Don't Waste the Chaos

Kerri M. Roberts
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Don't Waste the Chaos is a weekly podcast for small business owners and HR professionals who want practical, no-nonsense people strategy. Host Kerri M. Roberts is an HR strategist, consultant, and founder of Salt & Light Advisors with 20+ years of experience turning reactive HR into proactive systems. Each Tuesday, she breaks down hiring, onboarding, compliance, culture, and leadership - the kind of strategy that typically costs thousands in consulting, delivered in under 40 minutes. If you're managing people and want to do it better, this show is for you. New episode every Tuesday. Learn more about the show and Kerri at www.kerrimroberts.com. 

  1. 5d ago

    How to Handle Employee Leave Without Getting Sued (FMLA, ADA & Bereavement Explained) | HR Systems Series Ep. 6

    One employee asks for time off and you say yes. Another asks three weeks later and you say no. Neither of you realizes you just created a discrimination claim. In Part 6 of the HR Foundations series, Kerri breaks down leave management — the operational area where she sees the most lawsuits. Leave management isn't the flashiest HR topic, but it's where Kerri sees the most lawsuits land on small and mid-sized businesses — and almost always unintentionally. In this episode, she walks through everything an owner, operator, or manager needs to know to handle leave without creating legal exposure: What you'll learn: The federal and state leave laws that apply to your business — and the threshold calculations small employers get wrongFMLA basics: who qualifies, what it actually covers, and the three most common mistakes Kerri sees in the fieldWhy she recommends one leave bank instead of two (and what happens to honesty when you split them)How the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and ADA quietly apply at just 15 employeesIntermittent FMLA — the hardest leave to track and the easiest to mess upWhy inconsistent leave decisions are the fastest path to a discrimination claim, even when you mean wellThe interactive process under ADA, explained without the legal jargonWhat to document for every leave event (and why benefits records stay separate from performance files)The bereavement policy fix you can put in place this weekYour one action this week: Look at your bereavement policy. How many days? For which relationships? Who approves it? If you can't answer consistently, that's your first leave policy to write. This is Part 6 of the 13-part HR Foundations series. If you're just joining, go back to Part 1 — Kerri's building your HR foundation episode by episode. Key topics FMLA, ADA, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, USERRA, jury duty leave, voting leave, sick leave laws, PTO policy, bereavement, intermittent leave, reasonable accommodations, retaliation claims, discrimination claims, leave documentation, manager accountability Resources mentioned Book: The HR Easy Button by Kerri Roberts — available on AmazonCourse: HR Foundations — saltandlightadvisors.com/hr-foundationsFree Mini HR Audit:saltandlightadvisors.com/hr-auditWork with Kerri:saltandlightadvisors.com/contactComing up next Part 7 — Performance & Feedback: Setting expectations, giving real feedback, and handling underperformance before it becomes a termination. Connect with Kerri Website: https://saltandlightadvisors.comBook a call: https://saltandlightadvisors.com/contactDon't forget to subscribe wherever you listen — Apple, Spotify, or YouTube — and share this episode with a peer or office manager who's helping run HR at a small business.Support the show

    42 min

  2. Jun 2

    Salary Doesn't Mean Exempt: Employee Classification & Pay Equity for Small Business | HR Systems Series Ep. 5

    Are your salaried employees actually classified correctly under federal law — or are you sitting on overtime liability without knowing it? Most small business owners don't realize there's a three-part exemption test under the Fair Labor Standards Act that every salaried role has to pass. In Episode 5 of the 13 HR Foundations series, Kerri Roberts walks through classification, pay equity, and how to build a compensation structure that holds up in an audit.  In this episode, you'll learn:  1. The three-part FLSA exemption test every salaried employee has to pass (and why "salaried" alone doesn't make someone exempt)  2. The four most common classification mistakes Kerri sees in HR audits — and how to spot them in your own business  3. Why pay equity is NOT the same conversation as DEI, and what the Equal Pay Act and Title VII actually require  4. How to build a real compensation structure with three components: benchmark, range, and philosophy  5. The three audit questions to ask about every employee on your team this week  CHAPTERS:  00:00 Why I've never seen a company get this right  02:24 Where you are in the 13 HR Foundations series  04:46 Most owners don't realize they have classifications  06:55 The 3-part FLSA exemption test  09:15 Common classification mistakes I see in audits  12:36 What pay equity actually is (and isn't)  17:18 Equal Pay Act, Title VII, and pattern risk  21:54 Building a comp structure: benchmark, range, philosophy  25:21 The arbitrary raise problem  27:43 What to say when an employee asks for more money  32:26 3 audit questions for every employee on your team  34:50 How to get help  Not sure where your classification or comp gaps are? Take the free HR Audit and see exactly where you stand in 5 minutes: saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit  ———  Resources to keep building:  🎯 Take the free HR Audit — Score your HR systems in 5 minutes and see exactly where your gaps are.  👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit  🎙️ Listen to Don't Waste the Chaos — The podcast for small business owners building strong people operations.  👉 kerrimroberts.com/podcast  📖 Get The HR Easy Button — Kerri's book on building HR systems that actually work for small businesses.  👉 https://amzn.to/4cPyrFh  ✉️ Subscribe to the newsletter — Weekly HR insights for founders, in your inbox every Monday.  👉 saltandlight.myflodesk.com/saltandlightadvisors  ———  Resources mentioned in this episode:  - HR Foundations online course → saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundations  - The HR Easy Button (Book One) → https://amzn.to/4cPyrFh  - Department of Labor / FLSA exemption tests → dol.gov  Need fractional HR support or want to talk through a specific challenge?  👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/contact  Full show notes + transcript:  👉 https://kerrimroberts.com/dontwastethechaos/episode-5-salary-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-means Support the show

    39 min

  3. May 26

    Employee Handbooks & HR Policies — The Rules of the House | HR Systems Series Ep. 4

    Most small and mid-sized businesses don't have an employee handbook problem - they have a "we don't have a policy for that" problem. Scattered Google Drive docs, a handbook from 2017, three managers making three different calls on the same issue. That's how inconsistency claims and wrongful termination exposure start. In Episode 4 of the HR Foundations series, Kerri Roberts unpacks why an employee handbook isn't a bureaucratic binder - it's a communication tool with legal weight that protects the employer and the employee. In this episode, you'll learn: The 5 required HR policies every small business needs in writing (anti-harassment, at-will, EEO, pay practices, leave) The 5 strongly recommended policies that come next (code of conduct, attendance, performance & discipline, confidentiality, drug & alcohol) The 8-section handbook structure your team will actually read Why electronic acknowledgment in your HRIS/payroll system is the only acknowledgment that holds up How a real client's $5,000 relocation reimbursement gap almost soured a new hire — and the policy template that fixes it  Chapters:  00:00 "We don't have a policy for that"  02:20 HR Foundations: where this episode fits  04:30 What happens when there's no handbook  06:00 The 5 required HR policies  11:30 The 5 strongly recommended policies  16:00 Recommended handbook structure  19:00 Acknowledgment, annual review, and the legal weight of a handbook  23:00 Using AI to draft policies in your voice  25:30 Operate the way your handbook reads  27:30 Real client example: the relocation reimbursement gap  29:30 What's next: Episode 5 on compensation & classification Not sure where your HR compliance gaps are? Take the free HR Audit and see exactly where your foundational policies stand in 5 minutes: saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit  Resources:  🎯 Take the free HR Audit — Score your HR systems in 5 minutes and see exactly where your gaps are. 👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit  🎙️ Listen to Don't Waste the Chaos - The podcast for small business owners building strong people operations. 👉 kerrimroberts.com/podcast  📖 Get The HR Easy Button - Kerri's book on building HR systems that actually work for small businesses. 👉 amzn.to/4cPyrFh  ✉️ Subscribe to the newsletter - Weekly HR insights for founders, in your inbox every Monday.  👉 saltandlight.myflodesk.com/saltandlightadvisors  Need fractional HR support or want to talk through a specific challenge? 👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/contact  Ready to build foundational HR systems on your own? 👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundations  Full show notes + transcript: kerrimroberts.com/dontwastethechaos Support the show

    35 min

  4. May 19

    Onboarding Isn't Paperwork: The 30/60/90 Plan That Actually Works | HR Systems Series Ep. 3

