by Paulette | Jul 20, 2026 | HR Expert, Small business, Small Business HR, Workplace Culture
ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE | FRESH HR INSIGHTS The Five Culture Moves I’d Make First in a Small Business And an honest word on why none of them works overnight By Paulette McCormack · Fresh HR Insights · Updated July 2026 The short answer: if you run a small...
by admin2022 | May 25, 2026 | Absenteeism in Your Business, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Small business, Small Business HR, Unfair Dismissal Claims
When They Don’t Show Up: Managing Employee Absence in 2026 Your most reliable employee hasn’t turned up. No call. No text. No explanation. What do you do next? Managing employee absence – If you’ve ever sat at your desk watching the clock tick...
by Paulette | May 4, 2026 | Small business, Small Business HR, Workplace Articles
Running a small business has never been easy — but right now, it feels heavier than usual. The pressure is real. Rising costs. Uncertain markets. Managing staff. Keeping clients happy. Trying to grow while also just trying to stay afloat. And on top of all that…...
by Paulette | May 4, 2026 | Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Solutions, Informational Snip bits, Small business, Small Business HR, Topics of Conversation
In today’s environment, many employees are navigating more than just the demands of their role. Rising living costs, housing uncertainty, caring responsibilities, and financial pressure are becoming part of everyday life, and they don’t switch off when someone walks...
by admin2022 | Apr 6, 2026 | HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Small business, Small Business HR, Workplace Bullying
Workplace Bullying: The Complete Guide for Australian Employers Workplace bullying is one of the most damaging issues a business can face — and one of the most preventable. Workplace Bullying harms your people, drains productivity, and can expose you to serious legal...
by Paulette | Jun 17, 2025 | Building A Workforce, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Small business, Small Business HR, Topics of Conversation, Workplace Articles
Determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor can be tricky for small business owners. Making the right call is crucial – it affects pay, superannuation, leave, taxes, and legal obligations. Simply calling someone a contractor or having...
by Paulette | Jun 13, 2025 | Building A Workforce, Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Performance Improvement, Performance Management, Small business, Small Business HR, Workplace Articles
Grab a cuppa and let’s chat. The other day, I walked into an office and felt it straight away – a heavy, negative vibe hanging in the air. You know the feeling: colleagues avoiding eye contact, little huddles of whispered complaints by the coffee machine, and a...
by Paulette | May 30, 2025 | Employee Termination Procedure, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Managing And Terminating, Managing Employee Terminations, Our Services, payout for unfair dismissal, Small business, Small Business HR, Unfair Dismissal Claims
Imagine this: You run a small business and one day, after a frustrating incident, you decide to fire an employee on the spot. You think you’ve done what’s best for your business, only to find a Fair Work Commission claim lodged against you for unfair dismissal. It’s a...
by Paulette | May 29, 2025 | Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Small business, Small Business HR, Workplace health and Safety
Your Staff Think 60,000 Thoughts a Day—Are They Helping or Hurting Your Workplace? Did you know the average person has over 60,000 thoughts every single day? That’s about one thought per second while awake—and over 90% of those are repetitive. Even more concerning,...
by Paulette | May 13, 2025 | Employee Termination Procedure, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Informational Snip bits, Managing And Terminating, Managing Employee Terminations, Small business, Small Business HR, Unfair Dismissal Claims
Understanding Forced Resignation: A Guide for Employers What Is Forced Resignation? In Australian employment law, a “forced resignation” occurs when an employee resigns due to the employer’s conduct, leaving them with no real choice but to do so....
by Paulette | May 1, 2025 | Employee Termination Procedure, Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Managing And Terminating, Managing Employee Terminations, payout for unfair dismissal, Small business, Small Business HR, Unfair Dismissal Claims
Avoiding Unfair Dismissal Claims: A Guide for Small Business Owners In the 2023–24 financial year, the Fair Work Commission received nearly 15,000 unfair dismissal applications—an increase of over 30% from the previous year. This upward trend highlights the importance...
by Paulette | Apr 25, 2025 | 12 Basics of HR, Employment Relations, Fair Work Ombudsman News, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Managing And Terminating, Offers and Packages, Small business, Small Business HR, Topics of Conversation, Unfair Dismissal Claims, Workplace Articles
by Paulette | Apr 21, 2025 | Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Offers and Packages, Small business, Small Business HR, Topics of Conversation, Workplace Articles
Accurate employment record-keeping has always been a legal necessity—but in 2025, it’s firmly in the spotlight. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has launched a nationwide blitz, targeting businesses that fall short of their record-keeping obligations. For small business...
by Paulette | Jan 28, 2025 | Employment Relations, HR Consultant, HR Expert, HR Solutions, Human Resource, Informational Snip bits, Offers and Packages, Small business, Small Business HR, Topics of Conversation, Workplace Articles
In many small businesses, the founder’s passion and drive form the organisation’s backbone. However, this close involvement can sometimes become a double-edged sword, particularly when the business owner exhibits toxic behaviours that undermine the team and...
by Paulette | Jan 20, 2025 | HR Consultant, Human Resource, Recruitment, Small business, Small Business HR
Recruitment and Selection Part 3: Crunch Time: Interviewing and Choosing Interviewing candidates can be stressful for both you and the interviewee. The key to success for both of you is good preparation. You need to have: Interview questions written down and copied...
by Paulette | Jan 16, 2025 | HR Consultant, Human Resource, Recruitment, Small business, Small Business HR
Part 2: Advertising and Shortlisting Made Easier This is the second stage of the recruitment and selection process. Once you have reviewed the job role, considered whether you are going to advertise internally or externally, and you have re-written the job...
