Positive Duty Laws under the Sex Discrimination Act

The recently published Positive Duty guidelines from the Australian Human Rights Commission have been developed to help organisations and businesses eliminate unlawful behaviour as much as possible in their workplaces.

In late 2022, the Respect Work Act was passed into law, marking a significant legislative change in Australia's industrial relations landscape. As part of this comprehensive legislation, a new legal framework was introduced, referred to as 'positive duty.'

This framework places an onus on employers to take reasonable steps to eliminate sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination within their workplaces under the Sex Discrimination Act.

The fundamental shift is that it's no longer adequate for employers to react to complaints as they arise. Instead, they now have a proactive obligation to implement measures that prevent these issues from happening in the first place.         

So, what are the new Positive Duty...

Hello and welcome to Episode 187 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

In today’s episode of the podcast we are retuning to a more technical discussion about one of the more recent legislative updates – the introduction of positive duty laws to prevent sexual harassment and sex based discrimination in the workplace.

These laws were passed in late 2022, but given the gravity of the changes being implemented, employers had a grace period to get their house in order. From December 2023 though, the Australian Human Right Commission will be able to commence legal proceedings against employers who are failing to meet their positive duty obligations, and no one, not even small businesses, are exempt.

In todays’ episode we re cap what the positive duties laws are, what they mean for employers. and the AHRC guidelines for achieving compliance with these new requirements.

As always, if you’d like to connect with other small business owners to chat all things HR and people management, I’d l...

Leading a team is like a dance.

One of the key steps to the leadership dance is finding the sweet spot between being liked by your team and being respected by them.

It’s critical for leaders at any level to consider the balancing act of respectability versus likeability when it comes to their team, as one or the other could emerge more dominantly. Still, great leaders require harmony between these two aspects of themselves.

Respect is the cornerstone of a high-performing, reliable, and motivated team. Likeability is also essential for building rapport, but sometimes leaders can mistake being liked for being respected, and that’s not always the case.

Why Are We So Focused on Our People 'Liking' Us?

It's not uncommon for leaders, especially those in small businesses, to desire to be liked by their team. Sometimes, the mental game of being the boss is overwhelming, confusing and just plain complicated. The yearning for camaraderie, bonding and that sense of belonging is a profound...

Hello and welcome to Episode 186 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

In today's episode of the podcast we are taking a deeper dive into a topic we covered in a recent Power Play Mini Episode - do your people like or respect you?

So often as business owners and leaders we are playing a popularity game, because we want our people to like us. But when we are doing that at the detriment to building respect from our team, it can be bad for them, the business and us.

What's your experience when it comes to this? What game are you playing? I'd love to hear, join us in our Facebook Group to share your experiences:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia

Navigating Uncharted Waters

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation so uncomfortable and challenging that it haunted your thoughts for years? It may have left you questioning your leadership abilities and replaying the scenario in your mind, wondering what you could have done differently.

13 years ago, I had a difficult conversation that forever changed my approach to communicating with my team. This conversation taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, difficult conversations, and the courage to lead confidently.

Picture this: It was an ordinary Friday afternoon – when I should have been home with my baby. Instead, I was at the office, facing a situation that would shake me to my core. I was leading a growing team, and on that Friday, I was about to have one of the most challenging conversations of my professional life.

Little did I know that this encounter would become a cornerstone in my journey as a business leader.

The Gut-Wrenching Dilemma

Have you ...

Hello and welcome to Episode 185 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Today I am chatting about coaches and mentors for small business owners and why we should all have some!

Coaches and mentors are incredibly powerful in supporting us as small business owners, yet I know many of us are reluctant to invest in ourselves by getting a coach or mentor for something we might be struggling with.

Today we talk about the reasons for that, and why investing in ourselves is the best investment for our business.

Do you engage coaches and mentors in your small business? I’d love to know. Let us know inside our free Facebook Group, HR Support for Australian Businesses, so I can learn more about what’s working for you and any challenges you might be having.

Join Here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia

Hello and welcome to Episode 184 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Today I am sharing with you, warts and all, the details of a conversations I had with a staff member, more than 13 years ago, that to this day still makes me cringe.

It was one of the most difficult conversations I have ever had to have with a team member, and I learnt a lot from it.

Today I share with you the mistakes I made, and the lessons I learned so that you never have to go through this sort of experience with one of your team.

The unavoidable truth about difficult conversations

Mastering difficult conversations at work is an invaluable skill – especially for leaders – but do you know the ten most common types of difficult conversations?

While difficult conversations about performance management are definitely one of the most common types of difficult conversations we see in workplaces, they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Business owners and leaders will encounter a wide range of challenging conversations with their teams, and knowing how to approach and navigate these difficult conversations is an invaluable skill.

So, while performance dramas are undoubtedly a significant part of the landscape regarding difficult discussions, it's a mistake to believe that these are the only challenging conversations you'll have as a leader in business.

The 10 Types of Difficult Conversations at Work

There are many reasons why avoiding difficult conversations is bad for business, the most obvious...

Hello and welcome to Episode 183 of the People Powered Business Podcast.

Today we’re talking about difficult conversations, and the 10 types every business owner will need to have with one of their team, at some stage.

Despite our misconception, difficult conversations aren’t just about performance dramas. They can be about anything from salary negotiations to delegating a task, so what happens when we don’t give the other types of conversations the same time and attention?

In today’s episode we unpack the risks of not giving these other types of conversations you attention, and I uncover the 10 types of difficult conversations that every business owner will need to have, which span from the recruitment to the termination process.

If difficult conversations are something you struggle with, I’d love you to join me for the Mastering Difficult Conversations Workshop which kicks off 18th September, just click this link to find out more:

https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/powerwe...

Policies that support your business and team

If you run a business or an organisation, the Code of Conduct is one policy you want to invest in.

Creating policies for your business might not be the most exciting task, we get it – but some guidelines are essential, and this is one of them.

Having a code underpins and informs almost everything your business does, from communication best practices to acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. In this blog post, we explore what a Code of Conduct is, where and why it's useful, and how it can significantly benefit your business.

What is a Code of Conduct?

A Code of Conduct is a formal document that outlines the guiding principles, standards, and behavioural expectations for all team members within your organisation. It serves as a set of rules and guidelines that govern interactions, communications, and behaviour between employees, management, and other stakeholders.

A well-designed Code of Condu...