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

What’s driving your staff turnover — and what can you do about it?

In this episode of HR2Go, Karen Arnold sits down with Stephen Woods, Director of Employee Wellness Australia, to unpack the big themes from the Beyond Compliance event. From leadership blind spots to workplace wellbeing, they explore why ticking the compliance boxes isn’t enough — and how culture, communication, and capability are the real keys to employee retention.

You’ll learn:

Why strong leadership is your best risk strategy

How poor culture silently drives turnover and burnout

The real cost of losing great employees — and how to prevent it

Practical tools like stay interviews and leadership programs that work

Whether you're an HR leader, business owner, or people manager, this conversation will help you shift from reactive to high-performing — with a workplace culture that actually retains top talent.

🔗 Learn more about Employee Wellness Australia: employeewellnessaustralia.com.au

Worried about payroll compliance? You should be. In this episode of HR2Go, host Karen Arnold is joined by Senior Consultant Peter Norrie to unpack how even minor payroll mistakes can lead to massive financial penalties — and even criminal charges — under Australia’s updated wage theft laws from January 2025.

We explore:

What a payroll audit really involves

Why 99% of audits uncover compliance issues

Common award misinterpretations and payroll system errors

Real-life cases of wage underpayment and the impact on business reputation

Why overpayments can be just as risky as underpayments

Practical steps to protect your business from legal risk

Whether you're an SME owner, payroll manager or HR professional, this episode is a must-listen for staying compliant, building trust with staff, and avoiding the devastating fallout of getting it wrong.

🎧 Ready for a payroll health check? Visit ewsolutions.com.au to book a consultation.

#PayrollAudit #WageTheft #FairWork #HRCompliance #SmallBusinessAustralia #HR2GoPodcast

Compliance or Chaos?  Keeping Your Workplace in Check in 2025.