HR Leader Podcast Network

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.

The evolution of the workforce has posed plenty of challenges for recruitment. This episode of The HR Leader discusses these challenges with Ben Townshend, the technology sales recruitment lead at Bluefin Resources. Ben touches on the implications brought about by the pandemic and how to stand out amid a tight labour market. He also outlines the importance of candidate experience and recruitment tech.

CEO confidence in executive leadership teams has seen a deep decline. Now, more than ever, presents an opportunity for HR professionals to prove their worth. On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Dee Fitzgerald, executive director at Russell Reynolds Associates, to discuss what’s caused this drop in confidence – and what proactive measures you can take to drive it up again. Dee talks about the big comparisons between traditional and today’s C-suite teams, what characteristics people in exec roles need to exude now, and the questions leaders should ask themselves when setting a business up for success. She also reveals how leaders can effectively develop next-generation leaders in-house and gives HR up-and-comers some key advice on how they can position themselves up for success from the get-go.  

Mitch Wallis is a mental health advocate and founder of Heart On My Sleeve. He joined The HR Leader to discuss the work his organisation does to promote mental health support in the workplace and why it’s so important. Mitch highlighted how people often spend more time at work than they do with loved ones, showing that the workplace is a crucial place to address mental wellbeing. To access Heart On My Sleeve’s workplace programs, visit the link below:https://www.heartonmysleeve.org/