WTF is Business Casual - Details, episodes & analysis

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WTF is Business Casual

Rise Human Resources

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/16d. Total Eps: 37

Buckle up for real HR stories that'll make you laugh, cringe, and thank your lucky stars you're not that guy.

WTF is Business Casual is the HR podcast where two seasoned consultants—Sarah Bursten and Jenny Lavey, co-founders of RiseHR—dish on wild workplace fails, toxic bosses, employee drama, and leadership gone wrong. With 35+ years of combined experience in HR, leadership development, and people management, they offer surprisingly useful advice wrapped in real talk and hilarious storytelling.

If you’re an HR professional, small business owner, people manager, or just someone who’s survived office politics, this show is for you.

Subscribe to WTF is Business Casual—because work is weird, leadership is messy, and people always be peopling.

Hosted by Sarah Bursten & Jenny Lavey | RiseHR
www.risehumanresources.com

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https://www.risehumanresources.com/
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https://outlook.office.com/book/BooktimewRiseHR@risehumanresources.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true
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https://risehumanresources.com/hr-collective
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https://www.instagram.com/wtfisbusinesscasual
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Score global : 73%

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Better Teams Start with Better Agreements

Season 2 · Episode 18

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 • Duration 26:09

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah dig into a research finding that completely flips the productivity conversation on its head. Turns out, all those individual hacks you've been told to do, checking email twice a day, blocking your calendar, turning off notifications, aren't what makes the highest performing teams tick. What actually works? Deciding together.

They break down why unilateral scheduling decisions create bottlenecks, why return-to-office mandates miss the point entirely, and what leaders should actually be doing before the year ends to set their teams up for a less chaotic 2027. Plus: Jenny talks herself out of ruining a client handbook, Sarah's back from Ireland, and there's a parking lot for ideas that may or may not make any sense when you go back to read them.

Whether you're a team lead, a solo operator figuring out how to work with others, or a business owner who keeps mandating things from the top down and wondering why nothing changes, this one's worth a listen.

Highlights:
[00:00] Cold open: return to office is a thing, not an outcome
[04:21] The research that flipped the productivity conversation
[06:34] Why RTO mandates don't automatically create collaboration
[09:13] When one person leaves, everything gets clearer (and Jenny survived)
[11:38] Structure gives you freedom, not the other way around
[16:35] Stop putting blocks on your calendar alone
[20:32] Year-end calendar audit: kill every recurring meeting
[21:26] Dream, debate, decide, discuss: the meeting filter worth stealing
[22:54] The parking lot method for ideas that can't wait
[23:20] Stop, start, continue as a team

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

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Iced Coffee and Other Interview Crimes

Season 2 · Episode 17

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 40:04

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah dive into the viral debate that took over every HR person's Instagram feed. Is it okay to bring an iced coffee to a job interview? The original TikTok said absolutely not. The internet had other ideas. And Jenny and Sarah? They went through every possible emotion before landing somewhere surprisingly nuanced.

Whether you're a first-time job seeker, a hiring manager, or just someone who's been judged for their Starbucks order, this one's for you.

Honestly it's not about the coffee. It's about whether you give a damn.

Highlights:
[00:00] Cold open: the iced coffee interview debate
[01:49] How the viral TikTok took over HR feeds everywhere
[03:43] Jenny's hot take: depends on the interview, depends on the drink
[05:07] Water bottle vs. frappuccino, and where Sarah draws the line
[09:41] The best take of all: using the coffee as an interview tool
[13:49] The feet-on-the-desk interview that ended itself
[17:21] Show up to the office, especially in your first five years
[21:49] The sister-in-law who gives a shit, and her manager who might be a robot
[25:35] Chelsea's flat tire and the guy who actually stopped
[33:02] The legal side: why you can't just ask everyone different questions
[36:17] The front desk lady who was rating candidates the whole time

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

We're Back (And So Is the Gen Z Conversation)

Season 2 · Episode 16

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 49:26

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah are back on one of their favorite topics — Gen Z in the workplace — and they've got new material. From a Michigan university scrapping letter grades for first-semester freshmen to Oprah's jaw literally hitting the floor when a 23-year-old talks about work-life balance, this one covers a lot of ground.

They dig into why the gap between Gen Z and the workplace feels bigger than ever, who's actually responsible for it, and what leaders and parents can do right now before things get worse. Plus: the Facebook group where college parents are asking other parents to check on their kids.

Whether you're a parent, a people manager, or a Gen Z employee — this one's for you.

You'll leave with:

[00:00] Cold open: the Gen Z gap and why it feels bigger this time
[02:47] Is the gap actually bigger — or just louder?
[09:48] Michigan University ditches letter grades for freshmen
[13:41] Are we kicking the can down the road?
[19:21] Chelsea's late assignment email (Jenny stays quiet — barely)
[23:13] The overly involved college parent Facebook group
[32:07] Oprah vs. the Gen Z work-life balance girl
[40:32] Tactical advice for Gen Z employees
[42:00] What leaders need to stop assuming and start saying

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

Part 2: More Viral Workplace Advice, More Opinions

Season 2 · Episode 15

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 59:28

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah are back for part two of their workplace advice reaction series. They're reviewing trending career takes and giving their real perspectives as corporate insiders.

