Episode 90 reviews the year and outlines major workplace risks ahead for employers, focusing on wage theft legislation, Fair Work Ombudsman actions, and mounting payroll compliance challenges.

Tim discusses upcoming changes, Payday Super, the NES review (including potential reproductive leave and reduced work hours), the rise in compliance burdens, and how businesses may respond with redundancies, offshoring, and technology.

Practical steps and cautionary examples are offered for small and medium businesses to prepare for investigations, undertakings, and the shifting relationship between unions, government and industry in 2026.

Show links: 

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In this episode of The HR Cartel Podcast, we lift the lid on the quiet war being waged against small and medium-sized business owners across Australia. From absurd legal decisions to bureaucratic red tape and a national narrative that assumes employers are always the villain, the warning signs are everywhere.

We break down what’s happening in real-time: how workplace tribunals, regulators, courts, and unions are moving in lockstep, whether intentionally or not, to stack the odds against you. I talk about the fear, the silence, and the slow erosion of business autonomy as employers get buried under complexity, suspicion, and ever-tightening control.

This isn’t about scaremongering. This is about recognising the pattern, so you don’t become the next one to get caught off guard by a regulator, sued by a casual, or publicly dragged for doing the right thing, but not doing it perfectly.

If you run a business, employ people, or advise those who do, this episode is a wake-up call. Because whether it’s workers’ comp, casual conversion, sham contracting accusations, or tribunal overreach… the noose is tightening.

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Tim Dive speaking at the International Small Business Summit - Gold Coast - "Why we need IR Reform" - Small Business Association of Australia - Get Your Ticket Here 

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We chat at length with HR Cartel Member, Founder & Director of PD Project Delivery, Paul Doherty. We discuss the realities of starting a business, building a team, and the difficulties of the changing "Director" role every business owner faces with growth and success. We discuss the amazing opportunities all people in Australia have at their fingertips, and what kind of attitude passion and drive is needed to succeed in the workplace and in business. 

Show Links: 

Paul Doherty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-doherty-69501249/ 

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PD Project Delivery Website: https://pdprojectdelivery.com/ 

The HR Cartel Business Luncheon with Dominique Lamb - Bowen Hills Brisbane 20 November 2025 - Free to attend - REGISTER HERE 

Tim Dive speaking at the International Small Business Summit - Gold Coast - "Why we need IR Reform" - Small Business Association of Australia - Get Your Ticket Here 

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Book a Session with The HR Cartel here - https://www.hrcartel.com/book-online 

We answer the question: Is it now impossible to be an Aussie employer, without breaking the law? 

The answer is frightening. 

We also discuss some of the most recent absurdities, like an employee receiving Qld Long Service after working just 11 days in the State AND being declined for it in Victoria. 

A summary and clarity on the $1B underpayment issue for Coles and Woollies and what it means for the rest of us. 

Plus some more ridiculousness we all need to know. 

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How about a copy of our IR forecast? https://www.hrcartel.com/2025-industrial-relations-forecast 

Australia’s workplace rules just changed and the cost for small business is about to skyrocket.

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Download our Free Industrial Relations Forecast: https://www.hrcartel.com/2025-industrial-relations-forecast 

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Korn Ferry Wage Gap Analysis: https://www.kornferry.com/au/insights/are-your-hr-leaders-ready-for-pay-transparency#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20still%20see%20a%20big,The%20ROI%20on%20Pay%20Transparency 

In this episode, we unpack the growing sense of a coordinated siege against Australian employers. From government policies, to meddling in tribunal proceedings, to blocking employer's seeking support from the Commission, to union campaigns, tribunals operating with selective transparency, and regulators who appear increasingly activist. Small to medium-sized business owners are finding themselves in a storm of compounding pressure.

