Official Rules for The Bad Hire Podcast Story Submission Contest

Sponsor: The Bad Hire Podcast Story Submission Contest (the "Contest") is sponsored by Bchex ("Sponsor" or "Bchex"), with its principal place of business at 9713 Northcross Center Court, Suite 201,  Huntersville North Carolina 28078. The Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by any third-party platforms, including but not limited to LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or any social media sites.

No Purchase Necessary: No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Eligibility: The Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence, whichever is greater, as of the date of entry. Entrants must be employed or have professional experience in human resources (HR), recruiting, talent acquisition, business ownership, or related fields. Employees, officers, directors, agents, and immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, children, and each of their respective spouses) or household members of the Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and any other entities involved in the development, administration, promotion, or implementation of the Contest are not eligible to enter or win. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By entering, entrants represent and warrant that they meet these eligibility requirements and agree to comply with these Official Rules.

Contest Period: The Contest begins on September 1, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on December 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Contest Period"). The Sponsor's computer is the official time-keeping device for the Contest. The Contest coincides with Season [Insert Season Number] of The Bad Hire Podcast, consisting of twenty-four (24) episodes.

How to Enter: To enter, visit the official submission portal at www.thebadhire.com/submit and complete the online submission form during the Contest Period. Each entry must include:

• Your full legal name, professional title, current company (if applicable), LinkedIn profile URL, mobile phone number, office phone number (optional), and email address.

• Your original story submission (the "Entry"), either pasted into the provided text box or attached as a file (acceptable formats: DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT). Stories must be between 800 and 2,000 words.

• Preferences for anonymity on the show (if selected), willingness to appear remotely via video call to read your story, and willingness/ability to travel to Charlotte, NC, at the Sponsor's expense for in-person guest hosting.

Multiple Entries are permitted and encouraged, provided each is unique and complies with these Official Rules. All Entries must be true accounts based on the entrant's personal experiences or knowledge. Entrants may anonymize company names, individuals' names, and their own identity in the story narrative for privacy, but all contact information provided must be accurate and verifiable. Automated, scripted, or third-party Entries are prohibited. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process or violates these Official Rules.

Entry Requirements and Guidelines:

• Content: Entries must focus on real experiences related to bad hires or bad interviews in a professional context. Stories may be clever, funny, hilarious, mind-blowing, sad, or tragic, but must be relevant to HR, recruiting, talent acquisition, or business ownership. Entries should be written in a conversational, podcast-friendly style, with potential for viral social media clips (e.g., key moments of drama, humor, or insight).

• Originality and Truthfulness: All Entries must be original works of the entrant and not previously published, broadcast, or submitted in any other contest. Stories must be factual and verifiable; fictional or exaggerated elements are grounds for disqualification. The Sponsor may require additional documentation or verification at any time.

• Prohibited Content: Entries must not contain defamatory, libelous, obscene, discriminatory, or illegal content; infringe on any third-party rights (including privacy, publicity, or intellectual property); or violate any laws. The Sponsor reserves the right to reject or disqualify any Entry that, in its sole discretion, is inappropriate, offensive, or non-compliant.

• Language: Entries must be in English.

Judging and Winner Selection:

• Selection Process: All eligible Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of the Sponsor's producers, hosts, and industry experts (the "Judges"). Judges will evaluate Entries based on the following criteria, weighted equally: (1) Originality and creativity; (2) Relevance to the podcast theme; (3) Storytelling quality and podcast suitability (e.g., engaging narrative, viral potential); (4) Impact and lessons learned; and (5) Overall entertainment value.

• Featured Stories: Throughout the season, selected Entries may be featured on The Bad Hire Podcast episodes, either narrated by hosts or read by the entrant (remotely or in-person, based on preferences and Sponsor's discretion). Featured entrants may receive invitations to appear on the show.

• Grand Prize Winner: At the end of the 24-episode season (Approximate Date, March 2026]), the Judges will select one (1) Grand Prize Winner from all eligible Entries based on the criteria above. Decisions of the Judges are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.

• Notification: Potential winners will be notified via email and/or phone within ten (10) business days after selection. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to respond within five (5) days, or is found ineligible, an alternate may be selected.

Prizes:

• Grand Prize: One (1) Grand Prize of $10,000 USD, awarded to the entrant with the best story of the season, as determined by the Judges. The prize will be paid via check or electronic transfer within thirty (30) days of winner verification.

• Additional Opportunities: Selected entrants may receive non-monetary recognition, such as podcast features, social media shoutouts, or invitations to guest host (travel expenses covered for in-person appearances, including economy airfare, standard hotel accommodations for up to two (2) nights, and reasonable ground transportation and meals, up to a maximum value of $2,000 USD per trip).

• Taxes and Expenses: Winners are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes on prizes, as well as any other costs not explicitly covered. The Sponsor will report prizes as required by law (e.g., IRS Form 1099 for prizes valued at $600 or more). Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of Grand Prize: $10,000. No prize substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent except at Sponsor's sole discretion.

Rights Grant and Release:

• Ownership Transfer: By submitting an Entry, entrant irrevocably assigns and transfers to the Sponsor all right, title, and interest in and to the Entry, including all copyrights, moral rights, and other intellectual property rights worldwide. The Sponsor shall own the Entry in perpetuity and may use, edit, modify, reproduce, distribute, display, perform, create derivative works from, and otherwise exploit the Entry for any purpose, including but not limited to podcast episodes, social media clips, promotional materials, books, merchandise, or other media, without further compensation, notice, or approval.

• License: If assignment is not enforceable under applicable law, entrant grants the Sponsor an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up license to exercise all rights in the Entry as described above.

• Publicity Release: Entrants grant the Sponsor the right to use their name, likeness, voice, biographical information, and Entry for advertising, publicity, and promotional purposes in any media, without compensation, unless prohibited by law.

• Waiver: Entrants waive any claims against the Sponsor for defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, or similar claims arising from the use of the Entry. Entrants represent and warrant that their Entry does not infringe third-party rights and that they have obtained all necessary permissions.

Verification and Compliance:

• The Sponsor may verify Entries for truthfulness, including contacting references or requiring affidavits. False or misleading information will result in disqualification.

• Entrants agree to comply with all laws, including data privacy regulations (e.g., CCPA, GDPR if applicable). The Sponsor will handle personal information in accordance with its privacy policy.

Limitation of Liability:

• The Sponsor, its affiliates, and agents are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, or misdirected Entries; technical failures; or any injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in the Contest or use of prizes. Entrants release and hold harmless the Sponsor from any claims related to the Contest.

• The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failures, or other factors impair its integrity.

Governing Law and Disputes:

• The Contest is governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Charlotte, NC. Entrants waive any right to class action or jury trial.

Winner List and Rules:

• For a winner list or copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Bchex, Attn: The Bad Hire Contest, . , within sixty (60) days after the Contest ends.

• Questions? Contact submissions@thebadhire.com.

By entering, you agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding.