WTF is Business Casual

Rise Human Resources
  • 4.7 (15)
  • MANAGEMENT

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

  1. OCT 8

    Gen Z at Work: Lazy, Loud, or the Wake-Up Call Corporate Needed?

    Send us a text Gen Z has officially entered the chat and corporate America isn’t ready. Jenny and Sarah rip into the chaos (and low-key brilliance) of the newest generation in the workplace. Are they entitled job hoppers with no soft skills… or the only ones brave enough to call BS on burnout culture?  Spoiler: it’s complicated — and very, very human. They unpack everything from Gen Z’s allergy to fake leadership to why they’ll quit faster than you can say “circle back.” Plus, the hosts drag every generation (including their own) through the mud for good measure. You’ll get: The truth about Gen Z’s “bad attitude” and why it’s actually a boundaryHow pandemic schooling and parenting styles rewired workplace expectationsReal talk on feedback, flexibility, and why managers need to grow up tooThe tension between “just do your job” and “I need meaning in my job”A mirror moment for HR pros who keep trying to lead with policies instead of peopleBecause every generation swears the next one’s the problem, but maybe Gen Z’s just the first one bold enough to say the quiet part out loud. Hit play. Laugh a little, cringe a lot, and maybe rethink how you talk about “kids these days.”

    1h 1m

  2. SEP 24

    The Detachment Paradox: Why HR Bias Punishes Employees Who Unplug

    Send us a text Employers love to say they support work-life balance and encourage you to take your PTO. But here’s the workplace reality: when employees actually unplug, they’re often seen as less committed, and less promotable. Welcome to the detachment paradox. In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah unpack the HR bias that rewards “always on” employees and punishes those who set healthy boundaries. It’s the messed-up cycle that fuels employee burnout, slows career growth, and leaves leaders scratching their heads about why people keep quitting. Drawing from corporate HR experience, research from Harvard Business Review, and their own stories, the hosts get candid about how organizations really evaluate “commitment” at work—and why leaders need to rethink what performance looks like. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why workplace detachment (logging off, PTO, boundaries) helps performance but hurts promotionsHow unconscious HR bias still favors visibility and “green dot” culture over resultsReal stories of burnout, PTO guilt, and leaders who say “set boundaries” but expect 24/7 availabilityThe generational clash over hustle culture, career growth, and work-life expectationsWhat France’s “Right to Disconnect” law shows us about protecting employee wellbeingHow commitment bias skews performance reviews and promotability decisionsJenny and Sarah also get personal about their different leadership styles. One is wired to respond immediately, the other is comfortable letting things wait, and how those differences play out when managing clients, careers, and sanity. If you’ve ever been penalized for taking a vacation, wondered why promotions go to the loudest hustlers, or debated whether “healthy boundaries” and “career growth” can actually co-exist in today’s workplace, this episode is for you. We want your take. Have you seen the detachment paradox play out in your own company? Or caught yourself judging employees (or yourself) for unplugging? Share your story with us on Instagram @wtfisbusinesscasual.

    38 min

  3. SEP 10

    WTF Meetings: Why Your Workplace Productivity Is Dying in Conference Rooms

    Send us a text Jenny and Sarah rip into the black hole of modern work life: meetings. Endless updates, back-to-back Zooms, and “quick syncs” that somehow eat your entire day. It’s no wonder productivity is tanking. They break down: Why update meetings are the real productivity killersThe hidden cost of meetings when you factor in salaries (spoiler: it’s a lot)How stripping recurring meetings off the calendar could actually fix workplace cultureWith plenty of side-eye for the corporate “I’ll give you three minutes back” lie, Jenny and Sarah also share horror stories of leaders who confused talking with working. If your team’s working nights and weekends because their days are filled with meetings, you’re not leading, you’re clogging the damn pipes. And if your meeting could’ve been an email, it probably should’ve been. Highlights: [01:57] The one-hour meeting that inspired this rant [04:39] What if meetings had a running cost ticker? [09:45] Dropbox’s 3D model for meetings (debate, discuss, decide—or don’t meet) [13:49] The “no update meetings” rule every workplace needs [17:27] A company that wiped all meetings—and only brought back what mattered [23:34] Why recurring meetings are the productivity death spiral [30:36] Your end-of-year challenge: cancel everything and start fresh 🎧 Hit play, because your workplace culture isn’t broken, it’s just buried under bad meetings.

