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Effective Workplace Solutions, Pottsville (2026)

26/05/2026

A recent Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) decision is a timely reminder that workplace policies and online training alone may not be enough to protect employers from liability.

In Loquias v The Star Entertainment Group and John Dwyer [2026] QIRC 023, the Commission considered allegations of sexual harassment by a senior manager towards an employee, including inappropriate comments and unwanted physical interactions.

While The Star had policies in place and staff completed mandatory online training, the Commission ultimately found the business vicariously liable under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).

The key question was whether the employer had taken “reasonable steps” to prevent the behaviour from occurring.

The findings suggested the existing measures were too focused on compliance rather than meaningful behavioural prevention. The issue was not simply whether training existed, but whether employees could genuinely engage with and absorb it.

The Commission noted that employees were completing online training while also attending to their work duties. That fell below basic training expectations and was not considered a reasonable step in preventing sexual harassment.

This echoes earlier comments from the Fair Work Commission that online, self-taught and “tick and flick” training can lack the educational rigour and practical outcomes of face-to-face training.

The focus is increasingly moving beyond whether training exists, to whether it is actually effective.

For many organisations, policies may technically exist and training may technically occur. But managers are still not confident in intervening early, managing difficult conversations, escalating concerns appropriately or recognising when behaviour has crossed the line.

At EWS, our workplace behaviour and sexual harassment training is face-to-face, practical and tailored to the organisation. Rather than a “tick and flick” exercise, our sessions are designed to create genuine engagement, deepen understanding of the issues and help leaders respond with greater confidence at work.

Because in today’s environment, prevention is becoming much harder to demonstrate through paperwork alone.

📘 Read more about our workplace behaviour and sexual harassment training workshops.
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0T9xv0

20/05/2026

Today is International HR Day, which recognises the role HR plays in helping organisations lead through change, navigate complexity, and build stronger workplaces.

One of the biggest HR myths we still see is:
“Having a policy in place protects you if something goes wrong.”

In reality, policies alone don’t protect businesses. How they are communicated, applied, and followed in practice is what matters most.

Because when workplace issues arise, the real test isn’t whether a policy exists.

It’s:
*Whether leaders know how to apply it
*Whether managers handle situations consistently
*Whether expectations have been clearly communicated
*And whether issues are addressed early and fairly

That’s where strong HR leadership makes the difference.

Thriving workplaces aren’t built through policies sitting in folders. They’re built through leadership, communication, and the confidence to manage people well when situations become difficult.

At EWS, we work with businesses to help turn policies into practice, supporting leaders to navigate people issues with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

To mark International HR Day, we’re sharing our latest HR Mythbusting eBook, unpacking some of the most common misconceptions that continue to catch employers out.

🔗 https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0T9R00

19/05/2026

Today is International HR Day, which recognises the role HR plays in helping organisations lead through change, navigate complexity, and build stronger workplaces.

One of the biggest HR myths we still see is:
“Having a policy in place protects you if something goes wrong.”

In reality, policies alone don’t protect businesses. How they are communicated, applied, and followed in practice is what matters most.

Because when workplace issues arise, the real test isn’t whether a policy exists.

It’s:
*Whether leaders know how to apply it
*Whether managers handle situations consistently
*Whether expectations have been clearly communicated
*And whether issues are addressed early and fairly

That’s where strong HR leadership makes the difference.

Thriving workplaces aren’t built through policies sitting in folders. They’re built through leadership, communication, and the confidence to manage people well when situations become difficult.

At EWS, we work with businesses to help turn policies into practice, supporting leaders to navigate people issues with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

To mark International HR Day, we’re sharing our latest HR Mythbusting eBook, unpacking some of the most common misconceptions that continue to catch employers out.

🔗 https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0SLkx0

13/05/2026

This week is National Careers Week, which focuses on attraction, growth, and building workplaces where people can thrive.

But thriving workplaces aren’t built only through hiring and development. They’re also shaped by how issues are managed when things become difficult.

One of the HR myths we see most often is:
“If they resigned, the issue is behind us.”

In reality, resignations don’t always happen in isolation.

Sometimes they follow unresolved concerns, poor communication, ongoing tension, or situations that were allowed to drift for too long. And in some cases, that can still create legal and workplace risk for an employer.

More often, though, it’s a sign that issues weren’t addressed early enough.

The strongest workplace cultures aren’t built when problems disappear quietly.
They’re built through clear communication, early intervention, and the confidence to deal with issues before they escalate.

That means:
*Addressing concerns early
*Having clear conversations
*Supporting managers to handle issues consistently
*Creating environments where people feel heard

At EWS, we help businesses build the structure, confidence, and clarity to manage these situations early.