From a woman who says everything in corporate is made up (she's not wrong) to Dan Martell's fire-or-hire takes that had them equal parts nodding and horrified, there's a lot to unpack.

They get into why feelings are not facts and leaders already know what to do — they just want a different answer. Plus, the PTO clawback situation that has Jenny ready to fight, the great resume debate around job hoppers vs. lifers, and whether quiet people in meetings should be fired. Spoiler: Dan Martell thinks so. Jenny and Sarah do not.

Whether you're a job seeker, a people manager, or just someone who's been denied PTO that was already approved, this one's got something to make everybody feel something.

There's some good stuff out there on the internet. And then there's the rest of it.

Highlights:

[00:00] Cold open: not all workplace advice is good advice

[05:33] Reaction #1: everything in corporate is made up

[12:21] Reaction #2: if you don't say it, you lose the right to be frustrated

[14:13] Reaction #3: therapy truths that belong in every workplace

[19:21] Reaction #4: the three-year employee sweet spot — do we buy it?

[40:14] Reaction #5: the PTO clawback situation from hell

[45:48] Reaction #6: Dan Martell's fire or hire

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

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We React to Viral (& worst) Workplace Videos - Part 1

Season 2 · Episode 14

Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 44:38

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah are doing something a little different. Reacting in real time to the viral workplace advice flooding your social media feeds. From the Dan Martells and Gary Vs of the world to random HR "professionals" who've been fired multiple times and somehow think that's a flex, Jenny and Sarah are calling it all out.

They get into the corporate communication channel chaos that's quietly destroying everyone's brain, the bereavement leave situation that will make your blood boil, a pay transparency moment that's equal parts inspiring and messy, and an HR person who thinks standing alone is a personality trait.

Highlights:
[00:00] Cold open: 20 communication channels and zero accountability
[05:57] This week's format: reacting to viral workplace advice
[08:22] Reaction #1: corporate communication channel chaos
[11:32] Brain fog, burnout, and why you literally cannot keep up
[15:06] Reaction #2: the HR pro who's been fired a lot (and thinks that's a good thing)
[19:16] Reaction #3: should you try to fix a toxic workplace?
[23:43] Reaction #4: the bereavement leave text thread from hell
[26:42] Reaction #5: the pay gap text exchange and what the manager got legally wrong
[32:55] Reaction #6: should you ask your coworker what they make?
[40:25] Colorado's pay transparency law and how to use job postings to your advantage

Hit play because not all LinkedIn advice is created equal, and somebody had to say it.

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

What is HR? Myths, Mayhem & the Real Cost of Being in HR

Season 2 · Episode 13

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 39:53

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah pull back the curtain on what HR really does, and rip apart every myth that makes them want to flip a table. Spoiler: it's not party planning, it's not firing people for fun, and it is absolutely not easy.

From a termination that had Sarah fearing for her physical safety in a basement, to a manager who sent Jenny in to handle a potentially violent situation and then got mad at her for not doing it fast enough — this one gets real about the mental, emotional, and sometimes physical toll of being an HR professional that nobody talks about.

Whether you work in HR, manage a team, or have ever said the words "HR told me to do it," you'll leave with:

✅ What HR is actually there to do and why good HR is proactive, not reactive
💡 Why "HR keeps things fair by treating everyone the same" is a myth that drives them insane
😂 The apple story that perfectly explains why equal treatment and equitable treatment are not the same thing
✅ Why the second you say "HR made me do it," you've torched your own credibility as a leader

Highlights:
[00:00] Cold open: HR protects everyone
[06:26] Topic: HR myths vs. reality
[08:26] The real mental toll of terminations
[12:09] The violent termination situation (and the Stanley cup backup plan)
[15:25] Myth: HR just protects the company
[23:56] Myth: HR treats everyone the same
[28:30] Myth: HR handles performance issues
[33:05] Myth: HR is reactive

PS: HR knows more about you than you think, says less than you'd ever imagine, and is fighting for you behind the scenes in ways you'll probably never know.

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call:

"Soft Skills" is a Terrible Name for the Most Important Skills You Have

Season 2 · Episode 12

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 44:16

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah get real about why "soft skills" is a garbage term for the most critical thing missing from your workforce right now. Armed with a Harvard Business Review study of 70 million job transitions, they make the case that collaboration, communication, and problem-solving aren't the floor. They're the ceiling raiser.

And yet companies keep hiring, promoting, and paying for the wrong thing.

