HR Leader Podcast Network

Today's International Co-working Day serves as a timely reminder of the importance of flexibility and the value it has on the employee value proposition. In this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by International Workplace Group's Damien Sheehan to discuss the pros and cons of mandating employees to return to the office. Damien discusses the generational divide on such policies and how HR leaders can address disgruntlement coming through the ranks. Damien also shares some telling research that pinpoints the true value of continuing a hybrid approach, including the impacts it's been shown to make on staff retention and attraction, as well as some of the lesser-discussed benefits related to the world's carbon footprint.

In this episode of HR Leader's podcast, the director of Karan & Co, Lauren Karan, shares valuable insights on coaching, transferable skills, and the significance of continuous learning in today's ever-changing job market. Lauren emphasises the importance of ongoing training and learning agility. She highlights how successful professionals consistently level up their skills, demonstrating a growth mindset that propels their careers forward. Whether you're just starting or well into your career, continuous learning is a key factor in personal and professional growth. Lauren discusses the significance of having a clear plan for career progression. She encourages individuals to identify transferable skills and develop a strategy to upskill for future opportunities.

As people make their way through life, various skills are picked up along the way. While you may be in a role that is completely different in function from your last, transferable skills can help you to excel. In this episode of The HR Leader, business strategist Angela Vithoulkas discussed her experience in both hospitality and politics. Angela has used her professional experience to help her shine in new ventures. Also touched on were the challenges faced by small businesses. With the pandemic hitting hard and many CBD businesses affected by remote working, supporting these struggling businesses is more important than ever.

With employees the heartbeat of any organisation, it's important to have the right talent acquisition team in place to attract and retain vital staff. In this episode of The HR Leader, partnered by SEEK, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Mike Virgo, talent acquisition national manager at Coles Group. Mike and Coles Group recently scooped up two awards at the 2022 SEEK Talent Acquisition Recognition (STAR) Awards, recognising his and his team's efforts in the TA space. Mike highlights the importance of creating an inclusive recruitment process and discusses the challenges and future trends in talent acquisition, such as leveraging technology and maintaining employee engagement in a competitive market. Submissions for the 2023 STAR Awards are now open. To learn more about the awards, or to enter, click on this link: https://www.seek.com/starawards

It's no secret that employers are struggling to actively engage staff. Is it time to give up on the notion of a traditional nine-to-five? In this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Carly Koemptgen to discuss why and how Aussie bosses can take advantage of talent out there that might not necessarily exist in their immediate backyard. Carly, 25, is currently travelling along Australia's east coast working in an arrangement that suits both her personal and career aspirations. Carly takes listeners through how her set-up works and why she sees other Gen Zers following suit. She also discusses what employers should be doing to capture young talent, how her generation is reshaping office life and the best ways to stay motivated when in a remote working environment.

In this episode of The HR Leader, nrol director Jesse Shah discusses the key trends that are driving recruitment, as it has proved to be a very volatile area of business. Jesse discusses whether or not we are still experiencing a candidate's market and how organisations can take advantage of this to boost attraction and retention. Understanding what job seekers are after and providing genuine care can help to improve capability. He further talks about the role of the recruitment industry and gives his opinion on whether they are truly dying or whether it's just a myth. Jesse also touches on the role of talent mobility and how harnessing it can be very beneficial.

On this episode of The HR Leader, we were joined by Aimee Baker, chief executive of Ari Recruitment. Aimee discussed just how crucial it is to keep staff happy and how prioritising flexibility can help keep the workforce engaged and productive. Utilising young talent is as important as ever, and Gen Z will soon be the leaders. Understanding the value the younger generations have is key to keeping up with the competition. She also touched on the importance of tech for any organisation and how Ari Recruitment has leveraged this tech to its advantage. Aimee is a business leader and, at a young age, has had to learn the ropes quickly. Leadership challenges and opportunities are constantly appearing, and she discussed how she navigates this.

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.

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/

Recent government efforts to better support employees suffering from family and domestic violence are a step in the right direction, but do they go far enough? On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave is joined by Tammy Hewitt for an honest and insightful conversation about addressing the issue in Australian workplaces. Tammy is a mental health advocate and keynote speaker who has a passion for educating business leaders about how they can implement practical measures in-house to support staff who need it most. While she is encouraged by the new Australian legislation, which allows employees 10 days of family and domestic violence leave, she shares how employers can go the extra mile. Tammy also shares the tell-tale signs of family and domestic violence HR can look out for in staff – and the appropriate steps to take in supporting them from the get-go.

