Negotiation plays a pivotal role in the modern business landscape, impacting the outcomes of crucial interactions among stakeholders and organisations. From mitigating disputes and securing strategic partnerships to navigating salary...
As we begin a new financial year, setting meaningful goals becomes even more critical for personal and organisational growth. It is an opportune time to reflect on past achievements, reassess...
Unpaid Parental leave in the Fair Work Act has undergone significant changes as of 1 July 2023 and the Paid Parental Leave Scheme administered by Services Australia has also been...
Minimum Wage Increase From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023, the National Minimum Wage will be adjusted. The new minimum wage will be $23.23 per...
Change is an inevitable part of business in today’s fast-paced world. However, navigating change successfully requires more than just top-down directives. It requires a team of change advocates who can...
Grounds to request flexible working arrangements Reqeusts for flexible working arrangements may include changes in work hours, patterns of work and location of work. Requests can be made by an...
As we approach the end of the financial year, companies are gearing up for performance reviews to evaluate their employees’ progress and plan for the year ahead. However, these reviews...
Australia recently banned pay secrecy clauses, leading many businesses to consider whether to disclose salaries in full. Removing barriers to discussing salaries among colleagues could help close the country’s 22.8%...
In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, attracting and retaining top talent is a critical priority for organisations. And when it comes to retaining your best employees, offering competitive salaries is...
Strategic planning is an essential aspect of any business that aims to achieve its long-term goals. However, the planning process can be complex and challenging, especially when it comes to...
As businesses adapt to changing market conditions and evolving customer needs, some organisations may need to consider restructuring their operations. This can lead to the difficult decision to make an...
In the fast-paced world of business, having clear goals is essential for success. Goals help organisations and individuals focus their efforts and measure progress towards desired outcomes. But not all...
An amendment to the Fair Work Act 2009 was passed by Parliament on 27 October 2022 and received Royal Assent on 9 November 2022 to replace the current Family and Domestic...
It has been another big year for many organisations regarding change, agility, and adaptability. Between COVID and the still rippling effects of ‘The Great Resignation’, many of us are exhausted,...
One of the most common questions we are asked as HR Professionals is “What leave are my employees entitled to?”. All employees in the national workplace relations system are covered...
The Federal Government has introduced into Parliament landmark IR reforms that will have an impact on all workplaces across Australia, as part of its Secure Jobs and Better Pay Bill...
The ability to motivate and develop others is a highly sought-after quality in leadership and management positions. This has come with a shift in people’s perception and beliefs of the...
We are often quick to want recognition and celebrate wins and achievements, but what happens when we fail? We lose a long-term client, miss a deadline or deliver poor work....
Managing underperformance in the workplace can sometimes be complicated by mental health concerns. These situations are often very difficult for managers and employees, particularly if an employee takes time off...
Safe Work Australia has recently published its model code of practice Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Similar codes are already in operation in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia,...
And just like that, a new financial year is upon us. While most of us are still recovering from the madness that was the countdown to June 30, we now...
It’s that time of year again when many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. With the Australian job market still rippling from ‘The Great Resignation’, the fundamental tool...
One of the leading factors in resignations is workplace culture. Many organisations have struggled long with engaging, motivating and providing purpose for employees, which the pandemic only exacerbated. Post COVID,...
With the many businesses still suffering from the fallout of the Great Resignation, employee attraction and retention have never been so critical. In the past, job security and compensation seemed...
Over the past two years, people’s professional routines have been significantly affected by the ongoing pandemic. Working from home was a huge adjustment and challenge for most professionals, some loving...
When you think about your company’s vision, mission, and values, what is the first thing that springs into your mind? Are they clear to understand across the business? Does your...
Newsletter – January 2022 How to ensure your performance conversations are effective As the pandemic continues to throw hurdles into our everyday lives, leaders are faced with the challenge of...
The term ‘The Great Resignation’ is being thrown around a lot these days. We are hearing of how this phenomenon is sweeping the US and UK, so what does it...
The need for leadership development is never-ending. With workplaces constantly evolving, increased pressure coming out of lockdown and yet still so much uncertainty, leaders need to be equipped with the...
For many decades now, surveys have been a staple in businesses toolkits, used to gather intel, feedback and assess engagement. Consisting of numerous questions regarding training, leadership, development, environment, recognition,...
Working from home, once seemed like rare luxury that very few ever got to experience. Replacing your morning lengthy commute with precious extra minutes of sleep, your uncomfortable high heels...
With countless businesses looking to employ, the current workforce skills shortage is proving a significant challenge, making finding the right fit more important than ever. So how do you know...
“Employers are ready to get back to significant in-person presence. Employees aren’t. The disconnect is deeper than most employers believe, and a spike in attrition and disengagement may be imminent.”...
Career success stems from mastering a core set of skills that can be applied to any role you might have or wish to pursue in the future. When you practice...