    A bad hire costs about 50% of their annual salary in year one - and most of that cost doesn't come from a bad hiring decision. It comes from failed onboarding. If your onboarding looks like paperwork, a quick tour, and "let me know if you have questions," you've handed your new hire abandonment with a welcome sign. In Episode 3 of the HR Systems Series, Kerri Roberts breaks down the 30/60/90 day onboarding plan that actually works - the same system she builds with her small and mid-sized business clients to retain top talent, set clear expectations, and stop the "people problems" cycle before it starts.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why most "first 90 day" turnover isn't about the job - it's about the experience starting the jobThe pre-boarding window most companies completely waste (and what to send instead)How to structure days 1–30 so new hires feel like they made the right decisionWhat real check-ins look like at days 30 and 60 (hint: not a hallway chat)The one question every manager needs to ask before the 90-day reviewThe five-piece system you can build in about an hourHiring is the front door. Onboarding is whether the house is ready when they walk in. Let's build the system. Resources & Links Mentioned The HR Easy Button (book): saltandlightadvisors.com/thehreasybuttonHR Foundations (course): saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundationsFree resources & freebies: saltandlightadvisors.com/freebiesWork with Kerri / contact: saltandlightadvisors.com/contactEpisode 1 — Employer Responsibility & the HR MindsetEpisode 2 — Hiring: The 5-Component SystemComing next week — Episode 4: HR Law & ComplianceConnect with Kerri Website: saltandlightadvisors.comPersonal site: kerrimroberts.comNew episodes drop every TuesdaySupport the show

    33 min

  5. May 12

    How to Build a Hiring Process for Your Small Business (5 Components That Actually Work) | HR Systems Series Ep. 2

    Think back to the last person who didn't work out in your business. Was it a people problem - or a process problem? Nine times out of ten, it's the process.   In this episode, Kerri Roberts walks through the 5 components of a real small business hiring system - so you can stop winging it and start building a process that protects your business and brings in the right people. [This is Episode 2 of the 13 HR Systems Series.]   FREE RESOURCES Mini HR Audit (free) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit HR Foundations Course (under $400) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundations The HR Easy Button (book) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/thehreasybuttton   What you'll learn in this episode:  → Why most small business hiring is a reaction, not a process — and what that costs you  → The 5 most common hiring mistakes (and how to stop making them)  → Component 1: How to write a job description that works as an interview rubric, onboarding guide, AND performance baseline  → Component 2: Why "post and hope" isn't a sourcing strategy →  Component 3: Why your most charming candidate isn't always your best hire — and how structured interview questions fix this →  Component 4: What you legally cannot ask in an interview (ever — not even as small talk)  → Component 5: How to score candidates so gut bias stays out of your hiring decisions  → The pre-boarding window: what to do between offer accepted and day one  → I-9 verification: the legal requirement most small businesses get wrong  → What a hiring system actually looks like for a business that only hires 1–2 people a year   YOUR ONE ACTION FROM TODAY: Pull up whatever you're currently using as your interview questions. If you don't have any written down, open a doc right now and write 10. Same questions, every candidate, every time. That's where the system starts.   WORK WITH KERRI  HR Audit + Consulting → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/contact Keynote Speaking Engagements → https://kerrimroberts.com/speaking   ABOUT KERRI ROBERTS Kerri M. Roberts is an HR strategist, consultant, and founder of Salt & Light Advisors with 20+ years of experience helping small and midsize businesses build the HR systems that protect their business and empower their people. She is the author of The HR Easy Button and host of Don't Waste the Chaos, releasing every Tuesday. Support the show

    40 min

  6. May 5

    The 13 HR Systems Every Small Business Needs - Start Here | HR Systems Series Ep. 1

    Most small businesses put HR off until later, and then "later" shows up as a lawsuit, a resignation, or a conversation they never saw coming. This episode launches a brand new series: the 13 HR Systems every small business needs. We're going one system at a time, starting where every business should start - with HR mindset and employer responsibility.   If you've been winging HR, this is your map.   FREE DOWNLOAD Employer Responsibility Checklist → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/employerresponsibilitychecklist Mini HR Audit (free) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hraudit   What you'll learn in this episode: → The 4 buckets of HR: Foundation, Operational, Strategic, and Infrastructure → What the 13 HR systems are and why they're built in this order → The 6 employer responsibility categories every business owner needs to know → Why compliance issues show up even when you're trying to do the right thing → What your top performers are watching when you don't address underperformance → How to use AI + this transcript to apply what you learn to your specific business   RESOURCES MENTIONED The HR Easy Button (book) → available on Amazon + saltandlightadvisors.com HR Foundations Course (under $400) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundations Work with Kerri (HR Audit + Consulting) → hi@saltandlightadvisors.com Gusto (HRIS for small business) → https://gusto.com/r/kerri2784750b ABOUT KERRI Kerri M. Roberts is an HR strategist, consultant, and founder of Salt & Light Advisors with 20+ years of experience helping small and midsize businesses build the HR systems that protect their business and empower their people. She's the author of The HR Easy Button and host of Don't Waste the Chaos, releasing every Tuesday.   Website: saltandlightadvisors.com Support the show

