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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Extreme Fuel Costs and Employees in Australia
Introduction Fuel costs for employees in Australia are rising sharply since US strikes on Iran, and while this is often discussed as a cost-of-living issue, it is increasingly becoming a workplace and business risk. For employers, understanding how fuel costs impact employees is critical to maintaining productivity, engagement, and retention. The Rising Cost of Commuting […]
Emotional Intelligence for Managers: Leading Through AI Change and Workplace Friction
Introduction In 2026, the definition of a “good manager” has undergone a radical transformation. With Agentic AI now handling the lion’s share of scheduling, reporting, and data analysis, the technical barriers to management have all but vanished. However, a new challenge has emerged: The Emotional Load. As the pace of change accelerates, a phenomenon we […]
HR Core: HR Support for Small Businesses Without Full-Time Costs
HR Core: The Essential Alternative for Small Businesses In the early stages of a business, HR is often handled informally by founders or managers. But as teams grow, people challenges quickly become more complex and risk increases. Many SMEs reach a point where they experience: uncertainty around Fair Work and employment compliance inconsistent or outdated […]
The End of the Full-Time Employee?
Introduction For decades, the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) was the gold standard of business growth. If you were succeeding, you hired more 38-hour-a-week employees. But as we move through 2026, that model feels like a relic of a slower era. Today, the most agile companies aren’t looking for a “Jack of all trades” to sit in […]
HR Change Management in 2026
Introduction In the rush to automate everything, many businesses are trading their “Human” Resources for algorithms. While AI is a fantastic tool for generating a template or checking a math formula, it lacks the one thing that keeps businesses out of the Fair Work Commission: Judgment. Here is why your business needs a professional HR […]
Why Hire an HR Contractor?
Flexible, expert HR support when you need it most Whether you’re navigating a complex workplace issue, launching a new HR project, or need temporary HR cover, hiring an HR contractor is a smart, scalable solution. Liquid HR provides on-demand expertise for Australian SMEs without the overhead of permanent staff. https://liquidhr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Why-hire-an-hr-contractor.mp4 What Is an HR Contractor? […]
What Makes a Great Manager in 2026? Key Skills Every Leader Needs
Introduction The world of work is changing at speed and so is the role of the manager. We’ve moved beyond managers as task-delegators or attendance-checkers. In 2026, great managers are culture shapers, capability builders, and human-centred leaders supported by data, technology and empathy. Employees no longer stay solely for pay – they stay for purpose, […]
Succession Planning for SMEs: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
The Top 5 Hiring Trends Shaping 2025
As we move further into 2025, the hiring landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Emerging technologies, shifting workforce priorities, and new economic challenges are reshaping how companies attract and retain top talent. To stay ahead, businesses must understand and adapt to these trends. Here are the top 5 hiring trends shaping 2025. The […]
New Sexual Harassment Laws
New Sexual Harassment Laws The changes to the Fair Work Act (2009) under the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislation in relation to sexual harassment have come into operation effective 6 March 2023. Under the changes, the Fair Work Act (2009) has been updated to ban sexual harassment in connection with work for all workers – […]
7 Ways to Effectively Manage Employee Salary Increases
Salary increases It can be difficult to determine when an employee deserves or requires a salary increase. In order to attract and retain the best employees, we recommend conducting regular remuneration reviews and viewing benchmarking data. Remuneration reviews may be done in conjunction with your annual performance reviews, as you will likely be linking the […]
The Evolution of Performance Appraisals
The Evolution of Performance Appraisals Performance appraisals are often viewed as a tedious task that both managers and their direct reports despise. Cumbersome and over complicate performance appraisals process have been the major contributor to that perception for many. Not to mention the amount of paperwork it creates and that in many cases, it doesn’t […]
Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce: The Benefits and How-To
As society continues to progress, it’s important for businesses to ensure they are keeping up with the times. One of the ways that companies can do this is by building a diverse and inclusive workforce. This means hiring employees from a variety of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. In this article, we will explore the […]
7 Effective Leadership Behaviours
Effective leadership is crucial for the success of any organisation. Strong leaders inspire and motivate their teams, create a positive work environment, and drive results. If you’re a leader looking to improve your skills, there are several strategies you can adopt to become a more effective leader. Here are 7 effective leadership behaviours that can […]
We’re Hiring: HR Consultant, Sydney
Position: Casual HR Consultant Location: Sydney, Australia Liquid HR is an established HR Consulting firm providing unrivalled support and advice to small and medium-sized businesses. We are seeking a casual HR Consultant to join our team and provide Sydney based clients with a broad range of HR Consulting Support, both onsite and remotely from home. […]
CPI increase 5.1% over the 12 months – May 2022
CPI increase 5.1% over the 12 months – what does this mean for employee remuneration? The all-groups Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures household inflation and includes statistics about price change for categories of household expenditure. CPI is important when determining any remuneration increases as it reflects the increased cost of living to employees. Employers often […]
Constructive feedback and how to give it
Constructive feedback and how to give it Constructive feedback helps staff grow and learn, helping your practice to thrive. Here’s how to avoid awkwardness, promote agency and get your message across. By Angela Tufvesson Facilitating professional growth, improved performance and a positive team culture are some of the most important leadership goals for practice owners […]
Importance of a Probation Period
A probation period is an opportunity for an employer and new employee to assess suitability. The length of a probation period is commonly matched to what is referred to as the ‘minimum employment period’ under the Fair Work Act 2009. For employers with less than 15 employees, the minimum employment period is 12 months. For […]
The Importance of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistant Program (EAP) An Employee Assistant Program (EAP) is a counselling service provided by the business to employees at no cost to them. It is a confidential service for employees to support their wellbeing and assist in difficult circumstances. EAPs are becoming more and more common these days – so why should you consider […]
