Visit your local supermarket and you will quickly identify the diversity of their workforce. Age, culture, religion and gender – there doesn’t seem to be any bias or discrimination. That’s what makes the 2014 case against Woolworths Supermarkets so important. They were found to be in breach of Queensland’s anti-discrimination laws. At the time, Woolies … Read more
Staff leave organisations for a variety of reasons. Often it’s to chase a pay rise. But it may surprise you to learn happy, engaged and productive workers are attracted by other factors. This is great news if you are a small or medium sized business. It means you could offer employee benefits that will cost … Read more
A harmonious team, all working together to achieve the same goals… That’s the ideal but unfortunately, this idyllic workplace rarely exists. In most businesses, the daily reality includes: – Personality clashes – Inappropriate behaviour (which covers a wide variety of actions) – Poor performance – Overwhelmed management teams, putting out fires while attempting to achieve … Read more
Traditionally, management has been solely responsible for providing performance reviews, feedback and praise. This will always be important. However, the helicopter generation – those who have been closely supervised by their parents – typically need far more support and feedback than their line managers have time to supply. But recent research indicates informal feedback, advice … Read more
From the first full pay period beginning on or after 1 July, the new minimum adult wage will be $740.80 per week or $19.49 per hour. This minimum wage increase applies to all Modern Awards. In addition, you’ll need to ensure wages for the following employee categories are equal to (or higher than) the new … Read more
Depending on the employee and their performance, hearing them say “I quit” could fill you with joy or plunge you into deep despair. But as difficult as it might be, you need to pause for just a moment to investigate the employee’s reason for resigning. Why? So you can gain important insights that could greatly … Read more
In HR, everything has a process so here’s our guide on what to do when you hear the words “I Quit”? Cooling Off Period Sometimes things are said in the heat of the moment and the words “I quit” are often uttered at these times. However, as an employer, you have an obligation to determine … Read more
When thinking about hazardous workplaces, it’s easy to think of construction sites, forklifts and toxic substances. But workplace hazards can be a simple as minor floor spills and equipment issues. This is certainly the case for a butcher and his first-year apprentice. While making sausages, a very small piece of mince dropped on the floor … Read more
According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, the word “Absurdity” means stupid or unreasonable and according to Carys Chan, Assoc. Professor at RMIT University, workplaces often suffer from absurdity. Could It Apply To Your Business? Chan offers some examples of workplace absurdity which include: – Firing or suing a whistle-blower employee while retaining the perpetrator – … Read more
The ATO recently issued a clarification on an employer’s Superannuation Guarantee obligations. As a consequence, it could mean you have accidentally acquired a Super Guarantee shortfall. Here’s what you need to know. For every worker, the Super Guarantee Contribution is calculated on their Ordinary Time Earnings (also known as OTE). That includes holiday leave loadings … Read more