Are corporate culture programs truly about improving the workplace, or are they a strategic MANIPULATION to make employees work harder for the benefit of executives? In this episode of the Work Trauma Podcast, we expose the hidden truths behind leadership gurus, engagement programs, and corporate culture initiatives that claim to ”empower” employees—but often serve as a smoke screen for executive self-preservation. Host Michael Denisoff dives into: • The guru industrial complex and why some leadership experts are frauds • Why corporate culture programs often distract from real workplace issues • How companies weaponize employee engagement to extract more work • The social contract of employment—what companies owe workers vs. reality • Why you don’t owe loyalty to a company that wouldn’t hesitate to fire you