Is your business across the new casual employment changes that were introduced in March 2021? If not, we’ve summarised some of the main points for you below. The Act now...
At one time or another, we all experience setbacks in life. Some of these challenges might be minor, such as not winning a tennis game, whilst others can be major...
It’s understandable that employers and employees are currently exploring their workplace rights and obligations as COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines become available throughout Australia. At present there are no laws or public...
This year has been quite turbulent for many businesses, with many deciding to pause salary increases for the year, or in some cases, coming to agreements with their team to...
2020 has thrown businesses and individuals some massive challenges as we live through these unprecedented times. Whether your life is starting to look normal again, or at least COVID normal,...
We don’t need to point out to you that the office and the ways in which we work has changed. The evidence is all around us, as is the discussion...
As many of us have made the shift to work from home, we have seen an increase in use of video meeting platforms such as Zoom or Skype to replace...
In the recent Workpac v Rossato decision by the Fair Work Commission, there was further evidence that casual employees do have rights to entitlements if they are determined to be...
It’s that time of year again where many businesses are preparing for their annual performance reviews. Once considered a fundamental tool to ensure employee performance that is in line with...
As we prepare for the lifting of COVID19 restrictions and we embark on returning to the workplace there are a number of items businesses should keep in mind in the...
By now many businesses have recovered from the initial shock brought on by COVID-19. While the struggle and uncertainty is still very real and current for business, many are starting...
As the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases rise internationally, the phones have been running hot here at HR On-Demand with employers concerned about their workforce and the potential impact in...
Corona Virus (COVID-19) is the latest global issue affecting businesses. It isn’t the first and it certainly won’t be the last. Whether it is the threat of a virus or...
Over the years it has become common practice for employers to pay their staff an ‘annual salary’ which is intended to compensate them for hours worked, overtime, penalty rates, base...
With the new calendar year now well underway, many of us will be settled back in our regular routines and in the full swing of it all. Old habits will...
Running a meeting is not as simple as getting a group of people together and facilitating a discussion (or following an agenda if you are so lucky as to have...
Tis’ the season to be merry and celebrate the year that was with your team. If you want to avoid being left with a HR hang-over, it’s a great idea...
The focus on developing the soft-skills of teams has become more and more common, and with good reason; the essence of a high-performing team is based largely on the relationships...
When it comes to achieving your company’s strategy, building a culture of accountability, or implementing effective people management processes, you need leaders in your business to have the right skills....
When addressing the issue of poor behaviour and performance with employees, proactive management action can turn an otherwise confronting situation into an opportunity to initiate improvement. Let’s take a look...
More and more of our clients are introducing 360 feedback assessments into their business leadership development programs. However, for most, they are unaware of how to successfully manage this process....
There are times when you might have to deal with a performance management process, a disciplinary issue, a restructure or workplace change, or an internal investigation when managing your people....
HR On-Demand Question of the Month: 3 Questions you can ask to solve the accountability gap. When we are talking with businesses, too often questions arise such as “Why won’t...
You may have recently seen in the media, or in your social media feeds that there is a certain buzz currently around a word – ‘Burnout’. It’s a word that...
Difficult conversations – well it’s right there in the wording isn’t it? They’re difficult. As a Manager however, you are likely to have more than one difficult conversation in your...
It’s getting to that time of year where the days feel long, but your time goes so quickly! Before we know it, End of Financial Year will be on our...
The way your team are remunerated can play a key role in your company’s ability to attract and retain quality talent. And whilst we are entering into a period where...
When a staff member is underperforming, it is important to act swiftly. Problems ignored and left to fester do not resolve themselves and often get a lot worse and harder...
When we are talking with businesses, one key word always creeps into the conversation – Engagement. How can I build employee engagement? How can I encourage my people to engage...
How do I turn down my employee’s request for a pay rise? It’s something that every Manager has had to face at some point, and with July coming up fast...
Let me ask you, would you ever buy a car, laptop or mobile phone without researching the performance specifications first to make sure it matches your needs? Well then why...
What is Mindfulness and why it is important to practice both in and out of the workplace? Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and...
Shifting a dysfunctional culture is no easy task, it requires commitment, time and effort from leaders to move towards a positive workplace culture. The first step of any cultural change...
Can you believe that we have just passed through another End of Financial Year? Looks like we have approached the time of year that many business owners and CEOs dread...
“Almost Half of all Strategic Initiatives Fail Due to Poor Execution” Economist Intelligence Unit This is the second article on this subject. Please refer to last month’s newsletter for Part...
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.” Robert Burns Please excuse the nod to my Scottish heritage. Roughly translated in a commercial sense, it was summed...
This morning when I looked at my clock it read 9:50am, but the next time I looked up it was 3:45pm and I had no idea where the day had...
Trudy featured in UK magazine VQ this month. This month Trudy MacDonald, Managing Director TalentCode HR is featured in the Vistage UK Magazine – VQ discussing how to create a...