While more Australian workplaces are bolstering their efforts in the wellbeing space, there are lessons that can be learnt from overseas counterparts. On this episode of The HR Leader, host Emma Musgrave chats to Aussie-based Cathy McDonald, executive general manager of Vitality Works, and UK-based Dr Adam Huxley, co-founder and COO of Thrive, on the hidden benefits that come with an expanded workplace policy. Cathy and Adam take listeners through the financial and cultural benefits that come with placing greater emphasis on mental health in the workplace, discuss the cost of absenteeism, and give their advice to HR leaders and key decision-makers who are keen to implement greater initiatives going forward. The pair also discuss the partnership their companies have recently embarked on to bring what's being dubbed the next revolutionary employee assistance program (EAP) solution to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Nicole Karagiannis is the chief people and culture officer at Harrison.ai. She spoke with The HR Leader about her career as an HR professional, her interest in coaching and executive leadership, and the importance of DEI and belonging in HR's outlook. Ms Karagiannis shared with listeners how being trilingual has enhanced her HR work, including being able to speak clearly and plainly to a diverse group of people. She commented on the role of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in Harrison.ai's workplace, including why it's important to tailor recognition to individual employees. Seeing HR as a "commercial business partner" is key for Ms Karagiannis, who demonstrated in the podcast discussion how HR could be a commercial contributor outside of what's thought of as the traditional HR role. Listen to the full podcast to also discover Ms Karagiannis' tips for those in the tech industry currently experiencing workforce challenges. Dave Ulrich is referenced in this podcast discussion. For more information, see the links below: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-hr-competencies-actions-enable-renewal-through-human-dave-ulrich/ https://www.rbl.net/insights/videos/hr-from-the-outside-in

James McIlvena, LHH Australia and New Zealand's managing director, talked to The HR Leader for this podcast in partnership with LHH. Examining the LHH Global Workforce of the Future Report, the discussion ranged from skills to salary conversations, career development and more. Mr McIlvena spoke about what LHH's findings revealed regarding skills, employee demand for career progression, and why new tech like AI is driving human workers to maintain relevance. It's rare for an organisation and its employees to agree that both sides feel salary levels are spot on, but Mr McIlvena shared some of the ways businesses can mitigate this disconnect. Diving into the phenomenon of "quitfluencers", the podcast also discussed what organisations could do to stem the tide if one employee's decision to leave sparks others to also consider their options. And the conversation wouldn't have been complete without delving into worker wellbeing. Mr McIlvena did this through a lens of understanding what businesses can do to encourage their people to take regular breaks. For listeners who'd like to read more about the LHH Global Workforce of the Future Report, please click here: https://info.lhh.com/ANZ/HRL-CTM-global-workforce-of-the-future-2023

The Equinix Foundation is committed to digital inclusion. Sujata Narayan, its director, and Bruce Owen, its president, joined The HR Leader to share what the foundation is all about and examples of some of the great initiatives the team is involved with worldwide. Diversity is a word that comes up a lot when talking about the foundation, and it's apt with both Equinix employees and people from other organisations supporting the foundation's work. The foundation is also adamant about being part of the places where they operate, with the focus in each region shifting as required to meet the needs of that area. Ms Narayan shared insight into the work the foundation is doing in India to help women achieve digital parity when it comes to learning, as well as efforts in the US to bridge cultural and racial divides. Mr Owen spoke about a growth area of the foundation, which is to provide more support to ageing workers when it comes to digital inclusion. Any discussion about the foundation's work would be incomplete without covering the importance of DEI and belonging and why it's central to what the foundation is doing – a lack of digital inclusion has many knock-on effects for people. Mr Owen concluded that they don't pretend to have all the answers at the foundation, but they're committed to being a part of the solution.

