Trapped in an evolutionary time-warp: how human genetics sabotage modern organisations

“Thus, the task is, not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees.”

Arthur Schopenhauer: 1851

Modern organisations are a human creation.  This design is anchored by genetics and has prevailed for thousands of years. …

The first thing you need to understand about lawsuits is that they aren’t always justified and they’re not always fair. Still, if you get your ego get in the way of your thinking, you might oversee something major, something that’s clearly your fault. Now, keep in mind that one’s level of satisfaction is completely subjective and arbitrary, which means that there are some people you simply won’t be able to please no matter what you do.…

When we talk about diversity in the workplace, we usually think in terms of age and gender. But what about the important differences in personalities, communication styles and approaches? All too often, people don’t speak up at work because it doesn’t feel safe – and the consequences can be far reaching. In this post and podcast, we look at the idea of ‘psychological…

New technology presents SMEs with the potential to grow their business and find new ways of operating efficiently. By utilising innovative technology, SMEs are able to streamline their day to day processes and eliminate manual tasks, such as filing.

In 2016, Gartner noted that Australian SMEs spend an estimated $52,000 per year on new technology, and have made a large contribution to the growth of the Australian tech market, which has grown by 2.8 per cent to reach…

Looking for cultural transformation? Look to the top first. And if you are in senior leadership yourself, try finding it in the mirror.

I recently undertook some research around job prospects in ‘the future of work’. Long story short, opinions are polarised. Some expert bodies believe that technology will cut 20-30% of all jobs (both low and high-skill). Others argue that a raft of new roles with Star Trek-sexy titles will materialise and we’ll all be just fine.

This week in Australia, Telstra,…

Experienced workplace investigators are well aware that when two or more people are in dispute, there will inevitably be differing perspectives on what 'the truth' might look like. Contentious workplace issues can often play out in a 'he said, she said' fashion, with one allegation being closely followed up by a second person's counter-allegation. Such complications should be dealt with in a fair, considered and methodical…

HR Postcard from London

 Our latest HR postcard is from Andrew Fletcher, Head of Human Resources, UK at WorleyParsons.  

Clear and effective communication structures are crucial to the smooth running of a workplace. Last-minute meetings and unexpected emergencies (especially safety emergencies) mean that messages and information often need to be relayed to employees almost instantly.

Thankfully, there are numerous ways in which employers are now able to communicate urgent messages to their employees where doing so in person is not practical, including by email, phone call, text message – or even through…

One of the biggest challenges for Australian employers is navigating the often complex and confusing landscape of the modern awards.

In this blog, we provide some basic information about modern awards to help employers find their way.

What is a modern award?

A modern award is a document made by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) that sets the minimum terms and conditions of employment for employers and employees in a particular…

Last year in The INNS and outs of adverse action: FWO prosecutes hotel owner for underpaying employees because of race. we reported on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s (FWO’s) successful prosecution of a hotel operator and its owner who took adverse action against two employees because of their Chinese race and Malaysian extraction.

Yenida Pty Ltd operated…

Tech that’s finally good for us!

There’s no little irony that it has taken a technological gizmo to provoke business leaders to get off their corporate bums and engage in that lowest tech of activities – the humble walk. It all started with the Fitbit - a watch-like device that measures the number of steps taken by its wearer each day. ‘Peak…

A recent research study has found that bosses are the members of staff most likely to take days off due to stress.

The poll of 2,000 British workers found they had more days off for stress than doctors or teachers.

These three groups, along with factory workers and IT bosses, make up the top five occupations that see staff taking the most time off for stress.

The study, by Step One Recovery, found 90…

When an employee complaint alleging workplace discrimination or harassment is lodged, it is usually seen as a negative moment in the life of the organisation.

However, it is possible for an employer to view this as a positive phenomenon, rather than a sign of complete failure. This is because well-handled complaints can illuminate hidden corporate weaknesses, as well as any lurking issues affecting…

During the restructuring process, there are five R’s of change you need to manage effectively to maintain productivity, performance, and profitability in your organisation – resistance, redundancy, redeployment, re-engagement and retention. Here’s how to set your organisation up for success through change.

1. Resistance

No word can spread fear through an organisation like “change”. Resistance can be as inevitable as change itself, however, there are ways that…

On the weekend I attend the funeral of a 90yo. There was only 1 person in attendance with a known connection to the man. I did not know him. He had no known relatives. Why I was there is a complex story, but suffice to say they were 20 people present giving Mr Tibor P an appropriate and dignified exit from this world.

 

I was struck by many thoughts during the service. Just some of these were - What was Tibor’s story? How did he live so long…

Last month, all eyes were on tennis champion Serena Williams as she returned to her first Grand Slam tennis tournament following the recent birth of her daughter.

At the time she left the tennis tour, Williams was the first placed seed, however by the time of her return to participate in the French Open, Williams’ ranking had plummeted to number 453 in the world.

Under the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) special ranking rule, players who have been out of the…

Employee, worker, talent, resource, temp, contractor – there is an abundance of terms used to describe the people that perform work in a workplace. There are often technical reasons for these differences but to an outsider, those differences rarely matter - if a person works at that place, they must be an employee.

This misconception can create some challenges for employers who either share their workplace or business space with employees of an entirely different employer or who send…

In May 2018, a sports and pop culture website named ‘The Ringer’ published a report about the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers that sparked controversy worldwide.

The report claimed that Mr Bryan Colangelo has been secretly operating five Twitter accounts under various pseudonyms for the last two years whilst employed by the 76ers’ in the prestigious role of President of Basketball Operations.

The Ringer stated that the Twitter accounts had been used, amongst other things, to disclose…