Latest insights

Diversity. It’s typically one of the greatest strengths of a thriving business. Yet while differences in skills, backgrounds and opinions can often be harnessed to great effect, inevitably some issues are so fundamental they can instead create tension and conflict, turning a smooth-running workplace into anything but. There’s arguably no better example than the current debat...

The ‘casualisation’ of the Australian workforce shows no signs of slowing down. ELR Executive’s John Elliott and Debbie Morrison discuss some of the opportunities - and challenges - for employers.

Presidential elections and British referendums aside, the western world has been drifting generally towards the left for some decades. In such an environment you might imagine the argument about carrot or stick management styles would be something of a no contest. Yet closer inspection across a range of businesses and industries suggests otherwise. Whether you’re naturally i...

It can be as devastating as it is intangible. Historically it’s also been shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. Thankfully, the past decade has seen a significant shift in attitudes towards the issue of mental health in all corners of Australian society, and workplaces are no exception. Increasingly, leading employers understand that managing mental health extends far bey...

The logic is simple enough. When you’re in a decision making position you’re expected to make decisions. Trouble is, every day managers all over Australia – and the world – struggle to actually do it, putting things off for all manner of reasons and generally erring on the side of procrastination and compromise. Even at a micro level, managerial indecision like this can have...

Are you a juggler? Perhaps you’re a plate-spinner? Spot fire putter-outer-er? Or maybe a furious water treader? Whichever metaphor you prefer, it’s a situation experienced business leaders find themselves in every day across Australia. Seemingly infinite responsibilities, counter-balanced by a decidedly finite amount of time and money to address them. No wonder they’re feeli...

Blunders. Errors. Epic fails. Balls-ups. Whatever you choose to call them, mistakes happen for all manner of reasons in the workplace. Perhaps it’s due to lack of attention? Stress or fatigue? Confusion over instructions? Poor morale and motivation? In some cases it could even be the result of malicious employee behaviour. While you can’t always stop them from happening, you...

Death, taxes and staff turnover. Nowadays, whatever your industry, it’s a fact of business life that people will come and other people will go. The good news is it’s a situation that can be harnessed to inject new energy and ideas, inspiring your team to even greater heights. Yet it also has the potential to be disruptive. That’s why every business needs an effective inducti...

In recent decades Australian workplaces have become increasingly sensitive to instances of discrimination, harassment and bullying. Whereas not so long ago the bulk of workplace issues and conflicts were typically left to be ‘managed’ in-house, nowadays things are considerably different, forcing CEOs to walk a delicate tightrope on an a almost daily basis. In part, the attit...