Subhashree Das shared with The HR Leader her experience as an HR professional moving from India to Australia, looking for work opportunities. Ms Das is now a client services officer in the contract management team at Konica Minolta, but her journey finding work in Australia was not easy. Ms Das talked through some of the big names she'd worked with in India, organisations that any Australian recruiter would recognise. However, it was still an uphill battle for her to secure a position in Australia due to the common bias for 'local experience'. Ms Das explained for listeners what recruiters are overlooking when they have a blinkered view valuing 'local' above all else. Being more open to a diverse range of backgrounds is an asset for businesses according to Ms Das, pointing out how advantageous it is when organisations have either internal or external (or both) clients from a variety of cultures and countries. She also reminded listeners about all the soft or human skills that overseas applicants bring with them. For anyone new to Australia looking for their first position here, Ms Das shared some tips, including focussing on continual learning, gaining local qualifications where possible. Ms Das was assisted in finding work in Australia by atWork Australia. You can find out more about them here: https://www.atworkaustralia.com.au

Nintex's vice-president for APAC, Christian Lucarelli, sat down with The HR Leader to share insights into his career that started in HR, moved into HR tech, and up to his current role with Nintex today. He noted that the skills he learnt in HR are now invaluable in managing and leading people. Mr Lucarelli talked about why technology that captures business processes and knowledge is critical for organisations, citing creating 'centres of excellence' as one of the ways Nintex helps its customers. Looking at the hurdles HR is facing today and into the future, Mr Lucarelli talked about why HR tech like Nintex needs to be 'people-centric', getting people away from spreadsheets and using technology to automate work where possible.

Aaron Goonrey is a partner at Lander & Rogers and specialises in workplace relations and safety. He spoke with The HR Leader on 24 November 2022 about some of the DEI issues Australian workplaces should be aware of. Looking at both current and predicted DEI challenges, Mr Goonrey shared his thoughts on the barriers some organisations face in embracing DEI. The podcast conversation also covered Australia's seeming preoccupation with only one area of DEI: gender, with Mr Goonrey stating: "I think in some regards, in Australia that is, we're a little bit behind what diversity, equity and inclusion means broadly. With that said, I think we get fixated on female representation or gender representation, broadly speaking because women represent 50 per cent of the population, so have greater representation and visibility as compared with other minority groups." He added: "So when you look at gender and women, their representation is going to be critical in discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion. But we do have that preoccupation I think because we're a little bit behind the game when it comes to that." Mr Goonrey also shared what he thinks a "truly inclusive organisation" is and why he's personally very interested in DEI. "I've got a passion around it because I think that everyone, regardless of who you are, or where you come from ... I have a passion that those people, particularly when we're talking about our minorities, should feel safe and confident to bring their authentic self to work and to be assured that they will be treated equally among their co-workers and by their managers," said Mr Goonrey.

From aircraft maintenance engineer to HR professional, Adam Hill brings a unique perspective to HR. Mr Hill joined The HR Leader on 22 November 2022 to discuss how his background in aircraft maintenance engineering has been advantageous to his current HR role. Delving into the skills that have translated from his prior work to HR, Mr Hill's career change is inspiring for those looking for a door into HR in 2023. His story is also relevant for anyone seeking talent and needing to think differently about who's appropriate in order to open up talent pools. The podcast conversation culminated in Mr Hill's insights on the top issues facing HR with an eye on the new year.

The co-founder of The Wellbeing Lab, Dr Michelle McQuaid, joined The HR Leader to talk about workplace wellbeing and positive psychology. Dr McQuaid explained why she has a particular interest in wellbeing at work, what wellbeing champions are, and the connection between data and wellbeing to measure success. She also dived into what the phrase 'positive psychology' means to her. The podcast conversation concluded with Dr McQuaid sharing insights into her work with business leaders. Dr McQuaid has kindly provided the below reference for podcast listeners: https://www.michellemcquaid.com/research/

The general manager for TQSolutions, Nadine O'Regan, spoke with The HR Leader this week about talent: what to expect in 2023, industries of concern, ideas for nurturing leadership, and more. Making sure they have the right talent down the track is an important consideration for organisations. Ms O'Regan spoke about what businesses might anticipate in terms of talent next year and her thoughts on what the recent federal budget might mean for workers. It was clear from the discussion that some industries are particularly struggling right now. Ms O'Regan discussed areas where skills are really tight, and the knock-on effect this has for realising goals like achieving more childcare to level up female and male participation in the workforce. Ms O'Regan has kindly provided the following references for this podcast episode: https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/publications/skills-priority-list-key-findings https://www.listcorp.com/asx/edu/edu-holdings-limited/news/ceo-address-to-annual-general-meeting-2706679.html https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-18/aged-care-sector-welcomes-pacific-workers-need-35000-more-a-year/101344072 https://www.ceda.com.au/NewsAndResources/MediaReleases/Health-Ageing/Australias-aged-care-crisis-escalates-staff-short https://dartlindsley.com/ https://joshbersin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/TA-22_04-The-Definitive-Guide-to-Recruiting-ExecSum.pdf

