Why SMEs Must Think Like Enterprises to Compete for Talent in 2026

SME hiring discussion in a modern office, representing recruitment and how SMEs compete for talent in 2026.

Introduction Rapid advances in HR technology have reshaped how organisations attract, onboard and support talent. Automated onboarding, AI-assisted recruitment, digital communication platforms and end-to-end payroll systems are now central pillars of modern HR operations. Reports such as Deloitte’s Human Capital Trends  highlight how digital HR is now a critical enabler of efficiency, consistency and employee […]

The Most Statistically Reliable Ways to Recruit Top Talent

statistically reliable ways to recruit

Recruiting the right talent is one of the most critical drivers of business success. However, traditional hiring methods can be prone to bias, inefficiency, and high turnover. To build a high-performing workforce, companies need data-driven, statistically reliable ways to  recruit that optimise hiring decisions. In this article, we’ll explore the most scientifically validated and statistically […]

The Top 5 Hiring Trends Shaping 2025

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 […]

The Effectiveness of the 70:20:10 Approach to Learning and Development

new-pay-rates-37-modern-awards-in-2025

The 70:20:10 model for learning and development is a popular framework used by organisations worldwide to maximise the effectiveness of their training programs. This model suggests that 70% of learning comes from on-the-job experiences, 20% from interactions with others, and the remaining 10% from formal educational events. Let’s delve into how this approach can benefit […]

The Crucial Role of Behavioural-Based Interview Questions in Talent Acquisition

A group sits in chairs.

HR professionals are constantly seeking effective ways to assess job applicants. Among the myriad techniques available, Behavioural-Based Interview Questions (BBIQ) stand out for their reliability and depth of insight. This article explores why these types of questions are crucial for recruiters aiming to make informed hiring decisions. What are Behavioural-Based Interview Questions? Behavioural-Based Interview Questions […]

We’re Hiring: HR Consultant, Sydney

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. […]

Navigating the Australian Labour Market

employee reference checks

Navigating the Australian Labour Market According to the ABS, as at August 2022 the unemployment rate in Australia was 3.5%. This is 487,700 unemployed people who are of working age. The ABS Job Vacancies report recorded and estimated 470,900 job vacancies as at August 2022. “Job vacancies were 107.4% higher than they were in February […]

Upcoming public holidays for the rest of 2022

HR Consultants holiday

Upcoming public holidays for the rest of 2022 The Prime Minister has declared that Thursday the 22nd of September will be a public holiday for a National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty the Queen. There are several other public holidays coming up in each state in territory which can be found by clicking the […]

Changes to WHS laws announced by Safe Work Australia

Australian WHS

Changes to WHS laws announced by Safe Work Australia The latest review found that whilst the WHS laws were achieving their intended purpose, there was still more that should be done to assist uphold the duties associated with psychological health. Furthermore, the intent is to ensure that monetary penalties for failing to uphold these duties […]

FWC wage increase handed down

HR Consultant FWC

FWC wage increase handed down This week the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 5.2% increase to the National Minimum wage, increasing the National Minimum Wage to $812.60 per week or $21.38 per hour. In addition to the above, modern award minimum wages will increase by 4.6% (or for wage rates below $869.60 per […]

Your expectations of employees can determine their performance at work

HR Consultants

By Kim Thomson   The Pygmalion and Golem effects suggest that your expectations of your colleagues and direct reports can have a much bigger impact than you might think. In the late 1960s, American research psychologist Robert Rosenthal conducted an experiment in an elementary school that continues to have implications for leaders of all kinds. Working […]

Constructive feedback and how to give it

Constructive feedback

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 […]

Join Our Team

Liquid HR logo with company slogan - Raising The Standard,

Are you an experienced HR professional who loves variety and flexibility? Maybe you’re looking for your next challenge and want to be part of a vibrant team Are you Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane based? If so, we may have just the opportunity you’re looking for…. Whether you’re seeking full/part-time work, a casual engagement, or project-based […]

The Advantages of Outsourcing HR for SMEs

Resource

Outsourced Human Resources (HR) is a Growing Solution for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Over the past decade, we have witnessed the exponential growth of organisations steering toward HR outsourcing – an option historically reserved for the ‘big end of town’ only.  Small and medium sized organisations (SMEs) have also been taking advantage of the […]

So you’ve passed someone over for a promotion – now what?

Union and the workplace

It can be tough to let someone down in an internal hiring process. Two HR experts tell us how to walk that tightrope. In-house hiring can be a smart, efficient option for organisations. For employees, knowing that promotions are on the table can be an incentive to stay at the company. But for HR managers, […]

Productivity Myths That Are Holding Your Team Back

Employee working at her laptop who is trying to increase her work efficiency

Reading about productivity is almost like reading about some kind of mythical creature. All that news outlets and business gurus talk about is either ways that people can get more productive or reasons why people aren’t as productive as they should be. The hard truth is that the road to productivity looks different for everyone, […]

Providing Feedback to Employees

Feedback to Employees

Employee feedback – it’s something we know we all need to do, but do we know why we do it? It is not uncommon for a business to have mandatory performance reviews every six to 12 months, which are often linked to salary increases. But what do you as the employer get from these reviews? […]

Online Workplace Compliance Training

Industrial Relations in Review – March 2019

Liquid HR is constantly seeking to build and improve on the service it offers its partners. Therefore, we are excited to announce our commercial endeavour with Sentirent, which will provide a complimentary, reliable workplace compliance solution for our existing clients. The online platform enables the training of employees, contractors and volunteers and the sign-off of […]

The new world of HR and AI

HR and AI

It’s hard to ignore the AI (Artificial Intelligence) hype that has gained unwavering momentum over the past 5 years. We continue to hear how HR is one of the key business functions where AI can be applied, so we are taking a look at how this can be applied practically in the workplace. Onboarding New […]

We’re Hiring

onsite hr support

Are you an experienced HR Consultant looking for a flexible work opportunity? We are looking to engage a HR Consultant to join our team in Sydney and Melbourne. A little bit about us… Liquid HR is a HR Consulting firm that was established in 2011 with a vision to become Australia’s premier Human Resources partner […]

‘Unattractive’ people are more likely to be ignored at work, research says

What does 2019 have in store for HR?

By Kate Neilson While previous research has shown that ‘attractive’ employees are likely to win out in a job interview, new research suggests the barriers of ‘lookism’ don’t stop there. It’s a powerful and pervasive form of workplace discrimination that doesn’t receive much attention. Researchers believe they’ve taken the first steps in uncovering how an […]

What does 2019 have in store for HR?

Changes to Jobkeeper

As we embark on another year and many employees are returning to work, it is a great opportunity to plan for the year and develop your strategic HR objectives. We’ve all heard the well-known saying, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” HR can easily be one of those functions in the business […]

What Makes a Top Consultant?

Young male small business owner is smiling for the camera.

I’m often approached by HR practitioners considering the switch across to consulting. With that often comes the question ‘what makes a good consultant?’ Whilst there is no exact formula to this question, some of the key characterises I’ve witnessed from great consultants over the years include: Flexibility Great consultants can go into a new environment, […]

Attracting and Retaining Great Talent

Attracting and Retaining Great Talent

There is a lot of jargon and acronyms in the world of HR, EVP (Employee Value Proposition), PIP (Performance Improvement Plan), Core Competencies, TNA (Training Needs Analysis)… I could continue on. However, the point is you could be forgiven if it seems like I am speaking another language. This begs the question, are we overcomplicating […]

The Leadership Journey

HR Outsourcing

I still remember my first leadership role, I played it cool pretending I knew exactly what I was doing, but underneath that cool, calm exterior I was thinking “what have I got myself into?” I’d seen leaders before; I’d created an image in my mind of what sort of leader I wanted to be; perhaps […]

Dealing with the unconscious bias issue

Salary Benchmarking

Late last year, over Friday afternoon drinks, I found myself engaged in a fascinating discussion with our organisational psychologist. The topic, predictive validity and unconscious recruitment bias – yes, I’m a nerd. During the conversation, my colleague enthusiastically suggested that blind interviewing, such as behavioural phone-based interviews, was one technique to achieve a more objective […]

Ouch, another terrible hire!

A person holds a phone while looking at the screen.

‘She was excellent!’ I proclaimed, directly followed by vigorous nods and a chorus of agreement from the rest of the interview panel. Excited that we had found a ‘gem’, we spent the next ten minutes reinforcing our belief by offering impressive samples of the interview answers we had just received. Let’s take references ASAP I […]

The Culture Question

Union and the workplace

Changing organisational culture can be one of the most challenging tasks for an organisation to take on. Organisational culture is formed over years of interaction between the participants and slowly but surely, behaviours are born and integrated into the day-to-day operations of the organisation. When people in an organisation realise and recognise that their current […]

The Hidden Cost of Employing HR

The Hidden Cost of Employing HR

Take a moment and consider the cost implications of hiring an HR employee. Obviously there is the base salary, but have you worked out the associated costs of that employee? Hypothetically speaking, if you employee an HR Manager for $90,000 p/a base salary, that employee could end up costing you up to 1.4 times more […]

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

outsourcing hr solution

If you don’t get the cover letter right, chances are no one will read your fabulous resume. Cover letters are a disputed issues among hirers. Some reckon they are a waste of time and go straight to the resume. But most work the other way round and read the cover letter before deciding whether to […]

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