Employee Remuneration Compliance: What HR Needs to Know
What HR Professionals Need to Know About Superannuation Access Changes Australia’s superannuation system has become the subject of renewed political debate, with proposals from different political parties and representatives concerning how and when people may be able to access their retirement savings. For HR professionals, the immediate question is less about which policy should be […]
HR Considerations of Superannuation Access Changes
What HR Professionals Need to Know About Superannuation Access Changes Australia’s superannuation system has become the subject of renewed political debate, with proposals from different political parties and representatives concerning how and when people may be able to access their retirement savings. For HR professionals, the immediate question is less about which policy should be […]
What HR Can Learn From Business Partnerships Breaking Down
What HR Can Learn from Stefanovic’s Time in Court When a business relationship breaks down, the consequences rarely remain confined to the people at the centre of the dispute. The recent proceedings involving Karl Stefanovic and his business partner Keshnee Ibrahim provide a useful example. The pair each hold a 45 per cent interest in […]
Stay Interview Questions for Managers | Liquid HR
Stay Interviews: Questions Worth Asking Before Someone Resigns An exit interview can tell you why someone is leaving. By then, the opportunity to improve their experience may have passed. A stay interview is a planned conversation with a current employee about what makes their job worth staying for, what makes it harder and what could […]
Employee Onboarding in the First Week | Liquid HR
How to Choose an HR Consultant in Sydney: 12 Questions to Ask Choosing an HR consultant in Sydney starts with understanding the work you need done. Compare relevant experience, delivery arrangements, named responsibilities and the proposed scope before comparing fees. A consultant who is well suited to a defined policy project may not be the […]
Managing a High Performer Who Damages the Team | Liquid HR
When Your Best Performer Is Damaging the Team They bring in the biggest accounts, solve the hardest technical problems or deliver work nobody else can match. They also interrupt colleagues, dismiss questions or leave other people dealing with the consequences of their decisions. As their manager, you may feel caught between protecting their contribution and […]
Choosing an HR Consultant in Sydney | Liquid HR
How to Choose an HR Consultant in Sydney: 12 Questions to Ask Choosing an HR consultant in Sydney starts with understanding the work you need done. Compare relevant experience, delivery arrangements, named responsibilities and the proposed scope before comparing fees. A consultant who is well suited to a defined policy project may not be the […]
What Should an HR Consultant Deliver? | Liquid HR
What Should an HR Consultant Deliver? A Buyer’s Guide to Scope and Outcomes An HR consultant should deliver work that addresses the agreed business problem and can be used by the people responsible for it. Depending on the assignment, that may be advice, an audit report, revised documents, training, an implemented process or a combination. […]
Outsourced HR for Your In-House Team | Liquid HR
Can You Outsource HR If You Already Have an HR Manager? Yes. Outsourced HR can support an internal HR manager through specialist projects, additional capacity or agreed coverage. The arrangement does not have to replace the internal role. It should address a defined gap while keeping ownership and decision-making clear. The main challenge is avoiding […]
FWC Enforces New AI Compliance Standards for Workplace Disputes
FWC Enforces New AI Compliance Standards for Workplace Disputes Starting 20 October 2026, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) is introducing new requirements governing the use of generative artificial intelligence in Commission proceedings. The new requirements apply when parties use tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Gemini to prepare applications, submissions, witness statements or other […]
The 10 HR Policies Every Australian SME Should Have
For Australian small and medium enterprises, HR policies are far more than administrative paperwork. They serve as an important framework for managing workplace expectations, compliance, safety and employee relations, while helping businesses respond consistently when issues arise. From workplace behaviour and performance management to psychosocial safety and the Right to Disconnect, having the right policies […]
How Long Should a Performance Improvement Plan Last?
Determining the right duration for a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) requires balancing operational urgency with procedural fairness and legal defensibility. Under Australia’s Fair Work framework, employers should give underperforming staff a reasonable opportunity to improve, with the appropriate timeframe depending on the complexity of the role and the nature of the performance gaps. There is […]
5 HR Problems for Small Businesses That Cost More Than You Realise
Small business margins are tight, but the most expensive profit drains rarely show up as explicit line items on a P&L statement. Unchecked HR friction quietly erodes cash flow, team morale, and regulatory compliance long before it triggers a crisis. 1. Modern Award Misclassification Navigating Australia’s Modern Awards is notoriously complex. Paying a flat salary […]
When Is a Workplace Investigation Required? | Liquid HR
Workplace complaints are an inevitable part of managing people. Whether the issue involves allegations of workplace bullying, harassment, misconduct, discrimination, or a breach of company policy, employers are often faced with an important question: Is a formal workplace investigation required? The answer isn’t always straightforward. While some matters require a comprehensive investigation to establish the […]
2026 Modern Award Summaries | Free Download
Keeping up with Australia’s Modern Awards can be challenging. With annual updates, changing pay rates, evolving classifications, and industry-specific obligations, employers need access to clear and reliable information to remain compliant. That’s why Liquid HR has updated its 2026 Modern Award Summaries, providing employers with practical, easy-to-read guides covering some of Australia’s most commonly used […]
How to Choose the Right HRIS for Your Business