Karen Loon spoke with The HR Leader about cultural diversity and attracting talent to Australia from overseas. Ms Loon shared what it was like for her returning to Australia after working overseas. She talked about her passion for cultural diversity, and ideas for attracting candidates to Australia from other countries. The podcast conversation on 28 October also covered how organisational culture can negatively impact the experience of overseas workers or people with varying cultural backgrounds. Ms Loon kindly shared the following book for reference with The HR Leader listeners: Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians, Jane Hyun

Jessica Hickman, the author of The Upstander Leader and founder and director of Bullyology, shared with The HR Leader what it's been like to move to and work in Orange, NSW. She also shared what she'd like leaders to know about bullying in the workplace and what it means to be an 'upstander'. Ms Hickman talked about what it's like to work on business culture in regional NSW, noting: "One of the biggest things I found moving to regional New South Wales, and I do a lot of work across the states regionally now, is there seems to be old-school mindsets and behaviours." She added that she's "Working with organisations where people have been leaders for 30, even 40 years, and looking at some of the big picture trends that are affecting leaders and workplace culture at the moment." Explaining to The HR Leader listeners what the 'bystander effect' is, Ms Hickman said that it refers to: "As human beings, when things get hard, challenging or quite toxic and difficult, our natural instinct and desire is to diffuse responsibility." Ms Hickman then shared her thoughts on 'upstander cultures' which people can read about more in her book, The Upstander Leader. The podcast conversation concludes with Ms Hickman's vision for her work over the next five years, focusing on what she terms 'the upstanding generation'. For more information about Ms Hickman's work around bullying in the workplace, you can visit https://bullyology.com/ Note from the editor: If you're currently experiencing any of the issues discussed in this podcast episode and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au

Fay Calderone, partner at Hall and Wilcox, joined The HR Leader for a special two-part podcast looking at recent news in employment law, from Respect@Work through to proposed changes around pay secrecy. In part one, Ms Calderone talked about the recent Respect@Work bill (https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/commission-commends-introduction-respectwork-bill) that follows the Respect@Work report (https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/respectwork-sexual-harassment-national-inquiry-report-2020) in relation to HR and preventing workplace sexual harrassment. The Bill has passed through the lower house and is before the Senate next week. This first conversation also included the potential consequences of home working and hybrid working on women in the workplace, as well as the mental health concerns HR and those leading people should be aware of since the start of COVID-19. In part two, Ms Calderone discussed the proposed Fair Work Legislation Amendment Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill 2022 as well as what her role as a flexible work ambassador means to her. A proposed change to pay secrecy was highlighted, as were new anti-discrimination measures that are being put forward. Ms Calderone provided the below links for listeners who'd like to delve into the legislation and bills further: Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6882) – passed Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6916) – senate committee report on 3/11/22 Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary%20Business/Bills%20Legislation/Bills%20Search%20Results/Result/Second%20Reading%20Speeches?BillId=r6941) – up to 2nd reading speeches Notes from the editor: This podcast was recorded on 4 November 2022 and all information above is accurate as of 16 November 2022. This article and podcast has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as advice (legal or otherwise). If you're currently experiencing any of the sensitive issues we've discussed in this podcast and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au

Fay Calderone, partner at Hall and Wilcox, joined The HR Leader for a special two-part podcast looking at recent news in employment law, from Respect@Work through to proposed changes around pay secrecy. In part one, Ms Calderone talked about the recent Respect@Work bill (https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/commission-commends-introduction-respectwork-bill) that follows the Respect@Work report (https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/respectwork-sexual-harassment-national-inquiry-report-2020) in relation to HR and preventing workplace sexual harrassment. The Bill has passed through the lower house and is before the Senate next week. This first conversation also included the potential consequences of home working and hybrid working on women in the workplace, as well as the mental health concerns HR and those leading people should be aware of since the start of COVID-19. In part two, Ms Calderone discussed the proposed Fair Work Legislation Amendment Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill 2022 as well as what her role as a flexible work ambassador means to her. A proposed change to pay secrecy was highlighted, as were new anti-discrimination measures that are being put forward. Ms Calderone provided the below links for listeners who'd like to delve into the legislation and bills further: Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6882) – passed Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6916) – senate committee report on 3/11/22 Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary%20Business/Bills%20Legislation/Bills%20Search%20Results/Result/Second%20Reading%20Speeches?BillId=r6941) – up to 2nd reading speeches Notes from the editor: This podcast was recorded on 4 November 2022 and all information above is accurate as of 16 November 2022. This article and podcast has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as advice (legal or otherwise). If you're currently experiencing any of the sensitive issues we've discussed in this podcast and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au

