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I get it! Particularly with the cost of living squeezing our margins, investing in training is a hard decision. However, small, well-chosen investment in training will have your business outperforming your competition and improve your bottom line. So how do you get the right balance when you run a Small / Medium Business (SMB)? Forget what it is like in Corporate World! They have huge budgets, an inhouse training team and Learning Systems. As a small business owner myself, I am looking for…

Impact HR offers an As Needed HR model, so we often support SME owners and managers who are confused by why they have received an email to defend their decisions before Fair Work. This is another area of the Australian Employment Law that seems biased against SMEs, without the budgets to engage lawyers. The businesses have very strong reasons for terminating an employee’s employment. So why are they in…

Did you know that effective September 2024, significant changes to Australia’s workplace sexual harassment laws have come into effect? These changes are part of broader reforms under the Fair Work Legislation Amendment and incorporate the Respect@Work recommendations aimed at…

In October 2023, Nikki, one of our Senior HR Consultants and I, started talking about her potential relocation to Queensland. In January it became a reality. Nikki is, bravely and kindly, sharing her journey as we know how important this can be. It is OK to Not be OK, but please reach out for the help you need. Over the last 9 months I feel that when I was asked the question “Are you ok?” I’ve avoided it or shouted next question please! It’s been a crazy…

In my experience, very few people wake up in the morning with the intention of performing poorly. A number of factors create poor performance, and when we start to set expectations and hold people accountable, it can be difficult for everyone. As a result, we often see a link between poor performance and absenteeism. The employee’s absence creates more work for…

Staying sane while running your business can feel like a challenge at times. Regardless of the size of your business, identifying the signs that the current way of working isn’t working for you, is essential to mental health. Yours and others in the team! Our top 3 signs for when we need to do different things to get…

Supporting employee mental health is more than just a compassionate move—it’s a smart business strategy. Employees who feel supported in their mental well-being are more engaged, productive, and loyal to their employer. However, many businesses worry about the costs associated with mental health programs. The good news is that there are several cost-effective strategies to promote mental well-being in the workplace. Here are some practical steps to help your…

For many of us SME business owners and managers, it has been a tough few years; fires, floods, COVID, tough economic environment. One would be enough, but it has a series of events. No wonder Psychological Safety remains a top priority. 2023 saw the introduction of laws and Code of Best Practice to “help” us navigate the tricky areas of Psychological Safety. But the reality is, some of the…

For a small and medium sized business, even a minor cyber security incident can have devastating impacts. Our research shows that in the 2022-23 financial year, the average cost of cybercrime for small business increased to $46,000. For medium businesses, the average cost is reported to be $97,000 in the same period. With businesses holding so much information on our customers and employees, every business needs to be aware of how they handle both confidential and sensitive…