Whatever the weather: A tip for successful managing
Climate scientists are preparing for even greater changing weather patterns and we have already seen many more frequent extreme weather events: cyclones, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, and flooding all over the world. Here, in Australia, we have seen some unexpected weather events of our own – not least the storm of orange dust which eclipsed parts of the outback of Queensland in the last few days, due to recent exceptionally dry weather. Reports from the area suggest the event hit people by surprise and that is was scary – more like something you would see in films rather than actually happening. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by such a distressing event and we hope that they have the help they need at such a time.
Thankfully, frightening weather is something we can prepare for if given sufficient warning so we at Fresh HR Insights want to look at another type of inclemency that can arise – unexpected or extreme events in the workplace!
We often get called for support when a business or company is in the middle of a crisis. We like our clients to think of us in an emergency but we always advise that it is better to be prepared for such eventualities as: unexpected sickness, or death, of employees; an accident that may affect a whole department; a media story that impacts public confidence in your company, its goods or services; the loss of much needed stock on its way to your company rendering your business unable to fulfil its obligations to customers.
There are so many urgent and unplanned occurrences that can literally turn your month upside down and send you spinning off your strategy and budget targets.
Firstly, we at Fresh HR Insights will always advise that your staff team represents the strongest ally and the most solid support possible when a curveball is dealt to your company. To count on them and for them to rally in your darkest hour means there must be a relationship of trust between staff at all levels and especially between senior and junior levels.
Secondly, we will also advise that this trust cannot be achieved if you are not compliant with the law. Australia’s Fair Work Act is not just a document, it is a meaningful set of principles and provisions that directly affect the lives of everyone – and most employees in Australia are provided for by the Act.
If you are not providing fair pay for the job, proper holiday time, sick and compassionate leave, parental leave and long service leave, for instance, then you may have a resentful workforce who in their turn do not care for the company they work for. Individuals who do not benefit from these provisions in your workplace will not have any particular respect for you and what is worse, will suffer badly if these provisions are withheld from them. They certainly will not respect you when calamity hits.
Fresh HR Insights can help you make sure you have the policies and practices that place your company on a good footing with the law and with your staff.
We have developed a series of HIGHLY information eBooks that give you COMPREHENSIVE information and the associated templates. We are adding to these every month so there is something for everyone. Check them out with the below links.
