HR Leader Podcast Network

The Indigenous Voice to Parliament has gained considerable attention in recent months, with a referendum on track for later this year. In this episode, we share a conversation with one of our sister brands, Lawyers Weekly, on what businesses should know about the Voice and their obligations as employers. In this episode, Swaab partner Michael Byrnes takes listeners through various employment and workplace relations scenarios that will have to be considered with regard to the Voice and how employees can reasonably express their views if they are in conflict with their employer’s position. Mr Byrnes also reveals the dangers of overstepping in publicly contradicting one’s employer and the steps both sides may need to take to ensure freedom of expression is balanced against corporate interests.

Rolling out effective tech can be all the difference in a business thriving and falling short in today’s market. On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by SmartRecruiters’ Richard Lewis-Jones to unpack any hesitation around tech and how employers can benefit from maximising its use. The Vice-President of Asia Pacific takes listeners through the touch points that can be improved during the talent acquisition process, offering real-life examples of how businesses have succeeded in this space. Rich also shares how business leaders can distinguish what tasks still need that people-centric approach, the “people > process > technology strategy” he recommends, and some exclusive findings from SmartRecruiters’ new Global Hiring Trends report. To access SmartRecruiters’ Global Hiring Trends report in full, click here: https://www.smartrecruiters.com/resources/landing/global-hiring-trends-2023/ To book a meeting with Rich, click here: https://hello.smartrecruiters.com/c/RLewis-Jones

Mentorship can be a powerful tool in the workplace. Not only is it a great way for employees to hone their skills and progress, but managers can better their leadership capabilities. In this episode of The HR Leader, host Jack Campbell was joined by the University of South Australia’s research assistant, Dr Debbie Devis, who discussed the power of mentorship. Dr Devis also delved into the barriers women face in the workplace, especially the STEM fields, and how workplaces, and the women who work there, can turn negative attitudes around. The transferring of skills was touched upon, as well as how organisations can benefit by opening up their talent pools and taking advantage of skills that may be different to the standard.

Even though 86 per cent of companies in the post-pandemic era are confident they have found the right balance in terms of people-first work models like hybrid or remote working, 55 per cent have not provided their employees with genuine choice about when or where they work. On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Stef Shoffren, modern workplace lead at Avanade, to discuss why flexibility and hybrid work should be a continued focus going forward, despite some forcing employees back to the office full-time. Stef shares findings around Avanade’s “People first. Or people false” research, which reveals a gap in what organisations are promising and what is being delivered to employees. He also offers his advice for technology-cautious employers and how to better utilise data and experimentation to create an effective working environment for all.

Wellbeing in the workplace is important to get right in order to get the most you can out of employees. On this episode of The HR Leader, the chief executive and co-founder of CU Health, Dr Patrick Aouad, discussed some strategies the top organisations use to ensure staff are happy and engaged. Dr Patrick also touched on the effect tokenistic perks can have and when they can become an issue. The rise of tech and how it impacts wellbeing was also discussed, as well as how the new age of flexible working has had an impact on workers. Different demographics must be considered when implementing policy, which is why a “one-size-fits-all” approach can be counter-productive for employers. Dr Patrick outlined how to navigate this issue while also mentioning the difficulties women have in the workforce.

Instilling meaningful measures for your employees can help ensure they feel supported, even outside of the office. In the lead-up to National Families Week next week, host Emma Musgrave was joined by Emma Walsh, founder of Family Friendly Workplaces and the CEO of Parents at Work, to discuss the importance of leaders being considerate of employee commitments at home. Emma Walsh shares the biggest trends she sees play out when it comes to supporting parents and other carers, including how the pandemic and rising cost of living have contributed to greater implementation of key policies in Australian businesses. She also gives her thoughts on what more needs to be done at a government level to support people and her top tips for businesses obtaining family-friendly certification. National Families Week will be held from 15 to 23 May. To learn more about the event, or to register your interest, visit here: https://nfw.org.au/about/

Cyber hacks have created a logistical nightmare for businesses around the world. As HR professionals, we need to remain on top of the latest trends, threats and challenges to ensure we’re educating employees and employers about the risks. On this episode of The HR Leader, we share a recent discussion between one of our sister brands, Lawyers Weekly, and Law & Cyber founder and legal practitioner director Simone Herbert-Lowe – who unpacks the state of affairs for cyber attacks in Australia. Simone shares why smaller outfits are a prime target for different hackers and how business leaders can stay across proposed legislative changes and implement their own solutions in-house to better protect data.

Keeping staff happy can boost engagement, productivity, and overall profitability. In this episode, Jade Green also touched on how to build a strong culture, why psychological safety is a must, and why workplace champions can be a great addition to the workforce.  

Stats around absence management are evolving year on year, with the time ripe for HR professionals to put it top of their business agenda. On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave chats to Morag Fitzsimons, national manager of employee care, people solutions at Lockton, on the benefits of putting absence management front and centre – and the risks that come with not having effective measures that speak to this. Morag runs through the latest findings concerning absence management in the Australian market and how these stack up to what’s playing out overseas. She also gives her tips to ensure Australian business leaders are leading the pack in implementing benefits that will make a true difference in the eyes of staff and avoid those that are tokenistic. 

Despite some companies’ best efforts, many may find themselves falling behind when it comes to meaningful investment in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Melissa Bowden, senior HR director, APAC and Japan at Workday, to unpack recent studies that pinpoint how Australia’s DEI investment efforts are tracking – and what needs improving. Melissa takes Emma through Workday’s approach to DEI investment and gives her views as to how the importance of implementing strategies surrounding the topic has changed over the years. Melissa also provides listeners with her top tips on how to navigate inevitable headwinds that come with evolving work environments, as well as the tech that can make all the difference in a company’s support on offer.