UK's national campaign for a four-day, 32 hour working week, and supports organisations transitioning to a 4 day set-up. You’ll get Ben’s unfiltered take on the outdated origins of the 8/8/8 rule (8 hours sleep, 8 hours work, and 8 hours play), the truth behind the modern polygamous worker, the gig economy and whether or not he agrees with Tech tycoon Reid Hoffman’s prediction that the traditional 9-5 will become EXTINCT by 2034. You’ll also get Ben’s best advice for employers and businesses when it comes to shift patterns and flexible working hours, and a few laughs along the way! Whether you’re a full-time employee struggling with the 9-5 grind, you’re a seasoned gig worker, or you run a company in need of a shake up, this one’s for you!  If that sounds like you, hit SUBSCRIBE and we’ll see you in the next episode.  We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Ben to share your work stories - anonymously or otherwise - and he’ll answer your biggest questions.  Follow Ben:  📸 Instagram:   / benaskins.official    🎥 TikTok:   / ben.askins   Follow the pod: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkingweekpod/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkingweekpod Follow The 4 Day Week Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/4dayweekfoundation?igsh=dWcyODQ1Z2tzd2hn Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:54 100 years on, does working 9-5 still work in the modern age? 03:58 Why the 9-5 workday is outdated 05:00 “If you want to get rich, you should probably get a 9-5 job” 05:57 The Gig Economy & rise of the ‘polygamous’ worker 10:30 The problem of over-employment 13:13 ‘3 on, 3 off’: The graveyard shift 14:22 How ‘chronoworking’ could beat the 3pm slump 17:45 Could a four-day work week be the future?  19:55 Ben’s interview with Joe Ryle, Director of The 4 Day Week Foundation 34:29 Ben predicts what will replace the 9-5 in the future Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for FREE and you’ll have access to weekly episodes 10 hours before they go live on YouTube.  Sign up for Ben’s management course here: https://www.benchmarkmanagement.co/ Credits:  https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdjHR9fq/ https://www.tiktok.com/@careercolin/video/7321703258840681774?q=working%209-5&t=1746005010215 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcveSExstxw https://www.tiktok.com/@ruefromshein/video/7494657839378533662?_r=1&_t=ZN-8vy0i3W00ta https://www.tiktok.com/@ruefromshein/video/7495826084894641439?_r=1&_t=ZN-8vy0e4jAl9i

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  38:43
• Is 2025 the HARDEST year EVER to get a job? | The Working Week Show

  Is 2025 the HARDEST year EVER to get a job?  In this episode of The Working Week with entrepreneur Ben Askins - With 1.5 million Britons and 7.1 million people in the US hunting for work - Ben tackles the reasons behind why our job market is so brutal right now. Ben is joined by Shoshanna Davis, also known as The Fairy Job Mother, best known for empowering young people with career, work and job advice.  You’ll get Ben’s unfiltered take on the truth behind the most ridiculous job descriptions, his best advice for job seeker success, his harsh take on poor recruitment etiquette, and a few laughs along the way! Whether you’re an applicant struggling to land a role, or you run a company or business in need of a recruitment shake up, this one’s for you!  If that sounds like you, hit SUBSCRIBE and we’ll see you in the next episode.  We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Ben to share your work stories - anonymously or otherwise - and he’ll answer your biggest questions.  Follow Ben:  📸 Instagram:   / benaskins.official    🎥 TikTok:   / ben.askins   Follow the pod: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkingweekpod/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkingweekpod Follow Shoshanna (The Fairy Job Mother): https://www.instagram.com/thefairyjobmother/ Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:55 Is the job application process to blame? 03:20 Why so many people are looking for a job 06:13 Why the US has been hit so hard by this 06:40 How politics and global events affect the job market 07:50 “It’s as if they’ve got some free labour out of you”  11:07 “I’m not even getting interviews” 12:22 The worst things that companies are doing 13:14 The worst job descriptions I’ve seen 15:58 Was the job market ever this bad in history? 17:25 Is AI the reason you can’t get a job? 19:00 Ben’s interview with The Fairy Job Mother, Shoshanna Davis 26:36 The best advice for job seekers and recruiters 28:33 Funny work clips of the week Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for FREE and you’ll have access to weekly episodes 10 hours before they go live on YouTube.  Sign up for Ben’s management course here: https://www.benchmarkmanagement.co/ Credits:  https://www.tiktok.com/@itsgoneviral/video/7112501151144168709?q=interview%20fail&t=1745337958212 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqLzb6vbaCs https://www.tiktok.com/@princesali27/video/7433819204563799327?q=interview%20fail&t=1745337958212 https://www.tiktok.com/@divagirls310/video/7484568073182252318?lang=en

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  30:00
• Childcare Costs: Is Working EVEN Worth it? | The Working Week Show

  With childcare costs soaring, is it even worth it to work?  In this episode of The Working Week with entrepreneur Ben Askins, Ben is joined by the formidable Joeli Brearley. Joeli is best known as the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to addressing the motherhood - and parenthood - penalty. Joeli is also co-host of the ‘To Be A Boy’ podcast, and is credited with influencing the recent £5.2b investment in childcare. You’ll get Ben’s unfiltered take on the truth behind working to pay for your childcare and family in 2025, along with some sound advice, and a few laughs along the way! Whether you’re a parent struggling to pay for your kids, you’re a grandparent who's been roped in to help look after your grandchildren, or you’re a career-minded person who's quite frankly unsure whether you want to have children at all, this one’s for you. If that sounds like you, hit FOLLOW and we’ll see you in the next episode.  We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Ben to share your work stories - anonymously or otherwise - and he’ll answer your biggest questions.  Follow Ben:  📸 Instagram:   / benaskins.official    🎥 TikTok:   / ben.askins   Follow the pod: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkingweekpod/ 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkingweekpod Follow Joeli: https://www.instagram.com/joelibrearley/ Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:50 Are DINKS to blame? 02:45 Low birth rates 03:16 Why are childcare costs so high in 2025? 07:40 3 in 4 mothers say it doesn’t make financial sense for them to work 08:26 Paternity leave often gets overlooked 10:13 What free childcare am I eligible for? 13:00 Are other countries doing childcare support better? 16:35 “I raised 4 kids…we never moaned” 18:00 History: When was childcare support first introduced? 19:43 Ben interviews Joeli Brearley MBE, Founder of Pregnant Then Screwed 27:56 Ben’s final say and advice for businesses  31:31 Funny work clips of the week Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for FREE and you’ll have access to weekly episodes 10 hours before they go live on YouTube.  Sign up for Ben’s management course here: https://www.benchmarkmanagement.co/ Credits:  https://www.tiktok.com/@letravelstyle/video/7314396422806359342?q=dinks%20lifestyle&t=1745236385685 https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdFvfqv6/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdFvH7xM/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt4JMMYVEOg&t=150s https://www.tiktok.com/@aidancramer/video/7488374903805054230?lang=en

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  33:07

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