    33 min

  4. AUG 13

    Leadership Boundaries: Non-Negotiables That Keep Teams Sane

    Send us a text Jenny and Sarah lay down the leadership boundaries that keep their teams sane, their workdays functional, and their patience intact. From bosses who brag about “open door” policies but vanish when the tough stuff hits, to leaders who think skipping lunch is a sign of commitment (spoiler: it’s not), they’re calling out the habits that quietly wreck morale, and the ones that actually build trust. You’ll get: Boundaries that protect your time and your credibilityHow follow-through turns you from “just a manager” into a trusted leaderHR horror stories about leaders who couldn’t manage a coffee order, let alone a teamRespecting your boundaries is the first step to getting anyone else to respect them too. Highlights: [00:02] “Non-negotiables” without the corporate handbook jargon [08:15] When “availability” turns into a 24/7 leash [19:45] The follow-up that shifted team trust overnight [34:20] Why skipping lunch is a terrible leadership flex [47:10] Red flags that scream “don’t follow this person” What’s your leadership non-negotiable? DM us @‌WTFisBusinessCasual or send a voice note, we might share it in a future episode.

    35 min

  5. JUL 30

    Brains That Work Differently: Why Your Team Needs Both

    Send us a text Jenny and Sarah get real (and a little vulnerable) about what it actually looks like to build something together when your brains couldn’t be wired more differently. From inner monologues that never shut up to brains that see zero pictures when they read (yes, it’s a thing), they unpack how wildly different mental wiring shows up at work, in friendships, and in every tense “are you mad at me?” conversation they’ve ever had. They talk through: Why friction between “big‑picture idea people” and “process‑first planners” isn’t a flaw, it’s the secret sauceHow knowing each other’s operating systems changed the way they brainstorm, decide, and stay (mostly) saneWhy psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword, and why your team won’t share their best ideas without itAnd yes, there’s laughter, a few cold‑plunge confessions, and plenty of “holy crap, you see it THAT way?” moments. Great teams aren’t made of clones. They’re built on trust, tension, and a lot of honest conversations. Highlights: [00:02] Inner dialogue, color‑coded days, and the shock of finding out not everyone pictures an apple in their head [25:10] Why Jenny blurts ideas like fireworks and Sarah needs two hours (and a spreadsheet) to process them [39:45] That time Sarah felt squashed and Jenny felt shut down and why naming it mattered [52:00] Quick starts vs. deep thinkers and why teams need both [1:04:20] What Clifton Strengths taught them about each other (and why “restorative” isn’t just being negative) [1:15:00] Cold plunges, last‑minute chaos, and how showing up late can still get the job done Tell us: Are you the big‑idea quick‑start or the thoughtful process‑first type? DM us! We love seeing how real teams actually work. Hit play! Because it turns out, opposites don’t just attract… they build some pretty badass businesses too.

    1h 2m

  6. JUL 16

    Rest, Recovery, Repeat: What Work Can Learn from Marathon Training

    Send us a text Jenny and Sarah get real about how the pressure to always exceed expectations at work is quietly fueling burnout, quiet quitting, and toxic workplace culture. They swap HR stories (some hilarious, some horrifying) about leaders who demand 24/7 peak performance, and the human cost that follows. It’s messy, honest, and painfully relatable for anyone who’s ever felt PTO guilt or caught themselves trying to be “on” all the damn time. Inside, they break down: A reality check on why “exceeds expectations” has replaced “meets” as the new normal, and why that’s a problemWhat marathon training can teach us about peak performance, recovery, and sustainable success at workTips for actually taking PTO without guilt (and why your boss emailing on vacation screws everyone)This one’s for you if: You’re burned out from always overperformingYou feel guilty about using your PTO (stop that)You lead a team and secretly worry they’re about to ghost youBecause guess what? Showing up, doing your job, and then going home? That’s actually enough. Highlights: [00:02] School drop-offs, chaotic mornings, and why women’s mornings hit different [12:30] The corporate hamster wheel: no valleys, only endless peaks [25:10] Marathon training as a metaphor for work (and why it matters) [39:45] Why “meets expectations” should actually be the goal [52:00] Leaders, boundaries, and taking real time off (yes, actually unplugging) [1:04:20] Why people quit without another job lined up and why that should scare companies [1:15:00] Sarah’s surprise party, Diet Coke bets, and husbands who think sweaty gym clothes are dinner-ready Tell us your story _We know we’re not the only ones. Tell us your own ‘meets expectations’ moment or the time you realized exceeding expectations was slowly killing your soul. __DM us on Instagram. _We might share it (names changed, obviously). Do this one thing Before you jump back into your inbox, do a quick gut check: Where could you pull back to ‘meets expectations’ this week and still be a damn good employee, friend, or parent? Start there. Small shifts matter. Take the conversation further If this episode hit home, share it with a coworker who’s stuck on the hamster wheel. Or better yet, play it at your next team meeting (we dare you!)and see what comes up.

