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
Please Stop Hugging Me (and Other Workplace Crimes)
Welcome back to WTF is Business Casual, where HR consultants Jenny Levy and Sarah Bursten roast, rant, and reality-check the weird stuff that somehow passes for “normal” in the workplace.
This week we’re calling out all the things people still think are fine at work, but absolutely aren’t.
From awkward hugs to speakerphone oversharers, cubicles that look like dorm rooms, and the office “Happy Birthday” song no one actually enjoys, Jenny and Sarah break down what’s WTF-acceptable and what’ll get you side-eyed by HR.
WTF Moments & Hot Takes:
- Hugging at work. Friendly or lawsuit waiting to happen? (Hint: keep your hands to yourself.)
- Cubicle clutter. Your desk isn’t a daycare or a personal museum.
- Being BFFs with your boss. How “we’re just friends” turns into “why did HR call me in?”
- Reply All crimes. Stop hitting that button, Sally. Just. Stop.
- Forced birthday singing. Why workplace celebrations feel more like hostage situations.
- Speakerphone culture. If we can hear your conversation, it’s already gone too far.
- The unspoken workplace rules. The stuff you’ll never find in an employee handbook (but should).
Jenny and Sarah also unpack how corporate culture has shifted from “we dealt with it” to “I’m reporting you,” and why that might be both progress and a buzzkill.
Because let’s be honest. We can’t have nice things anymore.