Because thriving workplaces don’t happen by accident. The best cultures are built early, not repaired later.

🔗 https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0QXzd0

06/05/2026

With Small Business Month underway in Queensland, the focus is often on growth, building something sustainable, expanding teams, and taking the next step.

But one of the risks we see is when businesses outgrow how they’ve been managing people. A common assumption:

“We’re not a large organisation, we don’t need formal processes.”

In reality, obligations don’t reduce as a business grows. They become more important.

Even under the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code, decisions still need to follow a fair and reasonable process and if they don’t, claims can still arise.

Where businesses get caught is in the transition:
*Moving from informal to structured
*From instinct to process
*From “what’s worked so far” to what’s required now

That shift isn’t always obvious until it’s tested.

We work with growing and established businesses to put the right structure around people decisions so they stand up when it matters.

29/04/2026

Most businesses don’t have an HR problem. They have gaps they haven’t spotted yet.

Because risk rarely shows up as one big issue.

It builds quietly across things like:
• Contracts that don’t quite align
• Payroll systems that haven’t been stress-tested
• Managers avoiding early conversations
• Policies that exist… but aren’t actually used

Individually, they seem manageable. Together, they create exposure.

That’s exactly why we use a structured HR Health Check with clients.

It gives a clear snapshot of:
• Where you are compliant
• Where you are exposed
• And where small fixes now prevent much bigger issues later

It is not a tick-box exercise. It is a way to understand how your business would stand up if tested.

If you haven’t pressure-tested your HR foundations recently, this is a good place to start.

🔗 Download the HR Health Check: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0MLRh0

22/04/2026

You don’t notice HR support when things are quiet.
You notice it when something goes wrong and you need to act quickly.

That’s where expertise shows.
It’s where responsiveness actually matters.

Because in those moments, the risk isn’t theoretical.
It’s immediate, and the margin for error is small.

What matters is having someone who can step in, cut through the noise, and guide the next move with clarity.

That’s the role we play for our clients every day.

Appreciate the feedback from Adam Brims and the team at Brims Group and proud to be a trusted partner when it matters most.

🔗 https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0McxZ0

15/04/2026

A recent Fair Work Commission decision is a useful reminder of this and highlights a risk that often arises in practice.

In Mr Glenn Brew v Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 955, an employee returned a positive drug test after using cannabis days before attending work. The Commission accepted that he was not intoxicated or impaired at the time.

While the positive result provided a valid reason for disciplinary action, the issue was how that breach was treated.

The employer appeared to proceed on the basis that a breach of its zero tolerance policy should result in dismissal. However, its own policies allowed for a range of disciplinary outcomes, and those alternatives were not given adequate consideration. In that context, the dismissal was found to be unfair.

From an employer perspective, the decision is not about weakening standards.

It reinforces a more fundamental point: policies set the standard, but they do not determine the outcome.

A “zero tolerance” position can create exposure if it is applied as though it removes discretion, rather than guiding it.

Even in safety-sensitive environments, employers still need to assess:
*What the policy actually provides for
*The specific circumstances of the breach
*Whether the outcome is proportionate in the context

Where that step is missed, the risk is not the policy itself, it is the rigidity of the decision-making.

“Zero tolerance” may describe the standard. It does not remove the need for judgment.

For more insights on managing workplace risk and complex people decisions, visit https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0L56q0

08/04/2026

Most businesses are carrying FBT risk, they just don’t realise it.

And often, it comes down to something this simple:
“If you are not paying it in cash, you have created an FBT risk.”

In our latest HR2Go episode with Matthew Hardy from MRTG Taxes, we unpack how this plays out in practice and where many employers get caught out.

Most employee benefits start with good intent:
→ attract and retain people
→ reward performance
→ support your team

But without the right structure, they can easily create:
✔ unexpected tax exposure
✔ compliance risk
✔ ongoing cost you didn’t plan for

We get into questions like:
✔ Why FBT isn’t really a “hidden cost”
✔ Why availability matters more than usage
✔ How small, informal perks can build into real exposure
✔ Why more complex benefits rarely deliver better outcomes

The takeaway?

It’s not about avoiding employee benefits, it’s about understanding the full cost before you implement them.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0JDHr0

01/04/2026

Please note that the EWS office will be closed on Friday April 3 and Monday April 6 for the Easter break.

We wish all our clients and community a safe and happy Easter.

Effective Workplace Solutions

26/05/2026

20/05/2026

19/05/2026

13/05/2026

06/05/2026

29/04/2026

22/04/2026

15/04/2026

08/04/2026

01/04/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm