If not now might be the time to implement one as most KPI’s, targets and budgets for 2020 will have to be thrown out the window as they will be totally unrealistic and unachievable. So rather than recognising sales achievements maybe we should put the emphasis on staff effort & performance overall while also resetting goals.

Did you know that lack of recognition by an employer ranks higher than compensation as one of the reasons why people leave an organisation? So not only are you more likely to retain your staff for longer,  if you implement a recognition program you will also improve employee engagement and performance, it’s a win no matter which way you look at it. 

A few things to consider when starting a recognition program:

• Determine your employee recognition criteria
• Provide tools for employee recognition activities
• Communicate, educate, and inspire
• Get Senior Leadership Buy-in and Commitment
• Choose the right partner

Easy, simple employee recognition ideas:

• Start a meeting with a shout out to someone who put in extra effort or did something great that week
• Give recognition on the spot – when you see great work happening, or gather a small group of peers and create a “recognition moment” where you present recognition to the individual
• Publicise recognition on shared screens or spaces. Describe what the person did and why they are being recognised
• Spotlight recognition on the front page of your intranet or the first section of your company newsletter
• Recognise when employees make healthy choices or contribute to their own or someone else’s positive wellbeing
• Recognise up—often we forget to recognise our own managers and leaders. They want to feel appreciated too
• Recognise unsung heroes—those who do great work, day after day, to support their peers but may not be in very visible roles

Join us and many others on Saturday 13 June. It’s lining up to be an incredible evening for this years’ Grace Gala, a virtual night in!

We invite you to put on your best frock (or favourite PJ’s) and enjoy a night of live entertainment and raise funds for the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.

Grace Gala – A Night In to Remember will be hosted by Studio 10s, Angela Bishop and will feature an exclusive silent auction, raffles and pledges. We are so excited that Johnny Ruffo will be performing on the night alongside the incredible Todd McKenney and Rhonda Burchmore. The show will run from 7pm-8pm followed by an afterparty with music from 8pm-9pm.

Tickets are now on sale for $200 per couple and includes 1 x twin pack of Tyrrell’s wine delivered to your door, along with a $30 Menulog voucher (so you can chose your own cuisine) plus one entry into the major raffle to win a 3 night stay in the Hunter Valley for 10 people thanks to Hunter Valley Holiday Homes!

For more information or to purchase tickets online, click here

Congratulations Emily Smith, our Temp of the Month for the month of May. Emily has been with her host employer for over 12 months as part of their Administration Team. They praise Emily for her hard work, her supervisor states, ”Emily has been the best find for us. We’re so lucky to have her”.

Emily loves her role and the blend of tasks she has on a daily basis. She loves being part of a team that is supportive and a workplace conveniently located in the area.

We would like to take this opportunity to also thank all of our temporary staff. It has been incredible to see so many of you adjust to your temporary assignments working from home.

We are looking forward to the easing of restrictions and heading back in the office as of Monday 1st June.

We are so pleased to see a number of restrictions easing, allowing Northern Beaches Council to reopen some of our beloved pools, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skate parks. It is great to know that as a nation and as a community we have done the right thing and hugely reduced the rate of COVID-19 infection.

As of last Friday, Manly Andrew Boy Charlton and Warringah Aquatic Centre have now reopened, bookings can be made by phoning Manly Andrew Boy Charlton on 8495 5005 and Warringah Aquatic Centre on 9451 8000 with a limit of one person per lane and 45-minute sessions.

We can also now enjoy our beautiful ocean and harbour pools, with a limit of 10 people in the pool at one time. The water temperature has been quite pleasant so a great way to get some laps in during this glorious Autumn weather.

With up to 10 people allowed in outdoor social gatherings and cafes and restaurants, it is a great time to support local businesses. The Beaches Council has also removed the 1-hour parking restrictions which were temporarily in place at all beach car parks. 10-minute parking outside local businesses will remain in force to facilitate takeaway pickups.

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms will re-open with the 10 people limit and social distancing requirements of 1.5m remain in place. It is great that we can use these facilities and ensure to wipe down before and after use.

Michael Regan has recently confirmed that with more than 1200 tests done at the Manly pop up testing centre recently, there has not been a single positive test returned.

With facilities reopening, we can enjoy these new freedoms but keep vigilant for our own health and safety and those in our community.

The JobKeeper scheme has been amended to support the implementation and operation of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme. These changes are temporary and will end on 28 September 2020.

As we already know the JobKeeper scheme helps employers significantly affected by coronavirus to keep paying their employees, by providing a subsidy administered by the Australian Tax Office. The changes also give eligible employers the ability to give certain directions to and make agreements with their eligible employees to help manage their business.

Recent amendments have been made with unpaid pandemic leave & annual leave.
The Fair Work Commission has added a temporary new schedule into 99 awards to provide greater flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic.

The temporary schedule gives employees:
– 2 weeks of unpaid pandemic leave
– the ability to take twice as much annual leave at half their normal pay if their employer agrees

The schedule applies from an employee’s first full pay period on or after 8 April 2020 until 30 June 2020.

The Fair Work Commission has also made other temporary changes to some awards to provide more flexibility during the coronavirus outbreak.

For more details of the recent updates, view the website.

The Fair Work Commission is also in the process of carrying out its annual review of minimum wages. A decision is expected sometime in June.

With the restrictions easing, Safe Work Australia provides a hub of work health and safety guidance and tools that Australian workplaces can use to manage health and safety risks related to COVID-19.

We look forward to getting back in the office from June.

I think we can all say the ironing pile has been scarce in the last few weeks. It does seem odd not having to dress up for a day in the office. 

We have spent our lives dressing formally (to be taken seriously), but with everyone working from home, casual attire has become the new norm. 

I remember when Richard Branson (Virgin Group) cut his suit tie to represent the change from business formal to casual. A recent study from Indeed found that casual dress has increased from 32 to 50 percent in the past five years. While ‘casual Fridays’ are the norm in most industries. The future is difficult to predict, who knows, maybe this pandemic may end business formal attire for some, for good. 

In the meantime, we have a few ‘hot tips’ for maintaining routine and structure in your home office environment. Before logging in on your computers for the day, try and ensure you have comfortable attire on that isn’t your activewear you’ve had on since the crack of dawn or for some still their pyjamas. Find that clean crisp t-shirt or blouse and those comfy work pants you are so familiar with (may seem like a lifetime ago). Look in the mirror and smile, you’re ready to start a productive day and dressed somewhat the part.