Forced Cruises and...Only Four Parachutes!?

Forced Cruises and...Only Four Parachutes!?

From Drinks After Work with Shannon and Deb by Shannon Tipton

May 20, 2026 · 26 min · Episode 25

About this episode

Shannon and Deborah discuss the concept of 'soft off days' and the implications of remote work on employee rights and corporate practices.

Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work! This time, we're talking all about: Soft off days — the new way employees are reclaiming their time Why working from home means walking the dog at 2 PM is fair game The corporate hypocrisy of "time theft" How layoffs and exploitation have groomed this kind of employee The trade-off between loyalty, pay equity, and flexibility Tipsy tips for working remotely from places you "shouldn't" be In this episode, Shannon and Deborah dig into the Fast Company article about "soft off days" — when remote workers take an hour or two for themselves without telling anyone. Whether it's a yoga class, a load of laundry, or walking the dog, employees are quietly reclaiming time that companies have been quietly stealing for years. Shannon, surprisingly, is fully on board. Deborah plays devil's advocate with the payroll tax and legal implications, but they both land in the same place: companies have groomed this kind of employee by underpaying, overworking, and revoking the flexibility they promised. So if you're gonna work from Paris, just remember — don't change the time on your computer, get a VPN, and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Shannon, Deborah

Topics covered

  • soft off days
  • remote work
  • employee rights
  • corporate hypocrisy
  • work-life balance
  • flexibility
  • time theft

Keywords

  • soft off days
  • remote work
  • employee rights
  • corporate hypocrisy
  • time theft
  • work-life balance
  • flexibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fast Company

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