Following the recent webcast: Career and Talent Mobility Simplified (https://www.hrleader.com.au/webcasts/23341-career-and-talent-mobility-simplified) with LHH and HR Leader, James McIlvena, LHH's managing director for Australia and New Zealand, sat down with The HR Leader to dive into the topic of measuring the productivity and success of career and talent mobility through different lenses. The podcast conversation covered how organisations can help people engage with learning platforms and how to build internal support, be it from leadership, HR/L&D colleagues, or employees. Mr McIlvena also spoke about the role of pilots when launching new learning programs and how to build productivity measures for learning initiatives to determine ROI. Mr McIlvena stressed that it's important for technology to be launched properly if organisations want to see positive results.

The HR Leader had the pleasure of speaking with Gabrielle Dolan, speaker, author and the founder of 'jargon-free Fridays' alongside Miranda Ratajski, chief information officer for group business units at Westpac about the power of storytelling – when it's done correctly. The podcast delved into what storytelling is in a business-leadership context, why it works, and what it might look like when it isn't done well. As a business leader, Ms Ratajski (https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-kovacic/) shared how she's used storytelling and the results she's witnessed off the back of it. Ms Dolan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/) commented on the difference between using stories and simply sharing facts and figures. Ms Dolan kindly shared the below with HR Leader: 7 day storytelling starter kit (https://gabrielledolan.com/starterkit/) Strategic Storytelling Virtual Webcast with Gabrielle Dolan (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/strategic-storytelling-virtual-webcast-with-gabrielle-dolan-tickets-396305038037) – HR Leader listeners receive a 20% discount when using the code: MM20 Note from the editor: Please note that HR Leader has not been paid to promote the above resources. The links are provided for informational purposes only, and do not constitute a recommendation, endorsement or otherwise.

Dr Dominic McLoughlin is a people management specialist with a keen interest in trust in organisations. He spoke with The HR Leader about his transition from industrial relations to HR, his academic research, and knowledge sharing in the workplace. Dr McLoughlin shared how his experience working in industrial relations revealed the reactive side of HR, and that his later work 'on the other side' has been more proactive HR. He explained how trust and knowledge sharing intersect, with trust being essential to employees feeling like they can try things, learn from them, and grow – even if those things aren't always a success. The conversation covered some ideas that HR leaders can use to promote both trust and knowledge sharing in their workplaces, as well as tips for those wanting to make virtual working a success. Dr McLoughlin highlighted some of the pitfalls of virtual work environments, including missing out on casual 'over the desk' conversations and a lack of human connection when people don't use the video function for team video calls. He explained that being mindful of only inviting those who need to be at a meeting might help improve meeting engagement and success, musing that the virtual meeting of the future might well include the use of holograms. Dr McLoughlin kindly provided the following references: Dirks and Ferrin (2002): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-15406-001 Mcloughlin (2014): https://www.amazon.com/Knowledge-Worker-Trust-Within-Organisations-ebook/dp/B00TQE7WMA McLoughlin (2022): https://www.amazon.com.au/Better-Manager-Five-Minutes-Day-ebook/dp/B0BHBW589B/

Justine Figo is an HR director, author and executive coach. She spoke with The HR Leader about how HR has changed over her career, the exciting network of senior HR professionals that she's created, and what she'd love to see from HR in the future. Ms Figo related anecdotes about being part of the family business as a child and how she learnt very early about the important role people play in an organisation's success. Sharing her experience as a law graduate and then moving into the HR field, Ms Figo commented on how important those early career experiences were. As an HR director working with a variety of clients, Ms Figo discussed some of the common concerns she's seeing in the market, with talent shortages top of the list. The conversation also delved into the role of tech in modern HR and how she'd like to see HR progress in the workplace transformation arena. Ms Figo shared with The HR Leader information about the HR network she started pre-COVID-19, how everyone was able to support each other as the pandemic changed how people work, and why the network has been a success. To find out if you're eligible for membership of the network, you can email [email protected] And you can find Ms Figo's books at: https://justinefigo.com/books/