Whether you're a small business owner, a people manager, or just someone who's been on hold with a chatbot for forty-five minutes, you'll leave with:

✅ Why technical skills have a half-life of under two years, and what actually holds its value
💡 The real reason managers keep getting promoted into roles they can't handle
😂 A Wendy's AI drive-through that has customers ready to commit crimes
✅ One practical thing you can do this week to start building human skills in your organization

Highlights:

[00:00] Cold open: foundational skills beat specialists long-term
[01:02] "Soft skills" is a bad name. Let's call them human skills
[03:24] The HBR study: 70M job transitions, one big finding
[04:51] Technical skill alone destroys culture
[05:19] Internships vs. real-world people skills
[10:23] The half-life of technical skills is shrinking fast
[12:20] AI does the technical stuff — then what?
[13:19] What happens when a manager reads an AI script to an employee
[16:09] Why organizations invest in the wrong training
[18:46] Promoted for technical skills, unequipped to lead
[19:11] Gen Z, COVID, and why we're failing them
[23:51] Job postings: collaboration language up, supervision language down
[26:40] Why Jenny and Sarah's first product flopped (and why that matters)
[27:09] The coffee shop owner who threw her barista under the bus [31:45] Engineering humans out of human resources [32:14] The Airbnb nightmare — no human, no resolution [38:45] Wendy's AI drive-through and the rage it's about to unleash [41:03] Tactical takeaway: pick one human skill and define it

WTF are Peanut Butter Raises?! Why Pay-for-Performance Keeps Getting Smeared

Season 2 · Episode 11

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 38:20

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In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah talk about the "peanut butter raise" debate that's been making the rounds in HR circles. A recent industry article predicts companies are about to ditch across-the-board raises in favor of rewarding top performers only, and Jenny and Sarah have some thoughts.

Spoiler: they don't think it's actually going to happen, and they've got a decade of compensation-cycle scar tissue to back it up.

From an executive team that wants to reward top performers but won't hold itself to the same standard, to the very real reason most managers would rather give everyone the same 3% than have an honest conversation about why someone didn't earn more — this one digs into why pay-for-performance sounds great in theory and falls apart the second a human has to deliver the message.

Oh, and there's also a foster dog, a pee-soaked shoe that's been migrating around someone's house for weeks, and a jewelry box that may or may not have met its end in the trash. Priorities.

Whether you're an HR pro, a manager who dreads comp season, or just someone who's ever gotten the exact same raise as the guy who does the bare minimum, you'll leave with:

Highlights:
[00:00] AI cold open
[02:16] Foster dog & pee-shoe saga
[07:22] Jewelry box mishap
[09:16] Topic: peanut butter raises
[11:08] The stats
[12:01] Why companies are pulling back
[13:24] Managers avoid pay talks
[16:39] Sponsor: HR Collective
[18:06] Exec accountability gap
[22:55] COL vs. COL vs. merit
[25:50] AI vs. human HR
[33:46] Bias & "top performer"
[36:12] The prediction

🎧 Hit play because nobody's getting a real raise until somebody learns to have an uncomfortable conversation.

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Affordable HR Support for Colorado Small Businesses: The HR Collective

Season 2 · Episode 10

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 44:58

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Most small business owners know they need HR support.

The problem is figuring out what level of support they actually need.

In this episode, Jenny and Sarah pull back the curtain on RiseHR's HR Collective and explain why they created it, who it's designed for, and how it helps Colorado small business owners get expert HR guidance without paying for a full-time HR professional.

They discuss the most common HR mistakes they see, why Colorado employment law is especially complex, and how small businesses can avoid costly compliance issues before they become expensive problems.

If you've ever wondered whether your business really needs HR support, this episode is for you.

Common HR Mistakes Discussed

Misclassifying employees as salaried when they should be hourly
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors
Incorrect PTO policies
Non-compliant sick leave practices
Mishandling final pay requirements after termination
Lack of documentation and recordkeeping
Poorly written employee handbooks
Relying on generic internet advice for Colorado-specific issues

Who The HR Collective Is For

The HR Collective is designed for:

Colorado-based small businesses
Employers with approximately 1–20 employees
Business owners who want expert guidance without hiring full-time HR
Companies looking for practical HR resources and compliance support
Leaders who genuinely care about their people and culture

Resources Mentioned

When Employees Start Making the Rules: How Leaders Should Respond

Season 2 · Episode 9

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • Duration 44:37

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What happens when employees stop asking and start telling?

In this episode, Jenny and Sarah unpack a growing workplace trend they have been seeing with small business owners: employees announcing schedule changes, cutting their hours, demanding remote work, and assuming the answer will be yes.

The bigger issue is not employee boldness. It is leadership hesitation.

They dig into why so many leaders struggle to respond in the moment, how unclear expectations create bigger problems later, and why avoiding uncomfortable conversations often creates legal risk, resentment, and confusion across the team.

This conversation covers the real difference between being flexible and being run over.

In this episode, they cover:

Why employees are increasingly telling leaders what they will do instead of asking
The difference between a reasonable request and an unreasonable demand
Why small business owners often struggle more with boundaries than corporate leaders
How unclear expectations create confusion, inconsistency, and frustration
Why avoiding hard conversations almost always makes the problem worse
How to think through requests for schedule changes, reduced hours, and remote work
What leaders should do before saying yes to a request tied to stress, family needs, or medical concerns
Why documentation matters more than most leaders realize
The role of boundaries, accountability, and clear communication in healthy workplaces

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

WTF is Business Casual - Details, episodes & analysis

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