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Don't Waste the Chaos

Don't Waste the Chaos

Hosted by Kerri M. Roberts

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Episodes

126

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 16, 202642 min

The 5 Root Causes of Underperformance (And How to Fix Each One) | HR Systems Series Ep. 7

Performance management isn't about reviews — it's about clarity. If your team is confused, resentful, or underperforming, it's an expectations problem, not a motivation problem. Most employees aren't failing to meet the standard; they just don't know what the standard is. In this episode, Kerri walks through:• The three markers every role needs — what good, great, and "not meeting" look like• The four performance tiers and how to build tiered reviews• The 5 root causes of underperformance — skill gap, will gap, capacity overload, misaligned role, personal life interference — and the right fix for each• Three feedback models: SBI, COIN, and Feedforward• A four-part performance rhythm: monthly one-on-ones, quarterly check-ins, biannual reviews, and an annual review tied to compensation• The five-point rating scale, rating biases, and calibration YOUR ACTION ITEM: Pick one person who isn't performing, put a conversation on the calendar this week, and go in curious — diagnose the root cause before you call it discipline. If you've got an underperforming employee on your team right now, take the free HR Audit to see whether your people systems are actually set up to support those conversations. → 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📚 Explore the HR coursework — Self-paced courses, tools, and resources to build your HR systems step by step.👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/resources✉️ Get the Monday Email — One practical idea for leaders, every Monday at 5:28am. 1,000+ leaders, 50%+ open rate.👉 saltandlight.myflodesk.com/saltandlightadvisorsNeed fractional HR support or want to talk through a specific challenge?👉 saltandlightadvisors.com/contact Don't waste the chaos — embrace it.Support the show

June 9, 202642 min

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 topicsFMLA, 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 accountabilityResources mentionedBook: 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 nextPart 7 — Performance & Feedback: Setting expectations, giving real feedback, and handling underperformance before it becomes a termination.Connect with KerriWebsite: 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

June 2, 202638 min

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-meansSupport the show

May 26, 202634 min

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 & classificationNot 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/dontwastethechaosSupport the show

May 19, 202633 min

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 MentionedThe 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 KerriWebsite: saltandlightadvisors.comPersonal site: kerrimroberts.comNew episodes drop every TuesdaySupport the show

May 12, 202640 min

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/hrauditHR Foundations Course (under $400) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundationsThe 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/contactKeynote 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

May 5, 202631 min

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 DOWNLOADEmployer Responsibility Checklist → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/employerresponsibilitychecklistMini 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 MENTIONEDThe HR Easy Button (book) → available on Amazon + saltandlightadvisors.comHR Foundations Course (under $400) → https://saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundationsWork with Kerri (HR Audit + Consulting) → hi@saltandlightadvisors.comGusto (HRIS for small business) → https://gusto.com/r/kerri2784750bABOUT KERRIKerri 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.comSupport the show

April 28, 202624 min

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 MENTIONEDHR Foundations (self-paced course — frameworks, tools & templates): https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/hrfoundationsWork with Kerri directly: https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/contactFree tools & resources: https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/freebies 📌 IF THIS HELPED YOUSubscribe 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. ROBERTSKerri 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

April 21, 202629 min

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

April 14, 202634 min

The Real Reason You Can’t Focus in Your Business

In this episode of the Don’t Waste the Chaos Podcast, Kerri Roberts challenges a common assumption among entrepreneurs - that lack of focus is the problem. Instead, she reframes the issue as a lack of commitment to the work that actually drives revenue and long-term stability.Drawing from her own experience building a fractional HR advisory firm, Kerri walks through the pattern many founders fall into: chasing multiple revenue streams, overbuilding offers, and spreading attention too thin. The result isn’t growth - it’s fragmentation.This episode offers a clear shift in perspective for leaders who are ready to move from constant activity to strategic clarity, aligning their time, business model, and leadership decisions with what actually works.Key Takeaways Focus is not a discipline issue - it’s a decision to commit to what already works  Multiple revenue streams often create fragmentation, not security  Most founders delay profitability by overbuilding instead of refining  Your calendar reveals your true business model—not your intentions  Simplicity creates scale when leaders allow it to compound If this conversation reflects the season you’re leading through, subscribe for more executive-level discussions on leadership, people strategy, and organizational clarity.If you know another founder navigating similar complexity, share this episode with them.And if you’re ready to strengthen how your business operates at the leadership level, you can connect directly at: saltandlightadvisors.com/contactYou can also join my email list for weekly leadership insights and behind-the-scenes thinking on business, HR strategy, and scaling: saltandlightadvisors.com/contactSupport the show

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