Kellie-Ann McDade, partner at Baker McKenzie, spoke with The HR Leader about what employers should be mindful of following the return to work after COVID-19 lockdowns, including considerations around letting employees work out of the employer's home state. Ms McDade touched on some of the WH&S concerns that employers should be aware of, including obligations they still need to fulfil, regardless of where the worker 'works', and why psychological safety is top of the priority list. The conversation also delved into work/life balance and some of the biggest challenges right now regarding written and unwritten reward obligations. For example, misuse of annualised salaries and the risks involved in not paying enough to avoid minimum award requirements. Note from the editor: Please note that this article and podcast has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as advice (legal or otherwise).

From high school teacher to positive psychology coach, Michelle Falzon shared her unique insights around the trauma that workforces have undergone due to COVID-19. She also spoke about why caution should be exercised regarding hybrid working and the challenges she's seeing in the HR market right now. Whether the impact of COVID-19 has been profound or minimal for an individual, everyone has experienced the negative repercussions of the pandemic to one degree or another. Ms Falzon spoke to The HR Leader about what businesses should be mindful of around COVID-19 trauma. Hybrid working has been a key trend to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdowns. Ms Falzon shared her concerns about a lack of social interaction resulting from working from home, noting that the convenience of being at home might come with some unwanted consequences as a result of not being in the office mixing with people. Ms Falzon kindly provided the following link for listeners who'd like to learn more about the 'heliotropic effect': https://leadchangegroup.com/positively-energizing-leaders-are-heliotropic/ Note from the editor: if you're currently experiencing any of the issues we've discussed in this podcast and would like to reach out for help, you may wish to contact Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au

The CEO and MD for auticon in Australia and New Zealand, Bodo Mann, joined The HR Leader to share auticon's story – a business with 70 per cent of its workforce on the autism spectrum. Mr Mann explained that auticon isn't a charity, even though its mission might be similar to charities that support neurodiverse workers. He shared what he feels Australia can learn from auticon's work overseas, as well as how their approach to hiring supports people with autism. A vital part of auticon's work is helping their people find success in their current and future work, and Mr Mann explained how they facilitate this. Businesses and candidates can find out more about working with auticon here (https://auticon.com.au/). auticon kindly shared the below references following the podcast: Autism and employment in Australia (https://www.amaze.org.au/creating-change/research/employment/#:~:text=In%20Australia%2C%20the%20unemployment%20rate,rate%20of%20people%20without%20disability) 4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 (https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/4430.0Main%20Features752015) states: "The unemployment rate for people with autism spectrum disorders was 31.6%, more than three times the rate for people with disability (10.0%) and almost six times the rate of people without disability (5.3%)." Employment program doubles employment for autistic youth (https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/employment-program-doubles-employment-autistic-youth) Auticon impact report 2021 (https://auticon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/auticon-Impact-Report-2021-English-1.pdf) Note from the editor: Please note that some statistics may have been slightly misquoted in the podcast recording.

Founder and CEO of Enboarder, Brent Pearson, joined The HR Leader to talk about why they're putting human connection at the heart of how they work as a business, as well as incorporating this into their product offering. Mr Pearson shared the origin story of Enboarder, relating the research he discovered that evidenced how critical onboarding is to employee retention. He shared this video for podcast listeners: Professor Dan Cable explains the Wipro research. Explaining his views on human connection as both a CEO and people leader as well as via his role as a product leader, Mr Pearson spoke about the challenges businesses face in creating human connections in a new hybrid-working world. He revealed insights into Enboarder's upcoming product features that will allow employees to better connect with each other, as well as how Enboarder will enhance workplace learning via the same principles. Mr Pearson concluded by sharing his thoughts on where the working world is heading, musing that if a recession occurs, the struggle finding talent following that is only going to increase. He divulged what he thinks will be the key attribute of organisations that thrive in a post-recession talent war.

AVL Wines people and culture director, Tash Cahill, joined The HR Leader to talk about how she has achieved a senior HR role so quickly in her career, the support she's received to help her achieve success, and how she's crafted her role so HR at AVL Wines can have the most impact. Ms Cahill knew that she wanted a career in HR, rather than falling into it like many in the profession. This gave her a bit of a head start in the industry. She also credits the support AVL Wines has given her in stepping up into a senior role as integral to her success. As a younger leader, Ms Cahill shared her perspective with The HR Leader on why it's advantageous for a business to have both older and younger professionals in leadership roles, with the different perspectives of both benefiting a business.

