Workplace conflict is inevitable. A small comment can quickly escalate, creating tension that affects productivity and morale. Before...

Most business owners don’t think about HR until they’re tied up dealing with a staff issue they didn’t see coming.  Whether it’s someone...

Giving feedback is one of the hardest parts of managing people. Say too little, and your team keeps repeating the same mistakes. Say too much, and you risk discouraging them. But when feedback is delivered the right way, it builds clarity, trust, and motivation, turning performance conversations into real opportunities for growth and improvement. Many small business owners and managers struggle with the same challenge: how do I give feedback that is clear, constructive, and d

Micromanagement is one of the fastest ways to lose good people. You can have competitive pay, flexible hours, and great intentions, but if your team feels like they’re not trusted, morale and performance will drop. The challenge is that micromanagement isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t just show up as the boss breathing down your neck or second-guessing every move. Often, it’s subtle - excessive 'just checking in' emails, constant tweaks to someone’s work, or needing to approv

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats, but if you’re like most owners, you probably spend more time than you’d like on...

Deciding whether to pay employees an hourly rate or an annual salary  is one of the biggest pay structure questions for business owners....

Paying your staff isn’t as straightforward as choosing a rate that 'feels fair' and adding a little extra for overtime. As with most...

Recently a local business owner who runs a small marketing agency told me during a meeting, “ I’ve never used written contracts. Just a...

Spreadsheets. Paper rosters. Signed contracts lost in the bottom of someone’s drawer. If managing staff feels more complicated than it...

Ever had that sinking feeling when something goes wrong at work and you’re suddenly searching through policies, trying to find answers,...

Work anniversaries can be easy to miss when you're running a business and juggling a dozen priorities. But when they quietly slip by...

You’ve built a great team, but there’s one person who just isn’t keeping up. You’re not ready to let them go, but you know things can’t...

A local cafe owner recently told me she had 47 CVs sitting in her inbox, and on top of serving customers, and doing rosters and payruns,...

A logistics business recently learned the hard way that having a policy isn’t the same as being able to use it. After an employee...

Let’s face it, sick days are unfortunately part of running a business. Whether it’s a cold, the flu, or a suspiciously timed day off,...

Working from home has become common for many businesses. However, remote work also brings unique risks. One big question employers face...

As a business owner, one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever have to make is laying off an employee. Whether it’s due to economic...

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably felt it, that creeping pressure of too much work and not enough time or people to get...

If you’re running a small or medium business, you’ve probably used a probationary period  clause in your employment contracts. But don’t...

If you run a small business in health care, disability, early childhood education, pharmacy, or community services, pay attention. ...