HR to Go

Difficult conversations are an unavoidable part of managing people. Yet even experienced leaders can find themselves putting them off, hoping problems will resolve themselves or avoiding the discomfort of addressing poor performance and behaviour.

But what happens when those conversations don't take place?

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold is joined by Sharon Steinman, Leadership Architect, Keynote Speaker and Governance Practitioner, to explore why difficult conversations are so often avoided, the ripple effect of leaving issues unaddressed and how managers can approach them with greater confidence and clarity.

Listen to discover:

Why even capable leaders avoid difficult conversations and how avoidance can undermine workplace culture and credibility.

How unresolved performance and behaviour issues can escalate, affecting morale, relationships and the wider team.

Practical ways to prepare for and navigate uncomfortable conversations with empathy, clarity and accountability.

Why following up, setting clear expectations and giving employees the opportunity to improve are essential to achieving lasting change.

Because it's often not the difficult conversation that causes the greatest damage. It's the conversation that never happens.

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold is joined by Christine Fedoulis from Superior Recruitment to unpack where employers can get hiring right, and where small gaps in the process can create bigger problems later.

From defining the role and future-proofing the position description, to candidate expectations, flexibility, structured interviews, job offers and onboarding, the conversation explores what makes a hiring process work from both a recruitment and HR perspective.

Karen and Christine also discuss why gut feel is not enough, what makes candidates choose one employer over another, how the labour market is changing, and why better hiring decisions can support stronger retention.

A practical conversation for employers looking to make better people decisions from vacancy through to onboarding and beyond.

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen is joined by Greg Arnold, founder of Effective Workplace Solutions, to unpack some of the most common HR myths that continue to catch employers out.

From “you need three warnings before termination” to “salaried staff don’t need timesheets” and “paying above award covers everything,” Karen and Greg explore why these assumptions are often incomplete, outdated or taken out of context.

They discuss how workplace myths can spread through businesses, why relying on informal advice or “we’ve always done it this way” thinking can create real risk, and what employers need to consider when it comes to records, probation, resignations, serious misconduct, awards and performance conversations.

This episode is a practical reminder that HR compliance is rarely about simple rules. Context, evidence, process and documentation matter.

Employee benefits can be a powerful way to attract and retain talent but they often come with costs employers don’t fully consider upfront.

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen is joined by Matt Hardy (MRTG Taxes) to unpack the real cost of employee benefits, with a focus on Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and the governance required to manage it effectively.

From company vehicles and hybrid work arrangements to gift cards and ad hoc perks, this conversation highlights where businesses can unintentionally create tax exposure, compliance risk and unnecessary cost.

In this episode, we cover:

Drug and alcohol testing is designed to reduce workplace risk — but is it enough?

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold speaks with Associate Professor David Allen from Drug & Alcohol Solutions Australia about alcohol, drugs and impairment in Australian workplaces.

They discuss:

• Workplace drug testing and WHS obligations

This conversation explores how employers can balance safety, fairness and wellbeing — while managing increasing regulatory and psychosocial risk.

A must-listen for HR leaders, business owners and executives navigating workplace drug and alcohol policy in Australia.

For tailored HR and employment advice, visit ewsolutions.com.au.

In this special end-of-year roundtable, the EWS team sits down for a rapid-fire look back at the HR moments, surprises and challenges that defined 2025 — and what employers should be ready for in 2026.

Karen is joined by Greg Arnold, Peter Norrie and Jane Van Gulick for a candid, insightful wrap-up of the year, including:

The HR issues that just wouldn’t quit in 2025

The “oh no, not again” moments that kept landing on our desks

Why reasonable management action remains one of the most misunderstood areas of workplace law

The trends and legislative changes that made life easier… and the many that didn’t

The most creative excuses employees tried this year (including a meth-contaminated Panadol story you won’t forget)

The behaviours we’d ban from workplaces in 2026

The biggest misconceptions businesses still have about bullying, harassment and psychosocial safety

2025’s HR buzzwords — and whether we should keep or kill them

We finish with the team’s predictions for 2026 and where businesses should be focusing their energy come January.

If you want a real-world snapshot of Australian HR challenges — straight from the desks of practising consultants and employment law experts — this is the episode to queue up.

Not all workplace hazards wear high-vis. Some sit quietly in job descriptions, Zoom calls, and Monday morning meetings — until they start to cause real harm.

In this episode of HR2GO, Karen Arnold is joined by Michelle from My Virtual Safety Manager to unpack the growing focus on psychosocial hazards in Australian workplaces. Together, they explore what these risks actually look like, why they matter, and how business owners can manage them without the jargon or overwhelm.

You’ll learn:

What counts as a psychosocial hazard (and how to spot early warning signs)

Why mental health is now a compliance issue, not just a wellbeing one

How to approach risk assessments and employee consultation with confidence

The real-world business impacts of ignoring cultural and mental health risks

Tune in for practical, plain-English insights to help you build safer, more respectful workplaces — and protect both your people and your business.

What’s the real difference between management and leadership—and why does it matter for your business? In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold unpacks the myths, the habits, and the practical takeaways that separate task-focused management from people-focused leadership.

You’ll hear why trust in managers is at an all-time low, the five leadership habits every workplace needs, and how simple shifts—like accountability, consistency, and regular check-ins—can transform culture and performance.

Whether you’re a small business owner, HR professional, or team leader, this episode will help you balance structure with influence, and management with leadership, so your people and your business can thrive.

👉 Learn more about how EWS can support your business at ewsolutions.com.au.

Employee onboarding isn’t just a checklist — it’s the foundation for culture, compliance, and long-term success. In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold is joined by Sarah Stone, Capability Strategist and Co-Founder of Linkable, to unpack the real cost of poor onboarding, the risks of relying on “tribal knowledge,” and what great onboarding looks like in 2025. From compliance safeguards to building trust and connection, you’ll discover practical steps every business can take to set new hires — and leaders — up for success.

When you’re a small team doing big things, HR can feel like the last thing on the list.

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen chats with Tash from Aussie Helpers, a grassroots charity supporting farmers across Australia. Like many purpose-driven organisations, Aussie Helpers was growing fast — but their people processes hadn’t kept up.

Tash shares how the fear of “corporate HR” gave way to something much more valuable:

“We didn’t know what we didn’t know.”

Listen in for a candid, down-to-earth conversation about how strong HR systems don’t have to be rigid — they can actually free your team up to focus on what really matters.

🎧 Episode Host: Karen Arnold