How to make your workplace less terrible

Now or Never

The average person will spend more than 90,000 hours at work. That's about one-third of your life.

Depending on how you feel about your job, that time can feel like a dream...or a never-ending nightmare.

So on this episode, Ify and Trevor are on a mission to help make your workplace work for you, starting with a makeover of their own grim office washroom.

Even before the pandemic changed the world and made working from home a norm for many, Shane Solomon spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to keep his staff happy in the office. So his architecture firm in Winnipeg has a wellness director, board games, and protein balls in their well-stocked kitchen, plus regular workout classes for staff. We visit the shoe-less boss to find out how it's working.

Kari Lentowicz left the mining industry years ago, after she says she experienced multiple instances of harassment. But she hasn't stopped the fight to make mining workplaces more inclusive for women, including starting up "Diamonds in the Rough," the world's first all-female team of mine rescuers.

When Vanathy Adipola started her home daycare, she and her family made a lot of sacrifices - including moving into the basement. Now, years later, she's finally moving back upstairs - and into her dream location.

For Iván Ostos, a bike courier in Toronto, there's one way to make his workplace better - unionize it.

Akberali Batada has transformed his Toronto "office" - the back of a city cab - into a party on wheels, complete with disco balls, tambourines and a karaoke machine. We hop a ride in the Cosmic Cab to see how a bit of whimsy is shaking up people's commutes.

Trevor and Ify hit the streets of Winnipeg to find out the workday improvement hacks that get people through their days, from blasting Red Hot Chili Peppers to ranting with co-workers.

At Moody Middle School, vice-principal Kathryn Jung goes out of her way to make her workplace brighter for fellow teachers.

At work, paramedic Mandy Johnston has feared for her safety - but she hasn't always felt comfortable telling her colleagues about the harassment and violence she's experienced. Now, she's on a mission to start that conversation.