Just apologise with Jo Tarnawsky

Sometimes the harm isn’t the original issue - it’s what happens after someone speaks up.Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Jo Tarnawsky about workplace harm, organisational justice and the power of a genuine apology.Jo Tarnawsky is a former diplomat, senior executive to the Governor-General and former Chief of Staff to Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister. Across a 25-year career in government, Jo worked at the highest levels of leadership and decision-making, witnessing firsthand how power, silence and workplace culture shape people’s experiences at work.In this deeply personal conversation, Jo shares her own experience of raising concerns about workplace behaviour in Parliament House, the fallout that followed and why the organisational response caused more harm than the original issue. Together, Nicole and Jo discuss why organisations often move into protection mode when concerns are raised, how poor organisational justice escalates harm and why a simple apology can make a powerful difference.They also unpack what leaders, HR teams and organisations can do differently to respond with empathy, fairness and humanity before issues turn into long and damaging battles.In this episode, we cover:💠Why organisational responses can create a “second injury”💠The role of apology, dignity and acknowledgement in workplace conflict💠How fear and reputation management drive poor workplace responses💠What leaders can do to create safer, more trauma-informed workplacesYou can subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and share this episode with someone who’s navigating workplace conflict, leading teams or trying to create a safer workplace culture.Connect with Jo:Instagram LinkedInSubstackWebsite