How to Choose the Right HRIS for Your Business Buying a new Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is one of the most high-stakes software decisions an organisation will make. Choose wisely, and you unlock seamless onboarding, audit-ready compliance, and actionable people analytics. Choose poorly, and you end up with shelfware, frustrated managers, and an expensive […]
Sydney HR Landscape 2026: What Employers Need to Know
Beyond the Policy Manual: Navigating the 2026 Sydney HR Landscape The Australian workplace in 2026 looks radically different from even a couple of years ago. Between the rollout of Payday Super, the Fair Work Commission’s recent Modern Award wage adjustments, strict positive duty requirements regarding workplace culture, and ongoing debates over flexible work rights, running […]
Introducing Liquid Employment Lawyers: The Next Chapter of the Liquid Group
For more than 15 years, businesses across Australia have trusted the Liquid Group to help navigate one of the most complex parts of running an organisation, people. Through Liquid HR and Liquid HR Payroll, we have supported more than 300 Australian businesses with practical workplace advice, operational support and solutions that help businesses move forward […]
Strategic Workforce Planning: How to Build a 3-Year People Plan That Matches Your Business Goals
When business owners and executive teams sit down to map out their three-year strategic plans, the agenda is usually dominated by financial targets, market expansion, product development, and technology investments. But there is a critical flaw in many of these roadmaps: they outline what the business wants to achieve, but completely omit who will actually […]
Victoria’s 2-Day WFH Enshrined Right: What Interstate Employers Need to Know
The Australian regulatory landscape has just experienced a major shift. The Victorian Government’s introduction of the Equal Opportunity Amendment (Work from Home) Bill 2026 has officially moved the work-from-home debate out of company handbook policies and straight into the legal realm of human rights. Under the world-first legislation, Victorian employees whose roles can “reasonably be […]
The 1 July 2026 Ultimate Wage & Compliance Audit
The 1 July 2026 Ultimate Wage & Compliance Audit Prepared by Liquid HR The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has handed down its Annual Wage Review, mandating a 4.75% increase to modern award minimum wages and raising the National Minimum Wage to $26.44 per hour. Crucially, these increases take effect from the start of your first […]
The Employer’s Guide to Redundancy
How to Navigate Consultation, Redundancy Pay, and Team Impact While Staying Compliant with the Fair Work Act Redundancy is one of the most difficult responsibilities employers and managers face. This Employer Guide to Redundancy is designed to help businesses navigate the process with confidence, balancing legal compliance, communication, and operational realities. Even when redundancies are […]
Handling Workplace Grievances and Bullying Allegations
A Practical Employer Guide to Workplace Investigations, Procedural Fairness, and Knowing When to Engage External HR Support Few workplace grievances escalate as quickly, or become as legally and emotionally complex, as unresolved grievances and bullying allegations. When employees feel unheard, unsafe, or unfairly treated, the impact rarely stays contained to the original complaint. Productivity begins […]
Managing Long-Term Medical Leave: A Practical Guide for Employers
How to Support Employees on Extended Sick Leave While Staying Compliant with Australian Employment Law Long-term medical leave is one of the most sensitive and legally complex situations employers and managers face. Handled poorly, it can quickly escalate into unfair dismissal disputes, discrimination claims, damaged workplace morale, and long-term employee relations issues. But when managed […]
The Manager’s Guide to Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
How to Implement PIPs Ethically, Legally, and Constructively While Reducing Unfair Dismissal Risk Managing employee underperformance is one of the most challenging aspects of leadership. For most managers, performance issues sit at the uncomfortable intersection of people management, legal risk, communication, and business pressure. One wrong move can damage morale, expose the business to an […]
Is HR Outsourcing Worth It for Small Businesses in Australia? (2026 Guide)
Introduction Running a small or medium-sized business in Australia comes with increasing HR responsibilities. From compliance with Fair Work obligations to managing onboarding, performance, and employee issues, HR can quickly become complex, time-consuming, and risky. At some point, many business owners start asking: “Should we hire an HR consultant, invest in HR consulting support, or […]
Bereavement Leave Australia: How Many Days & Paid? (2026)
Bereavement Leave: What Employers Need to Know Navigating bereavement leave is one of the most sensitive areas of HR. For employers, it’s about more than just compliance – it’s about responding with empathy while protecting the business. In Australia, bereavement leave (also known as compassionate leave) is covered under the National Employment Standards (NES). In […]
Casual Employment Australia Employers: What You Need to Know
Casual Employment Is Still Confusing Casual employment has long been seen as one of the most flexible and low-risk engagement models available to Australian employers. Despite legislative reforms and greater clarity from the courts, confusion around casual employment persists and it continues to drive disputes, claims, and costly mistakes for businesses of all sizes. At […]
Victoria’s Work From Home Laws: What Employers Need to Know
Victoria’s Work from Home Laws: A Game-Changer for Employers Victoria is set to introduce Australia’s first legislated right to work from home, marking a major shift in how flexible work is regulated and significantly increasing compliance risk for employers. For many businesses, this represents a move from policy-driven flexibility to legal obligation. What’s Actually Changing? […]
AI-Driven Unfair Dismissal Claims in Australia: What Employers Need to Know
The Rising Tide of AI-Driven Unfair Dismissal Claims in Australia Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, but not just in productivity and operations. It is now reshaping how employees challenge their employers, with a sharp rise in AI-assisted unfair dismissal claims creating new risks and complexities for Australian businesses. A Surge That Can’t Be Ignored […]