    58 min

  7. JUL 2

    “Halfway There” Won’t Cut It: HR’s Guide to Performance Management Fails

    Send us a text Jenny and Sarah get into the HR trenches to talk about every people leader’s favorite nightmare: managing performance issues without a single documented conversation, aka zero receipts! From the leader who drops a “we’ve got to let them go” bomb via text, to the one with a novel-length complaint file (and zero follow-up), they break down the real reason performance management so often goes sideways and how to stop making it harder than it needs to be. This isn’t about paperwork for paperwork’s sake. It’s about protecting your team, your company, and your own reputation. Inside the episode: The three manager types that derail performance conversations (Avoider, Documenter, Talker)The low-lift documentation system to track conversations without creating more workHow to actually say the hard thing with clarity and kindnessTips for using AI as your HR sidekick, not a crutchA spicy reminder that facts > feelings (especially in court)Documentation doesn’t have to be scary. But skipping it? That’s what gets you sued. Highlights: [00:02] Oversleeping, storms, Post Malone, and bad kid karma [18:15] “I need to fire her yesterday!”... but no one’s talked to her yet [24:40] Documenters, Avoiders, and Talkers—pick your manager archetype [37:18] The “SBI” method: Situation. Behavior. Impact. (Facts, not feelings.) [45:22] Using AI (yep!) to clarify your language, remove bias, and stay human [58:10] What HR wishes every leader knew and why feedback is a love language [1:05:30] “I hope every time you hear Bon Jovi, you think of performance management.” You're welcome. Pro Tip: If your performance conversations live in your head and not on paper, you’re not leading, you’re guessing. Need help having the hard conversation? Slide into our DMs with your workplace dilemma, we just might unpack it on the show. Resources: SBI Method (Situation – Behavior – Impact): Use this as a framework for informal documentation and feedback conversations.CPR Framework for crucial conversations: Content → Pattern → Relationship – useful for evaluating when a situation moves from a one-off to a larger issue.

    55 min

  8. JUN 18

    Workplace Shenanigans: There’s Cheese in the Ceiling! (and Other HR Violations)

    Send us a text In this episode of WTF is Business Casual?!, Jenny and Sarah go full rogue with a chaotic, hilarious deep dive into the strange world of workplace shenanigans. The pranks that made the office fun… until they didn’t. This episode is a tribute to the coworker chaos that somehow made your 9-to-5 bearable. You’ll hear: 💻 Why “lock your computer” is more than just IT’s favorite slogan🧀 The cheese prank that cleared a whole office🌶️ A popcorn machine saga featuring jalapeño drama and The Corn Stars™🤮 The fake vomit prank so real it almost got Jenny fired (by herself)💬 The signs that say “please stop talking to me,” and why some of us need them dailyBecause in HR, it’s all fun and games… until it’s an incident report. Highlights [00:01] Jenny and Sarah introduce “shenanigans” [05:12] Coffee plug? Yes! But also, lock your damn screens, people. [13:40] IT threats, fake emails, and one panicked new hire [20:55] Pranks that aged poorly (but still kinda funny) [31:22] Jalapeño popcorn: the crime, the all-caps email, the apology from The Corn Stars™ [42:03] Vomit phobia + Oscar-worthy performance = prank perfection [57:44] Spray bottles, whipped cream, and a workplace almost-wet-t-shirt-contest [1:08:30] Sticky notes, ceiling cheese, and the great Babybel Cheese War [1:16:10] Submit your own shenanigans for a future episode! We want your prank stories! DM us on Instagram @‌WTFisBusinessCasual with your favorite office pranks (the wins and the ones that went too far). Bonus points for photos, trauma, or HR investigations. Get yourself some freshly roasted coffee - I finally tried it, and it’s amazing! (tell them we sent you!)

    48 min
See All (14)

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Rise Human Resources
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 WTF is Business Casual
  • Show Website
    WTF is Business Casual

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