Frequently Asked Questions
Anti-Discrimination, Bullying
and Harassment – What Do I Do?
Discrimination, bullying and harassment have significantly increased and become a sad fact of business
life in the last 10 years. Your business is not immune! How do you deal with a complaint? Do you fob it
off, or how do you manage it?
A worrying trend is that research suggests that 65% of the Australian population
will experience bullying and harassment during their working life, and that potentially means trouble
to your business. Click here for some practical anti-discriminiation guidelines.
Australian Workplace Agreements – How Do They Assist Your Business?
An Australian Workplace Agreement
(AWA) is a formal, written agreement between an employer and an individual employee. Your
AWA can be tailored to cover the unique operations of your business, and overrides state and federal
awards.
Your
AWA can include flexible working hours, cash out leave, and build in seasonal fluctuations and other
unique business requirements not normally permitted in awards without penalty rates and allowances. This all adds up to flexibility.
Click here for more information on Australian Workplace Agreements,
or see how your business can benefit by contacting
Phil.
Email and Internet use – Private Employee Use?
It's important that your employees understand what's expected of them. Uncontrolled use of email and
the Internet has become a problem issue for business today, where it's estimated that some employees
regularly spend up to 2 hours per day on personal email and Internet activities.
Be upfront with your employees
on what is acceptable email and Internet use i.e. Do you allow limited private use? Click here for more
information on Email and Internet use in the workplace.
Employee or Independent Contractor?
It’s a jungle out there when it comes to defining the employment relationship; employee or contractor.
Loosely, the issue comes down to the amount of control you have over the person's work. The more control
you have over the person, the more likely the person is an employee and not a contractor. There are many
businesses today that are considerably exposed to claims for employee entitlements, even though they engaged
the person as a contractor. For more information on what this means click
here.
Employee Termination
Terminating an employee is never an easy decision but sometimes there are no other options. Generally
speaking, you should go through formal disciplinary procedures of counselling, a written warning, final
warning and a show cause letter before termination. Click here for more information on
employee termination procedures.
Employment Agreements
An employment agreement can remove uncertainty from your business and provide your business with flexibility
in your employment arrangements. Employment agreements set the terms of relationship between your business
and your employee. They don’t need to be complicated but you need to take care and get advice! Contact
Phil for assistance with your employment agreements.
How Do I Manage Workplace Conflict?
Conflict is an inevitable part of business life and it's not all negative. Where there are people there
is conflict. Conflict has the ability to take away your focus from your business or be a catharsis for
change!
How you manage conflict can determine how much time you spend on the sidelines or give your 'biz
momentum'. Mediation, Performance Management, Counselling, Discipline...what’s the answer? Take
control today. Click here to learn how to manage workplace conflict.
Human Resource Management / Employee Risks
Do you know what your employee risks are, because your business has them? You can protect your business
by taking some practical steps. These 11 simple Yes and No questions and answers give
you practical guidance in understanding where your business may be situated. Click
here for Biz Momentum's Employee Risk Profile.
Job Descriptions – Why Have Them?
An employee without a job description is like a ship in a storm ‘going nowhere’. A job description
details your requirements for an employee to responsibly and diligently work for you. A Job Description
lists the responsibilities and accountabilities that your employees are required to fulfill in order for
your business to grow. A job description is an important document that can protect your business, and
needn’t be complex. Click here for more information on writing Job
Descriptions.
Key Human Resource Policies and Procedures
Key human resource policies and procedures can protect your business from financial and operational risk.
By taking time to implement a few key policies and procedures you can save your business from potential ruin!
There is a solution. Click here for a fact sheet and take action today.
Long Service Leave - How Much and When?
Most employees are entitled to paid long service leave after a specified period of continuous service
with your business. In Queensland the long service leave entitlement is 8.6667 weeks after 10 years of
service, Tasmania and Victoria are 13 weeks after 15 years of service, and New South Wales is 2 months
paid leave after 10 years of service.
Did you know that some casual employees are entitled to proportionate
long service leave?! Click here for further information on long service
leave.
My Procedures Manual Fell Off the Back of a Truck – Am I Protected?
You are a small business and have been given a friend's policy and procedures manual to use or it fell
off the back of a truck...
Many small businesses obtain policies and procedures this way only to find
out that their business is not protected when a dispute arises. Every industry has specific requirements
that need to be professionally addressed. Take the Medical Profession – what is your position on
employee / patient relationships? Plumbers - do your employees receive cash in payments? How
can you be protected if the tax office calls? Contact Phil to discuss your needs.
Sick Leave – Who Gets It?
Most full time employees are entitled to 8 days paid sick leave (sometimes called 'personal leave') per
year. Entitlement to sick leave varies in each state, where Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and
Tasmania have their individual state regulations. Part time employees receive proportionate sick leave
while casual employees do not qualify.
Some employees seem to think that every 6 weeks they can have a ‘sickie’ and you are kept
carrying the can! What can you do? For tips and traps about sick leave, click
here.
Work Choices - Australian Fair Pay Commission and Standard
The introduction of work choices has bought with it widespread changes that will effect your business. For more information click here.
Workplace Health and Safety – Compliance?
Workplace health and safety is a hot topic in today’s marketplace and your business is not exempt.
Health and safety compliance strategies do not have to be complex. As an employer you have a legal obligation
to provide your employees with a healthy and safe work environment and there are significant penalties
for not complying. The onus is on you and your business! Click
here for more information on Workplace Health & Safety Compliance.
Workplace Health and Safety – The Answers for Small Business
You can take some simple steps to ensure that you comply with your workplace health and safety obligations
and that your business is protected. Questions such as ‘what is a workplace health and safety policy
statement?’, ‘what is a hazard?’, ‘what is a risk?’ and ‘what do I
do?’ can
all seem too hard for the small business owner. Give your 'biz momentum' and allow us to take the stress
out of workplace health and safety. Click here for a fact sheet.
Workplace Violence
Workplace violence has become a tragic reality in the workforce today. From minor instances of harassment
to homicide, today’s workplace is littered with danger. We know that violence can occur in any occupation
and in a variety of situations. It can be internal to the workplace, or external, such as from a client
or visitor. Click here for more information on Workplace Violence.
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