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The Punnet – October 2017

By October 16, 2017October 19th, 2017Newsletter
The Punnet

Have you thought about Christmas yet?

Is your business ready for Christmas?

At Strawberry Seed, we are already talking to our clients about 2018. But first, we need to get through Christmas!

With so many competing priorities, HR issues can sometimes end up at the bottom of the list. But with a little bit of preparation, you can ensure that you have a smooth transition into next year. In her latest article, Carli provides 5 ways to get your business HR ready for Christmas. From leave management to the Christmas party risks, make sure you take the time to go through and tick these off your list now to save yourself time later.

Another reminder to keep good HR records

Last week the Fair Work Commission handed down a decision against a small business that was found to have unfairly dismissed a worker after they failed to show up to work. Although there was a history of unacceptable behaviour, the FWC found against the employer as they were unable to provide evidence of any warnings or consequences for the employee’s past indiscretions.

This employer came under the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code, but this did not exclude them from having to demonstrate that their decision was reasonable. Even tiny businesses need to be able to show that they have provided an employee with reasonable opportunity to fix the issue. This applies to circumstances where the employee’s behaviour is not acceptable, or they are underperforming in their role.

If you are unsure of how to address an issue with an employee, we recommend getting professional advice early rather than waiting until the behaviour escalates. Rash decisions made in the heat of the moment can result in expensive lessons down the track in time and money.

I’m not sure if you have heard of a guy named Harvey Weinstein…

Unless you are living under a rock, you know who we mean. If you want to learn more, a quick google search will inundate you with articles with the list of his accuser’s building by the day. Here is the article from the New Yorker that started the chain reaction in case you missed it.

There have been a string of cases over recent years where CEO’s have been able to get away with utterly unacceptable behaviour. Silicon Valley in the US has also had their fair share of headlines lately too. Social media is now giving victims a platform to air their stories and organisations are having their reputation dragged through the mud.

So what should business owners and people managers take out of this scandal? If you only learn one thing, it is this.

Ignoring workplace harassment or bullying will not make it go away.

If you are aware that there is unacceptable behaviour in your workplace, you must manage it. In 2015, when TV star Jeremy Clarkson was terminated, Carli wrote an article on the issue. She felt that it was another example of a top performing employee having his behaviour excused for a long time just because the organisation was too scared to deal with the issue.

Whether it is Sexual Harassment or Workplace Bullying, the costs to the business can be substantial. Here are a few basics to ensure you prevent this behaviour in the future.

  1. Have a robust policy that sets out exactly what is and is not acceptable behaviour in your workplace.
  2. Ensure all current and future employees receive a copy of this policy. Incorporate it into your Induction program.
  3. Provide training on a regular basis proactively reminding employees what is in the policy.
  4. Enforce the policy. Never ignore an issue, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you.

We can provide policies, advice and in-house training customised to your business. Give us a call on (03) 4216 5200 if you would like to learn more.

Offer for Strawberry Seed Consulting Clients

One of our valued clients, The IN8 Life, offer corporate wellness programs for small, medium and large businesses in the Geelong region. Delivering over 220 programs in 4 different countries, their workshops have directly affected over 10,000 people worldwide over the past 5 years. They understand how to get happier healthier employees and save money for businesses along the way. It is an amazing result for a small husband and wife team.

Over the past 12 months, they have presented wellness workshops in Geelong for companies including Cotton On, Roderick Insurance, Spiire, Lake Imaging, Bendigo Bank.

The IN8 Life is currently offering a Free Corporate Health Workshop to small, medium and large businesses in Geelong. They will even provide refreshments! Several of our clients have already experienced the value Dr Sam and Dr Gabriel’s knowledge and skills can add for their employees, covering topics such as stress management. Assisting employees to move from a state of awareness into action regarding their health.

“We invited Sam from The In8 Life to present to our team about stress and anxiety. Being Graphic Designers, we spend huge hours sitting in front of a screen in a state of stress solving problems. Sam used his knowledge and unique presentation skills to bring home the damage caused by the mixture of bad posture and concentrated stress. The facts were eye-opening, but what was even more surprising was how Sam and his team are committed to improving the awareness of health. His presentation is free and he’ll even bring lunch.

We want our team to be healthy, but how do you get healthy if you don’t truly know what the meaning of healthy is? Sam breaks down stereotypes and with his presentation has successfully engaged the majority of our team to do something about their health. After all, the whole reason we invited Sam into our workplace was to make it a healthier place. Great job Sam, love your passion.” Rodney Brown, Brown Ink Design

“Last year, as a part of the Diligence Bookkeeping end of financial year Thank You Day, we brought our team to see Dr Sam at The IN8 Life to give them a whole new outlook on health and well-being. It was an eye-opening and enjoyable experience for everyone, and some of our 12 staff have started seeing Sam and are showing the benefits of it in their daily lives. For me as the CEO, I need all the energy and focus I can get and my regular treatments with Sam keep me in-line and energetic and on my best performance. I highly recommend Dr Sam for a fun and informative experience at any office.” Steve Miller, Diligence Bookkeeping

If you would like your employees to benefit from these workshops, give us a call at Strawberry Seed on (03) 4216 5200 to learn more.

Carli Saw

Author Carli Saw

Carli is a Human Resources professional with more than 20 years of experience across a range of industries and a passion for supporting small business.

More posts by Carli Saw