Good morning, my chronically employed friend. This week in the make work suck less group chat...

👏 One good thing. Maryland just passed a law guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave! That makes 14 states plus DC... or just under 30% of the country.

📮State of the business. Mr Beast is getting sued (again). Who is Mr Beast? He's the YouTuber known for viral stunts of "generosity" that always feel like exploitation. A former social media lead highlights a farcical work culture that ultimately led to her being fired three weeks after returning from maternity leave.

📓The handbook from hell. They didn't have standard work policies. They had the "Beast Bible." Because of course. Behind the over-the-top videos is a deeply childish misogynist. Here are some of the rules:

• "It's ok for the boys to be childish...if talent wants to draw a dick on the white board in the video or do something stupid, let them"
• "No Does Not Mean No"
• "The amount of hours you work is irrelevant... pull all nighters"

☢️ The risks of working while female. The lawsuit outlines all the ways she was sexually harassed (told by the CEO that Mr Beast wouldn't meet with her because he found her too attractive - and goes to go jack off), demeaned (told to shut up when offering an opinion), and even required to work an event three weeks after giving birth (during legally-protected FMLA). When she complained to the Head of HR, Mr Beasties mommy, she was demoted.

☑️ You've seen these rules too. They just were unwritten in your company. The expectation that you reply to emails even while on vacation. The male leader every woman avoids because we know he's unsafe and yet, protected by HR. When there are no women in leadership, or they are excluded from otherwise all-male opportunities. Wearing baggy clothes to avoid unwanted physical attention from colleagues.

👉🏽 Document everything. If you find yourself here: take notes, take screenshots. She's probably going to win this case because she has documented evidence of illegal workplace actions. Being forced to work through FMLA is one of the few protections we actually have in the US.

💬 Coffee break gossip. Other news to share at the water cooler this week:

1. ​Microsoft is offering buyouts to 9,000 older workers. If your age plus time in service equals 70+, they want you gone. This way, it's optional and not an illegal layoff.
2. ​Snap CEO was seen partying at Coachella just days before laying off 16% of its workforce, including this guy who'd just moved cross-country and joined a week prior.
3. According to Harper's Magazine index, the number of Americans who worked two full-time jobs increased 2.5x from 172k in 2015 to 476k in 2026. Chances are, you know someone who is chronically overemployed.

Until next Saturday, you got this.
Cassandra

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