First, a quick note: my regular fortnightly posts with data-based analyses of workplace dynamics will resume on May 14. I’ve been traveling, then sick, then traveling again. But I’m back, and I’m excited to dive into new posts soon.
In the meantime, I have some big news: my book, Trust Fall: How Workplace Relationships Fail Us, is officially available for pre-order on the University of California Press Website, on Amazon, and through Barnes & Noble!
Apparently, pre-orders are a BIG DEAL. They shape how much the press invests in marketing, how much attention the book gets from media outlets, and even how many copies are printed. So, now is the time to act. A strong showing now helps ensure the book finds its way into more hands and more conversations about work in the U.S.
So, what is that conversation? Basically, my book argues that without strong labor laws, unions, and a substantial safety net, U.S. workers are forced to rely on the benevolence and goodwill of coworkers, supervisors, and other professional contacts to survive an insecure and unequal labor terrain. Most of us have – at some point or another – seen this work out well, as we have trusted colleagues and mentors who’ve come through for us. But it’s harder for those with less social power and status to activate their networks, and regardless, the situation puts a lot of strain on workplace relationships.
Trust Fall examines how all of this plays out in everyday work life. I explore, for example, how people come together under the banner of teamwork to weather crisis after crisis, forming meaningful bonds only to end up burned out and sometimes even turned against each other. In another chapter, I explore the dynamics of “heavy ties” in the workplace, where people engage in significant emotional and relational labor to protect their reputations and potential future work opportunities.
If we’ve talked in recent years, chances are you’ve heard me mention this book. To write it, my partner (Noah), my dog (Sam), and I moved to NYC, where I embedded myself in four different workplaces: a restaurant, a marketing firm, a tech startup, and the ride-hail circuit (Uber and Lyft drivers). Over the course of a year and a half, I spent over 1,200 hours in these sites and interviewed a total of 122 managers and workers. I’m deeply grateful to the people who participated in this research, and I hope their stories resonate with others who may be feeling the strains of workplace trust but lack a vocabulary for talking about it.
This book is for workers everywhere who need recognition, validation, and a language to push back. It’s also for employers and managers—and those who advise them—who want to create healthier workplace cultures. And for advocates and academics, I hope it bridges lived experience and structural critique, offering both theoretical depth and practical resonance.
Thanks for being here—and if you’re excited, please consider pre-ordering your copy today!
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