Before your first performance conversation: an employer checklist
An employee keeps missing deadlines or handing over work that needs correcting. As the owner or manager, you know a conversation is needed. The difficult part is deciding what to raise, what to bring and what a useful next step looks like. Start with the specific work concern, the standard expected and what you still […]
Changing retail rosters before the busy season
Longer opening hours and a busier shop floor can mean changing the roster before the Christmas trading period. For a retail owner or manager, the difficult part is often working out which changes can be made, what needs an employee’s agreement and how to put the new arrangements into practice. Before publishing the roster, check […]
Manufacturing shift handover: a practical supervisor checklist
A useful manufacturing shift handover tells the next supervisor what has changed, what needs attention and who owns the next step. A short written record, supported by a conversation, gives the incoming team somewhere reliable to start. For a growing business, the aim is a repeatable process that works across shifts. Use the checklist below […]
SCHADS Award changes: what employers should prepare for in 2026 and 2027
If your organisation uses the SCHADS Award, start by identifying the roles affected by the announced changes and the information needed to prepare. Give HR, payroll and finance a shared plan, with a named person responsible for each next step. There are two key transition dates to distinguish. A headline percentage is not enough to […]
Hourly HR advice, a project or ongoing support: which fits?
Do you need an HR adviser for one issue, someone to finish a defined piece of work, or an HR partner who stays involved? The best starting point depends on the work you need done, how often it arises and who has time to carry it through. For a growing business, hourly advice, a project […]
Psychosocial risks when your business changes: where to start
A change in your business can change how work feels and gets done. New reporting lines, a growing workload or a different system may create uncertainty even when the change has a clear business purpose. A psychosocial risk review helps you understand those pressures and decide what to change in the work itself. Start by […]
Effective supervisor check-ins for manufacturing teams
A useful supervisor check-in gives a manufacturing employee time to discuss their work, ask for support and agree what happens next. It needs to fit around shifts and production demands, while allowing a proper conversation away from the noise of the floor. For a supervisor who has recently stepped up from a technical role, a […]
Employment contracts and role descriptions for growing trades businesses
When a trades business adds crews, apprentices or a first supervisor, the work often changes faster than the paperwork. Someone hired to work on the tools may now allocate jobs, check completed work and support new starters. Their contract and role description need to reflect the arrangement you actually intend. This guide gives owners a […]
Hospitality onboarding checklist before a busy season
A hospitality onboarding checklist helps owners and managers prepare new employees before a busy season. The aim is simple: people should know what they are being employed to do, how their first shift will work and where to go for help. A signed contract is one part of that process. For a growing hotel, tourism […]
Performance reviews for professional-services firms
A useful performance review gives a professional-services employee three things: a clear view of how their work is going, a chance to discuss what is getting in the way, and a short set of priorities for the next period. For a growing accounting, advisory or consulting firm, the process also needs to fit around client […]