Staff
Most small businesses are looking to cut non-essential costs such as travel in the economic crisis. Is flying business class still a justifiable expense or just a tax-deductable perk of the job? Business class means big money for the airlines and there’s a lot of competition out there. With small business owners having to justify […]
There are a number of publications out there that discuss the markings of a great boss. But can you ever know what your staff REALLY think of you? Boss Benchmark expert, Allison O’Neill takes a look and what qualities staff love and loathe in a boss, along with tips on how employers can improve their […]
Open plan offices are slowly becoming the standard in workplaces across the country. But are they really effective? Do they improve productivity or hamper it? Dr Jim Taylor discusses what your work environment says about you and whether open plan offices really are the way to go. I wonder what a worker on the pyramids […]
Australian companies are failing to properly manage their staff, with employers pushing staff priorities to the bottom of the list due to the economic downturn, according to international recruitment firm, Robert Half. “Managers have put so much emphasis on cost-cutting and delivering bottom-line efficiencies, that they’ve taken their eye off the ball and forgotten how […]
Keeping staff motivated and inspired is often a challenging task for employers. It is no longer just about getting a cash bonus, but recognition for a job well done. Employees are after incentive programs and rewards beyond just the traditional company picnics. The incentive travel industry is booming and clients who offer travel incentives to […]
A new survey from leading ASX-listed HR consulting, workforce management, outsourcing and recruitment company Chandler Macleod Group (CMG) has revealed that one in three candidates have been affected by redundancy either directly or indirectly.
Head of the largest ever woman-owned company to hit the stock market, recruitment expert Julia Ross shares her views on the world economic crisis. Global economic insecurity has Australian businesses asking themselves a number of important questions: how will it affect us? How bad is it going to get? How long will it last? And […]
You might not say it to our face, but I reckon you think we’re lazy, self-obsessed, and lacking in work ethic. You might not snigger with satisfactory glee, but I bet you believe this global financial crisis is precisely what we need to be put in our place. And you might not clap your hands […]
Does Generation Y really exist or have we simply developed a convenient tag to explain a cog in the workplace wheel? Whether or not you think Generation Y is a construct, its high time you get used to their approach to project management. According to Karen Williams, Gen Y is very real and unlike any […]
As Vedior Asia Pacific celebrates 20 years of recruitment in Australia, CEO Debbie Loveridge explains what SMEs can learn from two decades of hiring, particularly in challenging economic times. Prior to 1988, if anyone had offered me a long career in recruitment, I probably would have declined on the spot. Yet part of my curiosity […]
The most valuable aspect of any business is its staff, and with statistics indicating that Australia’s SME sector employs up to 40 percent of the nation’s workforce, it is essential to understand the importance and significance HR can have in generating and maintaining business success. Bill Gates was once quoted as saying: “Take away my […]
The emerging financial crisis has sparked a need for medium-sized businesses around the globe to monitor employee engagement, productivity and effectiveness more closely. That is the view of Adrian Finlayson, the Chief Executive Officer of one of the biggest suppliers of reward, recognition and incentive solutions, Accumulate. “With the market downturn, business must act quickly […]
Watching your company grow in leaps and bounds can often be quite daunting and tough on even the best management team. Profiling the successes of growing franchises Boost Juice and Big Dad’s Pies, we look at ways to keep your business on track, from concept, through to start-up and execution. The extensive experience of DC […]
Business owners often dread having to have difficult conversations with staff or customers. Liz Cassidy of Third Sigma International provides a step by step analysis on achieving effective communication. Often in executive coaching, clients ask for assistance with having tricky conversations because they are dreading an upcoming interview. I see difficult conversations as a cause […]
The health and wellbeing of business owners works hand in hand with the success of their business. These top retreats will benefit any business owner looking to strike the right balance between work and life. A few years ago, Tourism NT had a TV commercial designed to reacquaint jaded viewers with the idea of a […]
While stress and work seem to come hand in hand, they don’t have to. Peter George shows us how to identify the signs of stress, and offers a mix of tried-and-true and quirky techniques to help create a stress-free workplace. At the end of the year, if you are smart, you will take a look […]
It is a no-brainer that if you want your staff to be productive in the workplace, they must work as a team. Employees working as part of a team feel valued and it strengthens the bond between staff members. Activities that require team building are not only an integral part of the management practice; it […]
An SME owner’s departure from the business is inevitable, so plan your exit strategy and succession in advance, if you want to leave under the best possible conditions. Bill Hovey, CEO of the Linchpin Group Australia, shares his extensive knowledge and expertise to help you prepare an exit strategy. Regardless of the size of your […]
Combating the skills shortage plaguing small and medium-sized businesses is tough. But if you want more free time and need staffing solutions for the skills shortage, it’s worth investing money in outsourcing and part-time employees. As a small business owner, you’ll probably be familiar with two scenarios symptomatic of staffing issues. One is the ubiquitous […]
Leadership can play an effective role in the building of any business, large or small. It can have a direct effect on staff productivity and retention in particular, both vital areas for any growing business. It’s also important to distinguish between leadership and management. One saying I like is: ‘managers have subordinates, whereas leaders have […]
