The HR Cartel Podcast

The RBA has left interest rates high, and indicated we may be waiting until 2026 to see any reprieve. To quote the Great Mark Bouris - I fear this can push us into a recession. What does that mean for businesses?  Time to look ahead and assess you market and organisation - one major mitigating action is to cut costs when you feel you're looking at a dire short to medium term future. Headcount is u...

In this episode of The HR Cartel Podcast, Tim Dive discusses the pressing issues within Australia's industrial relations landscape, focusing on recent changes and conflicts in employment laws. He highlights the persistent challenges posed by the CFMEU's toxic culture and the government's inadequate responses. Tim calls for courage and integrity from HR professionals and leaders to stand against co...

As we watch the government and the CFMEU scramble to defend themselves in the wake of corruption allegations, I fear the scope of the argument is far too narrow to make any outcome meaningful. We cannot let any political party manipulate the system so far that Australian's lives, even those distant from any construction union's reach, are negatively impacted, unaffordable, and left with nowhere to...

In the fall out of the crime and corruption committed by one of the biggest unions in Australia, we need to ask - who's really at fault here?  Who is to blame when an industry gets so toxic, that for decades, it can't be stopped? It can't be turned around, and so people exit the industry. They write to politicians for help. No one listens and finally, it is left up to journalists to expose the tru...

Finally, thank goodness some Australian journalists have the freedom and courage to report the truth when they learn about it. After 9 months of investigating, journalists have produced a set of recordings and statements that demonstrate what many of us have been saying all along. The corruption in Australia's building and construction industry, funded by the government, and controlled by CFMEU th...

After a brief hiatus due to injury and illness - I'm back! Let's talk about the poor leadership decisions and lack of leadership courage combining to hold back employers and businesses in Australia. It's not their fault (leaders) - this has been a 10-15 year dip into the abyss of businesses/workplaces trying to appease people, make everyone happy, and be accepted by everybody. Its a trap - and now...

We review a list of breaches and penalties (totalling $1.7M) from a recent case where 45 breaches were identified, including document and payslip errors, as well as underpayments. Excellent example of how much Employers will be liable to pay for simple errors of record keeping and payslip details. We also look ahead to picture what this case may have looked like next year, with wage theft laws int...

New Industrial Relations laws coming into effect on 26 August 2024 will significantly impact on employers who engage or intend to engage casual employees and contractors. These updates bring vast changes to how casual employment is defined and managed, and the risks of engaging contractors. Ultimately, employers have lost control caused by union wish lists being granted and brought into law.   Con...

Call me crazy, but I feel like we're headed for a Howard Government style attack against a particular Union - it doesn't feel like we're on a good path, the Union movement is desperate to run a wrecking ball through Australian workplace relations, and our Prime Minister has just publicly declared his undying devotion to advancing the union movement every day he is in power. All employers must take...

Want to hear an alarming truth? We have more than 200,000 vacant positions in our agriculture sector. We need those jobs performed if we have any chance of feeding and clothing ourselves with Australian produce. In Episode 40, we talk with Kelli McDougall, Managing Director or Agri Talent about the reality of Australia's Ag sector, the opportunities, the careers, and why Australian's have the wron...

This time, we're discussing how to leverage remuneration, incentives and training to drive a return on investment in your wage bill, each year. Hear how to set up the tools needed that guarantee healthy remuneration modelling, hiring decisions, reward and recognition, to push your business along a strategic plan, to execute short and long term goals.    Reach The HR Cartel Podcast at thehrcartelpo...

The "candidate market" and recruitment generally changes with market influences, and we've got plenty happening right now, to make recruitment difficult. Many employers are recruiting without success, and retaining people is just as challenging in the shadow of the Covid era.  We get candid, as always, with Tanya and open the discussion up.  Check out Recruit Corp here https://recruitcorp.com.au/...

