Right to Disconnect Puts the ‘Off’ in Office Hours.

by Rob Sheppard and Taylah Cooper [IMPORTANT NOTE: this article has been updated as at 06/03/24] [Approx 3.5 min read] The balance between work and life has become an almost continual topic of conversation in the post-Covid SME business world. With the Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Bill 2023 (the ‘amendment’) passing into law, there is now a legal ‘right to disconnect’ for Australian workers established. This amendment to the Fair Work Act 2009 is an attempt to place …

Building better businesses from the lessons of 2023

by Rob Sheppard [Approx 3 min read] In Australia, workforce management for SMEs has witnessed a transformative [perhaps even ‘seismic’] shift in both legislation and the way office and technology-based roles now work. Looking back at our articles over the year, it was evident that the journey to this transformation has been marked by both significant changes and opportunities to grow. Here is a snapshot of just some of the year as we saw it: The flexible [hybrid] work revolution …

Paying people is easy, why can’t you get it right?

by Rob Sheppard [Approx 3.5 min read] In the dynamic landscape of Australian industrial relations, interpreting award conditions can be a formidable challenge for businesses of all sizes. Just ask some of the biggest corporations in Australia (ahem- Commonwealth Bank and Woolies just to name two).   The complexities involved in understanding both the Western Australian (WA) State system and the Federal (Fair Work) System can seem overwhelming at times. And if you think it’s already tough, brace yourself, because …

It’s MORE than just the money.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx 3.5 min read] In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a tight labour market, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia have been faced with a growing gap between the salaries and wages they can offer compared to the salaries and wages offered by big business. “Traditional methods” to attract and retain people (offering higher wages than the competitors or structured career pathways over a longer period) are giving way to a more holistic approach, …

3 Recruiter ‘tricks’ you need to know.

by Rob Sheppard [Approx. 4-minute read] Surviving vs Thriving. In the ever-changing landscape of business, some companies manage to survive while others thrive. The difference between a company that merely survives and one that thrives lies in their ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace new approaches. The difference between a company that merely SURVIVES and one that THRIVES lies in their ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace new approaches. In 2023, the companies that have made it this far have …

6 Covid Plan basics you need

No matter your views on ‘Fortress WA’, it’s time to plan for the inevitable surge of Covid-19. This is not just about keeping on our toes as the ‘rules’ adapt to keep pace with mandatory vaccinations, proof of vaccination and who is a close contact (and thus who needs to get tested). Instead, it’s about creating a practical guide to how your business will continue to operate while keeping your humans safe. The following is based on actual plans we …

When it’s not always black and white – the Art of Workplace Investigations

If you receive a complaint related to the workplace, how you successfully investigate the claims can be the difference to resolving them internally or the basis for how you defend the position you took before a court or tribunal. To make it even more challenging, many complaints are also not black and white. For example, it is about behaviours that are *felt* and not seen, there are no witnesses or no concrete proof exists that the events ever took place. …

Employers and the office Christmas Party

I recall going to my very first company Christmas party in my younger days and watching in fascination as the normally quiet office receptionist (having had a few too many cocktails) complained loudly about the lack of a bonus that year. In hindsight, that was the easiest part of the night to deal with as her later heckling of the ‘boss’ (and then the ‘big boss’) during their ‘thanks-for-the-year-that-was’ speech made everyone so uncomfortable that the party basically ended by …

It’s private thankyou…

Have you ever wondered about the privacy of information and the responsibilities the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) may place on your business? You wouldn’t be alone if you have, especially given some high profile data breaches that have hit the media in recent memory (*ahem* Facebook). All these high profile data breaches have made many consumers think of how you use and store their personal information as a business. The 2017 Australian Community …

Why do SME businesses need human resource (HR) services?

In the same way that all business owners are in the business of sales and marketing – all business owners with staff are in the business of human resources (HR). Why do we say that? It can cost up to 50% of a team member’s salary to replace them if you don’t recruit the right person first time around – yep, that’s $35,000 for someone on $70,000 Wages are the single most reported cost pressure for WA businesses – so …