The Latest from Kristy-Lee

Probationary periods are one of those workplace mechanisms that many employers use without truly understanding their purpose, or their legal limitations.

They seem simple on the surface: a set timeframe to trial a new hire. But scratch beneath that and you’ll find a surprising amount of confusion, especially when it comes to how these periods interact with Australia's employment laws.

Whether you’re onboarding a new team member or reviewing your hiring process, it’s time to unpack what probationary periods really mean—and how to use them effectively.

What Is a Probationary Period, Really?

Most employers view probation as a built-in trial, but that’s not quite accurate. Legally, there’s no such thing as a probationary period in the Fair Work Act or modern awards. There’s no mandatory timeframe. In fact, the term “probationary period” only has weight if it’s specifically outlined in an employment contract.

Essentially, it’s a contractual clause, not a legal safety net. I...

Hello and welcome to Episode 275 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

This week we have a brief but important technical update for you after the Fair Work Commission announced its decision around the National Minimum Wage increase effective 1 July.

This year we have a 3.5% wage increase being applied to the National Minimum Wage and all Modern Award Minimum Wages effective 1 July 2025.

But really, in the scheme of the changes happening in the Industrial Relations legal landscape over the last 2 years, this isn’t the biggest change we need to ensure we’re across.

We have yet another increase to Superannuation on the 1st July 2025, and of course the final implementation phase of the Right to Disconnect laws in August 2025.

This is on top of the last 12 months significant changes to the casual employment definition, the new pathway for casual conversion and the constantly murky area of employees v’s contractors conundrum – all of which employers are still struggling to grapple wit...

Australia’s employment landscape is in for yet another shake-up following the Fair Work Commission's recent findings on gender undervaluation across several modern awards.

Following the 2024 announcement as part of the National Minimum Wage review process that the Commission planned to undertake a targeted review of specific Awards to assess whether gender undervaluation was an issue, they have recently announced the results of their findings.

This isn't just another round of compliance updates, it's a targeted response to the ongoing gender pay gap, and it's set to impact a vast number of workers, and employers of all sizes across the country. If you're an employer in allied health, community services, or childcare, it's time to take note.

The Gender Pay Gap Gets Real Attention

The issue of the gender pay gap has been debated for years, but recent government and Fair Work Commission efforts are moving from discussion to action. The Commission launched a Gender Undervaluat...

Hello and welcome to Episode 274 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Today we are talking about probationary periods. What they are, why so many businesses get it so wrong in using them effectively and how to leverage them better.

Legally, the concept of probation isn’t defined in the Fair Work Act. What matters instead is the “minimum employment period”, which is 12 months for businesses with fewer than 15 employees or 6 months for businesses with 15 or more employees.

During this period, employees can’t make an unfair dismissal claim — which is why it’s often confused with “probation.”

BUT — if you don’t manage this properly — you can still face general protections claims, adverse action issues, and more. The employment contract wording is critical to protect you here.

An Invitation

Would you like to connect with other like-minded business owners, leaders and managers experiencing similar situations with their team? Join the discussion inside our free Facebook Group – The P...

You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule—also known as the Pareto Principle. It’s the idea that 80% of your outcomes often come from just 20% of your efforts. In business, it might show up in your client revenue, your sales results, or even your task list.

But there’s one place this principle shows up over and over again—and it can quietly make or break your success: your team.

In many businesses, a small portion of the team is responsible for the lion’s share of results, while another small portion takes up most of the time, energy and attention. And if this imbalance isn’t addressed, it can lead to burnout, frustration, and stalled growth.

Let’s explore what the 80/20 dynamic looks like in a team—and how to reset the balance.

When 20% of Your Team Delivers 80% of the Results

First, take a moment to think about your team. Who are your high performers? The ones who are always reliable, get things done without being asked, and consistently push the business forward?

Hello and welcome to Episode 273 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Today we are joined by special guest Dr Shae Wissell from Re:Think Dyslexia.

Dr. Shae Wissell is a thought leader, researcher, and internationally recognised advocate for adults with dyslexia and neurodivergence. A certified practicing speech pathologist, she holds a Master of Public Health and Health Administration and a Doctor of Public Health.

With extensive experience in health, not-for-profit, and social enterprise sectors, Shae directs re:think dyslexia and founded the chair of the Dear Dyslexic Foundation, leveraging her lived experience and diverse expertise to provide coaching, advocacy, and workforce solutions.

Her research focuses on the lived experiences of Australian adults with dyslexia, examining social inequalities in healthcare, education, employment, relationships, and mental health. A published author and presenter, Shae’s work has been research has been recognised locally and internationall...

If your team is growing but your diary is still jam-packed, your stress is climbing, and your inbox is overflowing with things only you seem to be able to answer… there’s a good chance you’re missing one crucial piece of your organisational puzzle.

Most business owners hit a point where the team has grown, the work has scaled, but they’re still stuck in the middle of everything.

Constantly managing people. Fixing problems. Running out of time. It's frustrating, exhausting, and makes you wonder if growing a team was ever worth it.

Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s one role that can change everything—and it might just be the game changer your business needs.

Are You Experiencing Growing Pains?

There are some common warning signs that suggest your business is ready for a structural shift:

• You're the bottleneck — everything flows through you and progress stalls if you're unavailable.
• Taking leave is near impossible — for both you and your te
...

Hello and welcome to Episode 272 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Today we are getting a little technical and unpacking a recent announcement and decision from the Fair Work Commission in relation to the Gender Undervaluation Review.

In this episode we will look at what’s changing – for sure, what is on the table to change, when will we know more and what’s coming next?

What we know is changing, for sure is the minimum pay rates for Pharmacists, including Pharmacy Interns, covered under the Pharmacy Award. They are getting a 14.1% pay rise, in 3 phases, starting 30 June 2025!

Also on the table are a number of provisional recommendations relating to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award, the Children’s Services Award and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Controlled Health Services Award.

These provisional recommendations include changes to cla...

Managing a team isn’t easy. And for many business owners, it’s the one part of business they’d gladly give up. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I love my business… I just wish I didn’t have to manage people,” you’re not alone.

The reality is, leading a team can feel hard because most of us never learned how to do it—we just fell into it. You start a business, you grow, you hire people… and then you wonder why it still feels like a struggle. The truth? A lot of it comes down to how you lead—and whether that leadership style is helping or hindering your team.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Boss

Forget the textbook leadership models. This isn’t about theory—it’s about real business, real teams, and real challenges.

After working with thousands of business owners over the last two decades, a clear pattern has emerged. There are four boss types that most leaders fall into. And understanding which one you are is the key to leading more effectively (and with a lot less stre...

Hello and welcome to Episode 271 of the People Powered Business Podcast!

Have you ever felt like your team is… almost great?

You’ve hired well, you’ve delegated, yet you’re still stuck in the weeds.

It’s not that they don’t care — but you’re still the one they lean on for every answer, decision, direction.

So if you’ve built a capable team… what’s missing?

Today we are unpacking The 3 Things Your Team Needs From You — but Won’t Ask For

The first is Clarity.

Not just what to do, but why, when, and how success will be measured. Without this, they hesitate, double-check, or avoid taking initiative.

The Second is Structure (and rhythm).

Teams thrive on predictable systems — not daily chaos. When you lead “on the fly,” your team feels just as disorganised as you do.

The Third is Boundaries

The team need you to say no, make decisions, and draw lines — not always please, fix, or say yes. Your people want to grow — but can’t if you’re always swooping in.

This isn’t about being toug...