Every business owner wants a team that’s committed, reliable, and genuinely invested in the work they do. Many small business owners mistake quiet compliance for satisfaction. People show up, get through their day, and rarely complain - so everything must be fine, right? Not necessarily - turning up doesn’t always mean tuning in . Disengaged employees rarely make noise; they simply give you the bare minimum until something better comes along. By the time you notice, you’ve lo

With the holiday season here, office Christmas parties are starting. These parties are a fun way to celebrate and bring the team together, but it’s important to plan carefully and stay in control if something goes wrong. Setting Expectations Before the staff Christmas party, let everyone know the rules. Share clear guidelines about behaviour, drinking limits, and the company’s code of conduct. A friendly email reminder before the event can help, encouraging respect and profes

When an employee suddenly resigns or you need to let someone go, one of the first questions that comes up is: 'How much notice should be given?' Notice periods can feel confusing, especially when you’re juggling contracts, awards, and the Fair Work Act. But once you understand the rules and how to apply them, they can help you manage staff transitions smoothly and fairly. In this article, we’ll look at: What a notice period actually is Statutory notice periods under the Natio

Expired qualifications and licences such as driver’s licences, forklift tickets, trade tickets, Working with Children Checks, or Working with Vulnerable People checks aren’t just admin oversights - they’re potential WHS and legal risks to your business. If someone drives a company vehicle, operates a forklift, or works with kids or vulnerable people without a valid clearance, your business could face: Regulatory penalties  or fines for non-compliance. Insurance issues  if an

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...

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...

Workplace conflict is inevitable. A small comment can quickly escalate, creating tension that affects productivity and morale. Before long, what started with awkward silences has turned into people avoiding each other at the coffee machine and refusing to work together, and then HR gets called in to fix things. But what if managers were empowered to handle and resolve employee conflicts themselves? Rather than always stepping in as the 'fixer', HR's role should be to equip ma

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...

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...

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...

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

When was the last time you gave any serious thought to Community Service Leave? If you’re like most business owners, probably never. And...