Leroy Wilkinson-Maher, the managing director and founder of Dhiira, sat down with The HR Leader to discuss what organisations can do to increase inclusion and equitability for Aboriginal people. In this second part of the conversation, Mr Wilkinson-Maher provided some insights for organisations looking to better understand the history of Aboriginal people, what positive changes businesses can support, and the role of HR in driving change that helps Aboriginal people.

The head of HR at Haleon ANZ, Abby Krause, joined The HR Leader to talk about the organisation's rebrand, how they've designed their offices to reflect the changing needs of their workforce, and how DEI has been considered throughout that journey. Haleon ANZ includes well-known brands from Sensodyne and Voltaren through to Panadol, Centrum, and ChapStick. Ms Krause shared how they were able to draw on insights from their extensive leadership team to shape the culture for Haleon ANZ. She also spoke about her interest in creating inclusive spaces for people, citing examples of how their new offices accommodate accessibility, parental, and religious needs. Ms Krause concluded the podcast discussion with tips and insights that other organisations can consider to make their workspaces hybrid-working friendly. She shared that their approach is to follow a philosophy rather than a policy, enabling them to be flexible around different people's needs.

Niall O'Rourke, partner at Sharp and Carter, spoke with The HR Leader about what the recruitment firm does to keep wellbeing front and centre. Sharp and Carter's website calls out their 'culture of uncommon care'. Mr O'Rourke described how this is reflected in the business, including assigning a founding member of their firm to look after the wellbeing of employees. Mr O'Rourke shared with The HR Leader why the firm rewards all of their employees, understanding that every role contributes to the commercial success of the business. He also spoke about what being an 'ethical recruiter' entails, relating that if you wouldn't place your family member in a position, why place a candidate in that role? As Mr O'Rourke summed up, they treat both clients and candidates as customers – a candidate sees first hand the level of detail they go into to make a placement, which helps inform them as a client what the process looks like client-side.

Mimma Mason, business development director of the clinical assessments arm in APAC for Pearson, joined The HR Leader to talk about her role as a cognitive scientist, and how her speciality relates to HR and people leaders. Ms Mason shared what she means when she refers to a 'career passport' and how it reflects a need to look beyond skills to the candidate/employee's experience more generally. Ms Mason also discussed with The HR Leader how to identify when an employee is being challenged at the right level to promote learning, citing what to look for as an indicator that an employee is being overchallenged. Discussing what agile learning looks like, the podcast conversation delved into what businesses need to consider in terms of an individual's capacity to learn, as well as what to look for in L&D professionals to secure learning talent that can act agilely to meet a business' needs.

Leroy Wilkinson-Maher, the managing director and founder of Dhiira, sat down with The HR Leader to discuss what organisations can do to increase inclusion and equitability for Aboriginal people. In the first of this two-part special podcast, Mr Wilkinson-Maher shared insights into his career journey to date, starting with a school-based traineeship with a bank, to working in HR and now managing Dhiira, which he describes as an "intentional disruptor". He shared: "I've ended up here now in this company, which is fundamentally an intentional disruptor. We want to undo the bricks and mortar that have been the foundations of mainstream businesses since Australia was colonised… what I'm trying to [ask] now is: how do we humanise the world through the Aboriginal perspective and through the Aboriginal lens?" Part one of the podcast concluded with Mr Wilkinson-Maher sharing three mistakes he sees businesses making when it comes to DEI and Aboriginal people. In part two, Mr Wilkinson-Maher provides some insights for organisations looking to better understand the history of Aboriginal people, what positive changes businesses can support, and the role of HR in driving change that helps Aboriginal people. Part two will be released on 14 October 2022.

Kate Newey, the head of human resources at Adaptalift Group, sat down with The HR Leader to talk about the challenges and the opportunities involved in being a parent and a senior part-time employee. Ms Newey discussed what it was like adjusting to being a part-time HR professional and establishing new boundaries to juggle work and home duties. She also shared how she has created the right team and ways of working for her HR function to support their approach to flexible working. The conversation also touched on what it was like as a senior HR professional to work through the beginnings of the pandemic, and the challenges COVID-19 continues to present – including when employees are looking after unwell children, or businesses are trying to bring workforces together to network and collaborate.