Out of the Office

Email Surveillance + Workplace Boundaries

Dog mom & people operations enthusiast by day and Dungeons & Dragons game master by night, Andreea Vihristencu is all about turning HR into a strategic force and making work better for everyone.
In this episode, we dive into The Office episode, 'Email Surveillance" (Season 2, Episode 9) to dissect manager Michael Scott's boundary-crossing attempts to bond with his team, from monitoring emails to crashing an uninvited BBQ. Tune in to uncover lessons in trust, empathy, and leadership—and learn how to foster a healthier workplace culture without overstepping professional boundaries.
Follow Andreea Vihristencu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreea-vihristencu/

Sexual Harassment

Framing harassment as illegal instead of "inappropriate" gives it the weight it deserves and minimises dismissive reactions.
In this episode, Sara sits down with Dr. Enya Doyle, a London-based anti-harassment consultant with years of experience tackling complex HR and workplace culture challenges. Together, they dive into The Office Season 2, Episode 2, "Sexual Harassment," unpacking the all-too-familiar themes of power dynamics, "banter", and why outdated workplace behaviours still persist.
From Michael Scott’s questionable antics to navigating real-life harassment policies, Dr. Doyle shares insights on how organisations can foster genuine respect, trust, and accountability at every level.
Tune in to explore how to transform workplaces from awkwardly tolerated spaces to truly supportive environments.
About Dr Enya Doyle
Raised in Ireland and now based in London, Dr Enya Doyle’s unwavering commitment to driving social change has been recognised nationally for almost fifteen years. Enya has a powerful track record of providing effective and insightful training as well as thoughtful, evidence-based guidance. Enya is proud to passionately prioritise undervalued and marginalised voices and intersectionality sits at the heart of her work. Dr Doyle collaborates with companies of all sizes across the world to prevent unwanted behaviours amongst colleagues and helps HR/People and EDI teams respond better when it does happen. Enya specialises in challenging gender-based discrimination, sexism, and sexual violence.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theharassmentdoctor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-enya-doyle/
Website: https://enyadoyle.com/
 

Hot Girl | Beauty Bias

Join Sara and special guest Dimitra Dimitropoulou as they dive deep into one of The Office’s most cringeworthy moments in Season 1, Episode 6, “Hot Girl.”
In this episode of Out of the Office, they break down Michael Scott’s painfully inappropriate behaviour toward a new saleswoman, unpacking themes of workplace objectification, unconscious bias, and the invisible pressures of beauty standards.
Dimitra shares her experience across global cultures, discussing how appearance affects professional perceptions and the unconscious biases we all bring into hiring, promotion, and team dynamics. Tune in for a compelling discussion on creating a truly inclusive, diverse workplace culture where everyone has a fair shot, regardless of appearance.
About Dimitra Dimitropoulou A proud alumna of three of Canada's premier universities in Business, Communications, Digital Marketing, Psychology, and Leadership, Dimitra is a seasoned Human Resources & Marketing professional with over 14 years of experience in corporate and consulting roles. Her passion lies in driving business growth, where she has consistently implemented effective strategies and fostered authentic relationships, resulting in heightened customer satisfaction and increased revenue.
Dimitra's extensive portfolio covers a spectrum of businesses, including start-ups, small enterprises, and established corporations across IT, e-commerce, medtech, real estate, fintech, and more. In the realm of HR, she specializes in individual career growth, aids businesses in establishing internal HR departments, and excels in optimizing organizational design for enhanced efficiency.
On the marketing front, Dimitra empowers entrepreneurs to launch and solidify their brands, leveraging her expertise in social media, email marketing, and more. A passionate advocate for mentorship, Dimitra shares her insights through ADPList and actively engages with Wavemakers, mentoring young professionals in their virtual reality campus. For Dimitra, success is a journey paved by paying it forward and supporting others.
Follow Dimitra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddimitropoulou

Benihana Christmas

In this episode of Out of the Office, Sara sits down with inclusive event expert Cass Briscoe to unpack the do’s and don’ts of workplace socials, using The Office’s “Benihana Christmas” episode as the perfect backdrop.
From Angela’s iron-fist party planning to the real impact of leadership buy-in, Cass breaks down how to create events where everyone feels welcome. Whether it’s designing events that cater to all or gathering the right feedback, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you make your next work social a win for everyone.
About Cass
An ex-Workplace Experience Lead and Head of Vibes, Cass has designed award-winning office spaces, created collaborative and inclusive team events, launched DE&I initiatives, and navigated companies through lockdown and the pivot to remote work, hybrid work, and beyond.
She now works with an array of clients on a freelance basis, helping ensure that workplaces and events represent all of the people that they bring together. She has organised offsites, staff socials, conferences, festivals, client parties, and other events across the globe for and with a wide range of clients including Women In Tech SEO, Sky, Channel 4, and Cleo.
Connect with Cass on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cassbriscoe
Follow Cass on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soft_work_society/ 

