Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Careers aren’t really ladders, they’re more like messy scribbles with occasional moments of clarity. I’ve spent decades watching talented people waste years chasing what they thought they should want rather than what actually suited them.
The posts in this section reflect what I wish someone had told me thirty years ago: that the most successful careers are built on knowing your strengths, acknowledging your limitations and having the courage to navigate workplace politics without becoming what you despise.
Whether you’re just starting out or questioning decades of choices, you’ll find honest reflections on creating a career that works for you rather than burning yourself out for an organisation that sees you as replaceable.
Examining UK government digital inclusion challenges through GOV.UK One Login and Assist AI. How these initiatives address barriers for vulnerable users and what we can learn from international alternatives.
Explore the ethical complexities of AI grief support tools from a trauma-informed design perspective. Learn why technology might bridge gaps in care while recognising the irreplaceable value of human connection in healing from loss.
If you’re in a UK executive support role that expects strategic work but doesn’t recognise it, it’s time to start changing the conversation.
AI is just the latest major transformation in the workplace. But AI doesn’t define user needs – people do.
Discover Rembrandt Editor, an innovative tool for creating trauma-informed content that goes beyond basic accessibility. Learn how this free AI assistant helps content designers identify potentially harmful language patterns to create safer digital experiences for vulnerable users.
Discover how trauma-informed communication in rejection emails can protect candidates’ mental health while acknowledging the realities of modern hiring processes in today’s challenging job market.
Learn how to protect your career and mental health after a failed project. Discover practical strategies from a highly experienced professional who’s survived major project failures while maintaining professional reputation and wellbeing.
The Public Design Evidence Review sets out to define the future of design in public services, but leaves out the emotional and psychological realities of its users. In a post-lockdown world where cognitive overload is rising and trust is falling, trauma-informed design isn’t a luxury. It’s a baseline.
The denial among professional writers about AI’s impact on their livelihoods has become painful to watch. I’ve spent months researching AI and professional writing jobs. Here’s the hard truth about how irreplaceable most writing jobs are.
AI hasn’t created new forms of contractor mistreatment; it’s simply intensified existing patterns. Discover how the excuses change but the bullying stays the same, and learn practical strategies to maintain your professional dignity in the AI era.