Tag: HR

2026 Is Calling: The In’s and Out’s of Intentional Workplaces

Every year comes with its own noise.New trends. New language. New promises about what work should look like next. 2026 doesn’t need more of that. What it does need is honesty about what’s actually working – and what isn’t. Across the conversations we’re having with business owners, leaders, local governments and NFPs’ & their boards, […]

You’re Paying for the Job, Not the Person

Let’s get one thing straight — you’re paying for the job, not the person. If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “They’re not really worth that much,” it’s time for a rethink. Because if someone isn’t worth the going rate for the role, then they probably shouldn’t be in the role. Simple as that. Every job has a […]

Why We Don’t Get Bored Anymore – And What That Means for Who We Are at Work

We used to have downtime. Waiting in a doctor’s office. Standing in line. Sitting on the bus. Zoning out at work. Moments where our mind wandered — sometimes to nothing at all, other times to the bigger questions: Am I happy with where my life is heading? Am I living in a way that aligns […]

Business-First is Out. People-First is Profitable. Let’s Talk Employee Experience

There’s a reason HR professionals are banging the employee experience (EX) drum louder than ever — because it works. Not in a fluffy, warm-and-fuzzy, “yay team” kind of way. In a hard, measurable, bottom-line-impacting kind of way. But to get there, businesses need to undergo one of the biggest mindset shifts of all: from business-first […]

The Real Work: Why Compliance Won’t Save You From Turnover

There’s a belief out there — still very much alive in small business land — that if you hire good people, you’ll get good performance. That if you “treat people fairly,” they’ll stick around. That if you tick the compliance boxes, you’ve done your bit. Let’s be blunt: compliance alone is not a retention strategy. It […]

Getting the Best Out of Your People Isn’t Luck. It’s Intentional.

You know what doesn’t work anymore? Managing people like they need to be managed. Policies written for the lowest common denominator. Performance reviews designed to protect the business instead of grow the individual. Engagement surveys that read like compliance checklists. If you want to build a workplace where people thrive—not just survive—you need to recognise that […]

The Space Between: Where Culture Becomes Real

There’s a seductive simplicity in aiming for compliance.It’s clean. It’s quantifiable. And it’s comfortable. Then there’s best practice HR — aspirational, polished, full of leadership buzzwords and culture decks. But the real work?It lives in the space between. The bit that doesn’t come with a checklist.The part where intent and impact collide.The day-to-day moments where your […]

When the Boss Is the Business: Why Culture In SMEs Needs a Different Playbook

Let’s be honest — most leadership advice floating around the internet is written for the Googles and the Westpacs of the world. Unlimited budgets, whole HR teams, and enough corporate buzzwords to fill a bingo card. But what about the business owners who are the HR team, the payroll officer, the complaints department, and the person still […]