Frame Toby

In this episode of Out of the Office, Sara sits down with Dee, founder of We Are Colourfull, to explore the real role of HR and how it’s often misunderstood.
Together, they unpack the iconic Michael-Toby dynamic from The Office and share insights on why HR is critical to creating inclusive, thriving workplaces. Dee offers his unique perspective on how HR can support both business goals and employee well-being, plus practical tips for leaders on involving HR early for maximum impact.
Dee (he/him) is the founder of we are colourfull - a consultancy and media platform that aims to increase visibility and the inclusion of the LGBTQ community and People of Colour in the workplace as well as wider society - using data, storytelling and design thinking. Prior to this, Dee held HR Leadership roles in creative organisations inc. the BBC, Net-A-Porter and Girl Effect.
Follow Dee on: IG:  wearecolourfull   LinkedIn:  deepakjas  

Print in all Colors

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Tashan to break down The Office’s “Print in All Colors” diversity program from Season 6, Episode 23.
Together, we explore what it really takes to create inclusive work environments that go beyond surface-level fixes. Tashan shares insights on the power of intentional language, why diversity programs often fall short, and how to embrace the discomfort of tough conversations around race and identity.
If you’re ready to rethink your approach to inclusivity and get practical tips to bring back to your workplace, this episode is for you. Let’s make change happen—together.
Tashan is a leadership coach, speaker, performer and workshop facilitator who specialises in empowering underserved entrepreneurs and professionals to discover and embody their personal leadership and vision. Tashan is an ICF Member and Certified coach with a diploma in Life and Performance Coaching from The Coaching Academy. With a decade of experience in the Data, Statistics and analytics world of advertising and media industry, most recently a leadership role as an Analytics Director, Tashan brings a data-driven approach to their work.
Tashan is also passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is actively involved in advocacy groups such as Outvertising, All-In working group, NoTurningBack2020 & Black Representation in Marketing (BRiM). Tashan also serves as a trustee for 'You Make it', a charity that helps young unemployed and underemployed women from Black and Asian backgrounds. Tashan draws from their unique perspective as a Black and Queer individual and is dedicated to empowering diverse communities through their work.
Follow Tashan:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/relytecoaching/
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashan-nicholas-3151a3a0/

Grief Counselling

We're focusing on Season 3, Episode 4, Grief Counselling in this episode. Michael Scott is overcome with grief when he learns about the death of his former boss, Ed Truck. Michael spends the rest of the day attempting grief counselling for the rest of the team.
The wonderful DeMario Bell joins us to talk about all things grief, in and outside the workplace. We unpack the difficulty of experiencing loss, especially at work, which can be met with clinical, formulaic responses and policies.
Listen in as DeMario and I unpack our experiences navigating grief and how people have supported us.

EP06 - Gay Witch Hunt

In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable and potentially triggering episode, 'Gay Witch Hunt' (Season 3, Episode 1) with the fabulous Whitney Simon.
We discuss how the manager, Michael Scott, creates a hostile environment for Oscar after discovering the character is gay. During our conversation, we unpack the power of 'letting in' vs 'coming out' and the intersectionality of the LGBTQIA+ community.
In addition, we chat about the importance of using correct language and terminology to foster workplace cultures where people feel like they belong and can be their true selves.
Follow us on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠Fresh and Fearless UK⁠⁠⁠
Follow us on LinkedIn:⁠⁠ ⁠Fresh and Fearless⁠⁠⁠
Get in touch: info@freshandfearless.uk
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EP05 - The Dundies

In this episode, we unpack the cringe-fest of an episode, ‘The Dundies’ (Season 2, Episode 1), with the wonderful Nick Warner. We talk about how it falls short of boosting employee morale despite Michael Scott’s best attempts to create an engaging employee awards ceremony.  
We unpack why it’s so important to tailor recognition to individuals; otherwise, generic awards can create a disconnect between managers and employees. In the episode, we also discuss the role of clear communication and regular feedback in building trust, enhancing teamwork, and driving employee development.
Follow us on Instagram:⁠ ⁠Fresh and Fearless UK⁠⁠
Follow us on LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠Fresh and Fearless⁠⁠
Get in touch: info@freshandfearless.uk
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EP04 - Boys and Girls

This episode examines ‘Boys and Girls’ (Season 2, Episode 21) of The Office (US). While Jan tries to empower the women of Dunder Mifflin, Michael has very different ideas about the boys and warehouse workers. In this episode, we have HUGE fan and talent acquisition manager Natalie Winterton-Whitfield to talk about workplace dynamics, shedding light on issues like boy's clubs and mentorships.
Tune in as we discuss Michael Scott's insecurities and unravel the impact of exclusionary behaviours on individuals and teams. From Jan's women in the workplace initiative to Michael's misguided attempts at camaraderie in the warehouse, we analyse the ramifications of gender stereotypes and discriminatory practices. With candid discussions and insightful commentary, we highlight the importance of allyship and advocacy in creating a more equitable workplace.
Natalie offers valuable insights into the differences between mentorship and sponsorship, emphasising the need for genuine support and opportunities for professional growth.