We break down:

Why many employers are losing trust in the Fair Work system

The dangerous precedent set by recent Qantas and franchise wage cases

How workplace regulators are treating compliance errors like criminal intent

The weaponisation of legislation, that will wipe out smaller businesses

And how unions are leveraging political influence to force unworkable workplace outcomes

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In this episode of The HR Cartel Podcast, we break down one of the most talked-about industrial relations cases in recent history; the Qantas outsourcing saga that led to a staggering $90 million penalty, including a $50 million pay out to the Transport Workers Union.

We unpack what really happened behind the headlines:

Why Qantas’ decision to outsource was technically legal and yet they still lost.

How the reverse onus system empowered the TWU to pursue the case without concrete evidence.

Why this judgment has supercharged incentives for unions and law firms to run high-stakes actions against employers.

What this means for small and medium-sized businesses who may now face more aggressive claims.

Practical takeaways for employers on outsourcing, redundancies, and protecting yourself against adverse action claims.

This isn’t just about Qantas. It’s about a seismic shift in the IR landscape that every Australian employer needs to understand. If you employ people, especially in a unionised environment, this episode could save you from costly mistakes.

Listen now and stay ahead of the game.

Want to book an advice session? 

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Links: 

Café Owners Event - 1 September 2025 - Gold Coast: https://www.goldcoastcentralchamber.com.au/cafe-success-program/

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In this episode Tim breaks down the Productivity Roundtable and two hot-button IR reviews that matter to every small and medium employer: the part-time employment review and the “right to disconnect.” Tim explains why rigid minimum-engagement rules are locking potential workers out of the labour market, why more prescriptive right-to-disconnect rules would be pointless, and what practical, low-pain changes employers and the Fair Work Commission should adopt. You’ll also get Tim’s tactical guidance on using remuneration and incentives to drive performance. The HR Cartel has put to the Commission submissions for their reviews - available at the show links below.

If you run a small business and want pragmatic, no-nonsense advice to lower your risk and increase productivity, this episode is for you. Visit www.hrcartel.com to get resources and join the conversation.

Join the Cartel - https://www.hrcartel.com/join-the-cartel 

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Show Links: 

Fair Work Commission Submission - Part Time Employment Review Submission 

Fair Work Commission Statement - Right to Disconnect https://media.licdn.com/dms/document/media/v2/D561FAQFd_yVgCgdyQg/feedshare-document-pdf-analyzed/B56ZjLjczIG0Ag-/0/1755761729408?e=1756944000&v=beta&t=TrU5p3KC--vIs7bRwZf-4SHpdfMgN64NDrrPUZq8Be8

In this punchy episode, Tim returns to unload on the recent chaos in Australia’s industrial relations scene. With a sharp eye on what’s happening at the Fair Work Commission, the Productivity Roundtable, and the growing overreach of regulators, Tim calls it as he sees it: a system that is increasingly hostile to employers, especially small and medium-sized ones.

From the hypocritical decisions made by Fair Work to the clueless signs from government on the real productivity crisis, this episode rips through the noise and exposes just how disorganised and misaligned Australia’s workplace system has become. If you're an employer who's sick of carrying the load while being told you're the problem, this one’s for you.

Have an urgent issue and need to book in for advice? https://www.hrcartel.com/book-online 

Want to join the Cartel? Go to https://www.hrcartel.com/join-the-cartel 

Download the 2025 Industrial Relations Forecast https://www.hrcartel.com/2025-industrial-relations-forecast 

In this week’s episode, I break down the Fair Work Commission’s $66 million decision against BHP under the new “Same Job, Same Pay” legislation, and what it really means for every other employer in Australia. While this case targeted a mining giant, it’s the thousands of small and medium businesses who’ll feel the ripple effects. I unpack how the ACTU’s political powerplay has reshaped the workforce, how misguided Fair Work commentary is throwing fuel on the fire, and why this kind of decision is the death knell for employer-led productivity. Whether you agree with BHP’s model or not, the Commission's hypocrisy is staggering. Tune in for a brutal but honest reflection on where we’re heading.

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