Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: What 50 Seasons of Survivor Can Still Teach Employers

First off, let me dispense with the elephant in the room — yes, I’ve been watching Survivor for all 50 seasons. Every single one.

From the first grainy images of Richard Hatch scheming on Borneo back in 2000 to tonight’s premiere of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans,” I’ve been there, torch in hand (metaphorically speaking), watching the drama unfold.

Heck, when former contestant Stephen Fishbach came to R.J. Julia earlier this month to promote his new novel, did I make the journey to his book talk and signing? Why, yes I did.

And I know what some of you are thinking: How is that show even still on? But with 24 returning players including legends like Cirie Fields, Jenna Lewis, and Coach, this milestone season promises to be something special.  

But as an employment lawyer who can’t seem to turn off the legal part of my brain, I’ve always found the show to be a surprisingly rich source of workplace lessons.

I’ve written before about what employers can learn from television shows. Back in the day, I explored what “Lost” could teach HR professionals (live together, die alone was a pretty good mantra for teamwork). I’ve extracted lessons from “Ted Lasso” (Be a Goldfish!) and even “Star Trek.” So why not Survivor?

The truth is, Survivor is essentially a workplace reality show. It’s a social experiment where strangers must work together, form alliances, navigate conflicts, manage personalities, and occasionally deal with very real interpersonal misconduct. Sound familiar?

The Season 39 Controversy: A Textbook Case of What Not to Do

Which brings me to a topic I wrote about back in 2019 — Season 39, “Island of the Idols.” For those who don’t remember, this was the season where a contestant named Dan Spilo was accused by multiple female players of inappropriate touching. It was ugly. Really ugly. And it played out in ways that will be familiar to anyone who has ever dealt with workplace harassment complaints.

Here’s what happened: A female player, Kellee Kim, complained to a producer that Dan was a little too “touchy” and made her uncomfortable. There was plenty of video evidence to back her up. The producers gave Dan a “warning” and play continued.

But here’s the thing: Kellee never knew that a warning was issued. And Dan then worked with others to get her voted out of the game immediately after. Sound like a retaliation scenario to you? It should.

I’ll confess that the Season 39 episode left a bad taste in my mouth. The producers seemed to have dropped the ball, and watching it unfold was uncomfortable even for a longtime fan. But it also provided a stark reminder of dynamics that play out in workplaces every day.

Women can be reluctant to speak out about harassment because they fear the impact on their jobs. When they do speak out, they sometimes have their worst fears realized.

Beyond Harassment: Other Survivor Lessons

But there’s more to the story than that. Survivor has taught me other things over the years:

Alliances matter, but they’re not everything. In the workplace, building relationships is crucial. But blind loyalty without considering the bigger picture can backfire spectacularly. Just ask anyone who has hitched their wagon to a supervisor who was eventually shown the door.

Adaptability is key. The players who make it to the end are usually not the strongest or even the smartest — they’re the ones who can pivot when circumstances change. Employers who can’t adapt to new laws, new workplace expectations, or new employee needs will find themselves on the wrong side of a tribal council vote (or, you know, a lawsuit).

Communication prevents problems. How many Survivor blindsides could have been avoided with better communication? Plenty. In the workplace, transparent communication about expectations, policies, and concerns can prevent small issues from becoming major conflicts. And always be mindful of what you don’t know about.

The jury is always watching. In Survivor, the eliminated players ultimately decide who wins. In the workplace, current and former employees talk. Your reputation as an employer is built on how you treat people — especially when things get difficult.

As Season 50 kicks off with its supersized three-hour premiere and a cast of legends, I’ll be watching.   Partly because I’ve been with this show since the beginning and I can’t quit now. Partly because there’s always something interesting to observe about human behavior under pressure. (Edit: After I wrote this post, there was an additional controversy regarding a contestant’s political views and statements.)

And well, sometimes you just need to turn off the employment lawyer brain for an hour (or three), turn off the news, and enjoy the show. But who am I kidding? I’ll probably still be spotting the workplace issues.

The tribe has spoken.