It might sound a little strange, but I love the setting up the onboarding process for new employees. Now I can already hear you thinking I’m a little strange, but...
What does the term “Workplace culture” mean to you? Well, if all it means is ‘another one of those nice-to-do best practice things HR wants us to care about’, well...
Recently I received a call from a long-term customer of mine who was dealing with an employee with excessive absences and wanted some guidance on how to deal with this...
As a result of this year’s Fair Work Commission review, minimum wages in Modern Awards and the national minimum wage will be increased by 3.3% as of the first...
In our last newsletter, we raised the question of “Are You Overpaying Your Employees?” (click here if you missed it). It was a great read about incentive programs, and how...
We all know how employee salaries and incentives used to work. Company X would hire John, and they would agree on an annual salary for the position. It was so...
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself as a Leader is quite simply “How well do my people managers manage their staff?” Sound simple? Think you have...
It’s an unfortunate truth that no matter how well planned and executed a Company’s HR Strategy is, there is always a component of unknown risk when it comes to our...
In some cases, yes they can! Until this year, very few employees were able to ‘cash out’ their annual leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act – however recent reforms...
Last year Deloitte published a report discussing how the world of work is changing rapidly and what organisations and individuals need to think about in order to keep up (Deloitte...
In this video, Trudy MacDonald Managing Director of TalentCode HR, explains how to stop doing the things that prevent you from effectively running your business.
Context: “Two of our Managers were found having sex in the bathroom – what should we do?” First and foremost – an awkward situation if there ever was one! The...
“Employees who sign a contract aren’t covered by an award, are they?” Context: It’s a common misconception that the Modern Awards do not apply to their staff because they are...
Why does it take so long to terminate an employee? Well basically, the reason for this is that one of the highest areas of risk for any business when terminating...
“We are going to make an employee redundant, what do we need to do?” Redundancy is often perceived by employers to be the fastest and easiest way to terminate an...
It’s true, another legislative change is due to occur, and we’re only two months into 2014! This time it’s Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 that is being updated. In March 2014,...
At Talent Code, we talk to Small Businesses every day, and we hear the struggle they face from both a financial and resource perspective when trying to ensure their compliance...
If I terminate an employee and they claim Unfair Dismissal, how do I know they won’t be reinstated? The short answer unfortunately is that you don’t, however a recent claim...
Does your workplace require potential employees undertake a pre-employment medical? If so, have you reviewed the legal implications and risks of doing so? The reasoning behind requiring pre-employment medicals may...
Are you underpaying your staff without realising it? Despite the years that have passed since the introduction of Modern Awards, because of their complex nature, many businesses still don’t have...
2 Key reasons to review your employment contracts In this day and age, most businesses are aware of the importance of having contracts of employment – but more often than...
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only 7 weeks away – so if you haven’t started planning your staffing requirements yet, now is the time to start! This week...
It’s that silly time of year again, and for many that means it’s time for the annual Office Christmas party. We’ve all been there, watching Janice from Accounting drink her...
It’s hard to believe that 2016 is already here. In fact if you’re anything like me, it only feels like yesterday that the office was decorated for Christmas! Now you’re...
Whether they are beautifully laminated and posted around the office or “unspoken” but clearly understood by a few key people, most businesses have a set of company values. I also...
Who has the leadership capability to take your business into the future? As a business leader or owner, you won’t be in your role forever. You may change companies, decide...
Question of the Month: James was once a top performer, but now he’s coming in late, being rude and not achieving his targets – what do we do? Unfortunately it’s...
Business culture: what exactly is it, and how do I create the right one? I often hear from my clients that they struggling to create the right culture in their...
Psych tests have been around since the 19th Century when both China and France used them to evaluate mental ability. Modern day assessments are used both for recruitment to understand...
360 feedback surveys are one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to business practices to encourage both individual and company-wide improvement and development. An effective 360...
As we approach the time of year that many business owners and CEOs dread, I start to hear more and more nervousness surrounding the salary review process. This is caused...
Context: Our client is a mid sized business with a number of key management staff they wish to retain over the long term. The Issue: The current incentive schemes do...
The topic of bonus and incentive schemes and how they apply to employee behaviour is a complex one. To understand this fully, it is important to consider the impact of...
We all intuitively know that money is not the only thing that motivates people, and in fact for many people it is not in their top five. We also know...
It’s something that every Manager has had to face at some point their career – that moment when an employee sits down and asks for a raise. Now in a...
This is the final article in a three part series that explores the secrets to maximising the performance of your people. Part one and two discussed the importance of “Defining...
This article is the second in a three part series that explores the secrets to maximising the performance of your people. Part one discussed the importance of “Defining Great” for...
“Imagine where my business would be today (and what my life would be like) if I got this right 10 years ago!” It was this statement from a customer that...
How effective are your one on one meetings? What is the key to high performing staff? Almost any Manager you ask will tell you that it’s regular and open communication...
