WTF is Business Casual
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
WTF is Business Casual
Leadership Boundaries: Non-Negotiables That Keep Teams Sane
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 credibility
- How follow-through turns you from “just a manager” into a trusted leader
- HR horror stories about leaders who couldn’t manage a coffee order, let alone a team
Respecting 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.
