Work Wonders

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Do you use a probation period in hiring staff for your business?

In this episode we explore the topic of a Probation Period including:

• What it is
• Why you would use one
• How long it is
• What you do in that time; and
• How to include it in your offers of employment 

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

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In this episode we met Sarah Hunter, Founder of Aurora Transformations.

Sarah is also Leader Mentor at the new Upstairs Co-working space and sits on the Board of Rural Aid, AG Institute and has previously been a facilitator for the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs' Programme.

We had a great conversation where we discussed:
* The employee value proposition (EVP)
* Benefits of a healthy culture impacts and refering your values the success of your business
* And building your own leadership skills

If you are local to the Bathurst area, Sarah shares with Work Wonders listeners an opportunity to join the Accelerate at Upstairs workshop series recently launched. Funded by the NSW Government's Accelerating Regional Innovation Fund, this is a series of 5 in-person workshops aimed at empowering you to lead change, drive innovation, and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities.

It starts next week and it's not too late to join! Click here to fill out an expression of interest.

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

In this episode we explore some HR mistakes you could be making...without even knowing it!

We discuss 5 things to discuss and we'll tell you how you can avoid it going too far.

You don't know what you don't know...so we're here to help discuss these with you so your business isn't at risk of not being compliant. 

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

In this episode we interviewed Sallina Jeffrey, Founder of The Mentoring Movement. 

We had a great conversation where we discussed what makes a high performing team, how leaders can engage and retain employees. 

Sallina shares the findings of her research and gives some great tips of what you can do in your workplace no matter the size nor industry to achieve a high performing team. 

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

In today's episode we unlock the door and let you inside Aster HR and tell you about 6 tools we use in our professional to help us in our work and also provide high quality and insightful information and advice for our clients. 

You may haven't have thought of these before but trust us when we say they can save you time, money and give you valuable insight into your team. 

You're going to want to listen to this one!

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

Welcome to Season 4!

We started this podcast to answer your questions about managing people. And since we've begun, we have received some interesting questions. We're using the very first episode of our new season to give you some answers.

Here's what you have asked:

1. What if someone resigns while doing higher duties?
2. Is a new employee allowed to take leave during probation?
3. How can I trust a new employee to do the work like I would?
4. I’ve got a remote worker who was ill but feels like they can work through because they are working from home. Should I ask them to take a sick day or let them work through?
5. I’ve just made an offer to hire a new employee but they’ve asked me for more money because their current employer made them an offer to stay. Should I make a counter offer?

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

Season 4 begins in just 4 weeks!

Angela & Susan take a quick look at what we have in store for you.

We're back on Monday 11 Sept 2023 - with more special guests and hot topics, including your questions.

You won't want to miss it!

About this podcast

The Work Wonder podcast is brought to you by Aster HR.

We focus on keeping it simple so we can give you practical answers to all the things you're wondering about. We also bring you guests regularly to give you a wider perspective on all things, HR and business, we're here to help you grow your business. 

We know your time is valuable. So our episodes are short and sharp and full of practical tips that you can use today. 

We know that people in your business are your greatest resource and looking after them will look after your business. 

We'll bring you up-to-date information on legal updates, and best practices, and provide you with guidance to recruit, engage, and retain a great team of staff in your small business. 

About your hosts

Angela Gauci and Susan Rochester from Aster HR are your hosts.

Susan has qualifications in business and HR and takes great pleasure in being able to take the pain out of managing people. She's worked with a variety of small to medium businesses and knows how and where to find simple answers to complex problems.
 
Angela's HR career has spanned across many industries and types of organizations from small to medium size. Like Susan, Angela's expertise covers all the areas of the employment relationship and she too has qualifications in business, HR and Accounting.
 
Both have a strong belief that good HR management can benefit any business, no matter the size. With 40 years combined experience, Angela & Susan can guide you with simple and effective tools and coaching to help make people management much more managable.

Get ready for more great content in Season 4!

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

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In this episode, we meet Chris Barton and hear about his commitment to raising awareness about mental health (you may have recently seen his achievement mentioned on the 6-o'clock news!).

But Chris has also achieved a lot in his career and as a business owner and we were lucky enough to get the chance to interview him about all of it. 

We had a great conversation where we discussed:

* His learnings about leadership over a 20 year career
* Some of the practical things he does to provide a great culture for his team
* How an intense physical challenge can providing learning for all areas of business and life

Chris is also the person who put us in touch with Launch Pad, where all the Work Wonders episodes are recorded.

Chris recently achieved a massive goal of walking 120 kilometres from Katoomba to the Northern Beaches in under 24hrs. He did this to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. 

You can donate to Chris's fundraiser through his batyr link: https://batyrs-fundraising-hub.raisely.com/chrisbarton 

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

The Secure Jobs Better Pay legislation is the biggest change in employment legislation in Australia in over a decade. 

There is a lot involved, but in this episode we break it down to what you need to be prepared for next.  

Specifically we explore new entitlements beginning 6 June 2023:
* Changes to parental leave
* Changes to flexible working arrangements 

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.

Send a text

In this episode we met Gabrielle Benkovich, Director of Judge Accountants in Penrith, NSW.

We had a great conversation where we discussed:
* Her journey going from being an employee of the business to part owner of the business
* What she's learnt about managing a team
* How to maintain a positive workplace culture

Check them out on Facebook or LinkedIn

Judge Accountants is giving Work Wonders listeners a special offer of a FREE tax planning session just in time for EOFY. Check out how in the show notes on our website, or book in here

You can find the show notes for this episode here

Would you like to submit a question to the show? Let us know on our website or via LinkedIn.

Brought to you by Aster HR, the Work Wonders Podcast is hosted by Angela Gauci & Susan Rochester and is recorded at Launch Pad at Western Sydney University.

All information or advice included in this podcast is general, has been developed as a starting point for your business, and should be tailored to your specific requirements. It should not be considered legal advice. We have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and currency of this information at the time of recording. However, references to things like employment laws are subject to change. For specific advice relating to your business, please get in touch with us.