    32 min

  7. Apr 28

    How to Have a Performance Conversation With an Employee (Step by Step)

    You know the conversation I'm talking about. The employee who's consistently late, creating tension, or putting up bare minimum numbers - and every week you find a reason to put it off one more time. Today that ends.   In this episode, I'm giving you the exact 5-step framework to have the performance conversation you've been avoiding - what to say, how to say it, and how to make sure it actually changes something.   What you'll learn: → Why avoiding it is costing you more than having it (your best employees are watching) → The 5-step performance conversation framework → What to do when it goes sideways - defensiveness, tears, or silence → The one thing you must do after the conversation to protect yourself legally → Why an imperfect conversation had beats a perfect one avoided every time   If you manage people, whether you're a business owner, team lead, or HR professional, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to stop avoiding and start leading.   🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED HR Foundations (self-paced course — frameworks, tools & templates): https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundations Work with Kerri directly: https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/contact Free tools & resources: https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/freebies   📌 IF THIS HELPED YOU Subscribe for a new episode every Tuesday - practical HR and people strategy for small business owners and leaders who want to build strong teams without burning out.   🎙️ ABOUT KERRI M. ROBERTS Kerri is an HR strategist, consultant, author, and founder of Salt & Light Advisors. After 20+ years in corporate HR and operations, she helps business owners fix broken HR systems, build strong teams, and create cultures that retain good people. Support the show

    25 min

  8. Apr 21

    5 Signs Your HR Is Broken (And How to Fix It for Under $400)

    Most business owners don't realize their HR is broken — until someone quits, files a complaint, or a lawsuit lands on their desk. In this episode, Kerri Roberts breaks down the 5 most common signs that your HR foundation is crumbling, why ignoring them can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and how to start fixing it TODAY for less than $400.   From misclassifying employees (yes, it's more common than you think — and yes, the fines are brutal) to skipping onboarding entirely, these are the mistakes small business owners are making every single day that put their company at serious legal and financial risk. If you've ever thought "HR is just paperwork," this episode will change how you think about it forever. HR is risk management — and getting it wrong is expensive.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why 60% of businesses that face an employee-focused lawsuit will never financially recoverThe most expensive HR mistake: employee misclassification (exempt vs. non-exempt)Sign #1: You are the HR department (and that's a problem)Sign #2: No employee handbook — or it's dangerously out of dateSign #3: No performance conversations or process for themSign #4: Your best people are leaving and you don't know whySign #5: You're skipping onboarding entirelyHow to fix all of it for under $400Free resources to start TODAY  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Free HR Audit (10 min): saltandlightadvisors.com/hrauditHR Foundations Course (under $400): saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundationsThe HR Easy Button (book ~$20): saltandlightadvisors.com/thehreasybuttonFree Resources: saltandlightadvisors.com/freebiesConsulting + Speaking: saltandlightadvisors.comNewsletter: saltandlightadvisors.com/contact  Hit SUBSCRIBE — new episodes every Tuesday on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help other business owners find the show! Support the show

    30 min
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Don't Waste the Chaos is a weekly podcast for small business owners and HR professionals who want practical, no-nonsense people strategy. Host Kerri M. Roberts is an HR strategist, consultant, and founder of Salt & Light Advisors with 20+ years of experience turning reactive HR into proactive systems. Each Tuesday, she breaks down hiring, onboarding, compliance, culture, and leadership - the kind of strategy that typically costs thousands in consulting, delivered in under 40 minutes. If you're managing people and want to do it better, this show is for you. New episode every Tuesday. Learn more about the show and Kerri at www.kerrimroberts.com. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kerri M. Roberts
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Don't Waste the Chaos
  • Show Website
    Don't Waste the Chaos