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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.

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

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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.

• 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

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

• RiseHR Collective:
• Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA):
• Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI):
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):
• Employee Handbook Templates (available to HR Collective members)
• HR Compliance Resources and Training Library (available to HR Collective members)

Visit our website: RISE Human Resources

Book a call: 30 Min HR Consultation

Follow us on Instagram: WTF is Business Casual

Send us Fan Mail

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

Follow us on Instagram: WTF is Business Casual