This week, we talk with Phil Di Bella, AKA The Coffee King. When someone can take $5,000 and change the game forever, you bet they have many tales to tell and relevant lessons for all of us. Phil is a renowned entrepreneur who changed the hospitality industry with his customer-centric approach in the coffee/café market.  These days, Phil is changing the game again with his world-first concept "The...

Josh Hill gets real on some workplace subjects that aren't for the faint-hearted (trigger warning) and we explore the trials and tribulations of starting businesses, the journey from conceptualising a business to creating an operating company, and hear Josh's thoughts on the difficulties of employing in Australia, complying with laws, and all while competing in competitive markets.  Are you launch...

A wonderful James Clear quote set me on fire this week: "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems". And how correct he is - so, we explore the HR Cartel concept of "platforms" and explain how you can simply and systematically capture knowledge, develop your organisation, and get improvements compounding to operate better than ever. Of course, the result is g...

Smaller Employers: there is a perfect storm approaching so we're looking ahead for the next five to ten years and considering what's in store for you. We talk about the risks that are manifesting, over-regulation and the information you need to protect yourself into the future.  Listen in to hear about small business and smaller employer capability needs you needs, not just to comply and avoid emp...

We're talking to Employers; Labor's IR moves are about to bite us hard. Let's talk about the demands of the Union, now infiltrating the Fair Work Commission who is currently drafting wording for Modern Awards, that will impose the Union onto Employers, harder than ever before. How do you feel about paying the Union's operating costs? That may very-well be in our immediate future. We also discuss t...

In this Education Series episode, we explain the general process of Unfair Dismissal Claims and how employers may wish to see things as they progress through the claim defence process. Hear about responding to a claim, jurisdictional objections, the small business fair dismissal code, preparations for an Unfair Dismissal hearing, what to expect on the day of of your Unfair Dismissal hearing, and t...

We talk about the destruction of the Aussie workplace, the intentional actions by employees and the regulators to continue the impact of bad industrial relations rules, and we bring culture into the conversation. As promised for the show notes: Here's the link to give your thoughts to the Commission on the "Right to Disconnect" Variation of modern awards to include a right to disconnect | Fair Wor...

Are employees getting too much time off, paid, each year? Annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, compassionate leave, FDV leave, and now the Queensland Council of Unions wants an additional 10 days of paid leave for reproductive health. How far is too far? Employees are facing non-productive workforces with increased rights to request even more disconnection from their jobs without any reducti...

The Gender Pay Equity report is out, and the agency responsible for workplace equality has (again) produced nothing more than an attack on businesses, no solutions, yet demonstrates no 'real' problem actually exists in workplace pay equality. We talk about the lunacy currently plaguing Australian workplaces and how small and medium sized employers will have to tread carefully in the coming months/...

We dub Minister Tony Burke, "Shania". He don't impress me much... The ridiculous rules this Minister is now making Australian employers deal with, is simply "not impressive". His policies have sent the volume of permanent Australian jobs down, down, down... What's new? Right to disconnect, new Contractor rules, and Unions getting unfettered access to any workplaces' payroll records. What a guy! Em...

We discuss the 4 ways employers can most effectively get more out of their people, the total workforce, and where drastic measures are needed, restructure and outsource key functions. Sharing knowledge from real-world experience - listen in and share your thoughts on any other ideas that work. Contact us at thehrcartelpodcast@gmail.com and visit www.workplaceas.com for tools and tips.

Where do you sit on Working From Home and Return To Office mandates? We explore the statements and arguments people are pushing, and the rebuttals we feel every Employer has the right to make. Share your thoughts with us, join the debate. thehrcartelpodcast@gmail.com or www.workplaceas.com

Research from the Oxford University has proven what real-world HR practitioners have known all along. Wellbeing programs and incentives haven't achieved a thing! The solution is and always has been right under our noses. If you want your people to be happier, more productive, healthier, and more engaged, the answer is far simpler than you may think. Check out www.workplaceas.com for more resources...