In this episode of the Instant Payments Podcast, host Tal Clark talks with Stephanie Callihan, finance leader at Cotton Patch Café, about navigating payroll, compliance, and retention in a large hourly workforce. Stephanie shares her career path through restaurant finance, Cotton Patch’s people-first culture, and how digital tipping helped the brand preserve daily pay while reducing operational risk. The conversation highlights why listening to employees, simplifying manager workflows, and modernizing pay systems are critical to retention and guest experience.

00:00 Welcome and Stephanie’s career journey in restaurant finance

03:28 Cotton Patch Café culture, awards, and growth focus

06:31 Payroll compliance and the realities of an hourly workforce

09:05 Retention strategies and strengthening management coverage

12:03 The decline of cash and the challenge of daily tip payouts

14:30 Preserving daily pay through digital tipping

17:01 Operational efficiency, security, and auditing benefits

Instant Financial: instant.co

Cotton Patch Cafe: https://cottonpatch.com/

Connect with Tal Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-clark-a60776b/

Connect with Stephanie Callihan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniecallihan/