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Unfair Dismissal Claims: What Are They & How Do You Avoid Them?

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Operating a business requires a huge commitment from business owners both to the future success of their company and to the well-being of their staff. To ensure that your business continues to thrive moving forward, you need to ensure that your staff are motivated, productive and believe in the mission of your company. Unfair treatment of your staff, even in the case of a dismissal, can wreak havoc on your business and cause chaos within your company.

To avoid an unfair dismissal in Melbourne, business owners need to ensure they follow the correct protocols when letting employees go. An unfair dismissal claim could tarnish the reputation of your business, result in low staff morale and poor relations with the business community in your area going forward. You can be held liable under the Fair Work Act if an employees dismissal is determined to be “harsh, unjust or unreasonable” by the Fair Work Commission. This can be a stressful situation for business owners that can cause irreparable damage to your business, but with the right approach, you can avoid arriving at this unfortunate juncture.

Let’s explore a few ways that you can reduce your risk of facing an unfair dismissal claim in your business.

Don’t Rush A Dismissal

Although you don’t have any legal obligation to issue your employees with any number of warnings before you dismiss them, you need to be careful about how quickly you dismiss your employee. Firing them on the spot, for example, is never advised, as, from a legal standpoint, there are very few times where this is allowed. However, if there is sufficient evidence that the employee has broken the law while at work or has broken your safety protocols, you may be within your rights to dismiss them there and then but tread carefully.

Work With Them

As an employer, it is your job to inform underperforming or uncooperative staff members as to where they are going wrong and what they can do to improve. Failing to offer guidance and an opportunity to improve could be seen to be an unfair dismissal. Meet with the employee in question and outline what the issues are and put a plan in place to help them to reach their work goals. You should meet again in time to review their progress before moving forward with the dismissal. Should there be an unfair dismissal case, the favour will be with you at trial, as you will have offered a solution to the problem and a roadmap to improvement for your employee.

Hear Their Side

If you have any allegations to bring against an employee, whether it is regarding underperformance or misconduct, you need to allow them to respond to the allegations. While this is certainly a fair way to approach the situation, it is also legally required that you take this approach. You are obligated to clearly outline the allegations and communicate them clearly to the employee in writing. They need to be given an opportunity to consider the allegations before you meet with them to discuss the issues. You must give their response genuine consideration or you could end up facing an unfair dismissal trial down the line.

Ensure You Avoid An Unfair Dismissal Case

Employees are dismissed for a variety of reasons and you are completely within your rights as a business owner to dismiss employees who are not performing well, who breach safety protocols or who do not behave appropriately in the workplace. However, before you dismiss an employee, you must take the time to ensure you have not given cause for unfair dismissal. Treating your employees with respect and compassion, even in a dismissal, will ensure your business avoids being hit with an unfair dismissal claim in the future.

The Rostering Revolution: How to Effectively Track a Remote Workforce

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As the world sees a huge shift towards remote working in the last few months, businesses and offices all around the globe have had to find effective ways to manage and track their workforce. Managing staff in an office setting can be difficult enough, let alone managing a workforce that is situated all around the country. Whilst tracking a remote workforce can take a little time and effort on the part of a business owner, it is not an impossible feat. In today’s article, we have a look at how business owners can effectively track a remote workforce by using various tools and strategies that help streamline the tracking process. Read on to find out more!

  1. Software is Essential

When it comes to tracking schedules and work hours, software is an absolute essential. Relying on word of mouth or manual ways of tracking hours is almost always a recipe for disaster. This is why it is so important that business owners make use of tools such as an app for rostering your staff when engaging with a remote workforce. With the help of a timesheet and scheduling app, you will be able to effectively and closely monitor employee hours, shifts and schedules. Software essentially does the work for you, thus greatly reducing the burden on your shoulders whilst at the same time tracking your workforce with utmost precision and accuracy.

  1. Face-To-Face Interaction

Face-to-face interaction when it comes to managing a remote workforce is actually more important than you may think. It can be all too easy for both employers and employees to feel disconnected when working from home, which can ultimately prove to reduce motivation and efficiency levels. In order to prevent this, it is incredibly important that business owners engage in face-to-face interaction with employees at least once a week. This could be in the form of a team meeting, a one-on-one meeting with staff or even just an online socialising session that allows everyone to come together and let their hair down. Never underestimate the power of face-to-face interaction when it comes to tracking a remote workforce.

  1. A Culture of Accountability

Once a business has implemented its time tracking and scheduling software, it is important for those who are higher in the hierarchy to lead by example. This can come in the form of sharing your own timesheet with your employees and encouraging everyone to do the same. Openly sharing timesheets can greatly improve employee motivation and can easily set a benchmark for performance, efficiency and productivity amongst the workforce. Sharing this information also helps to foster a culture of accountability amongst your workers which will inevitably make your job of tracking them much easier in the long run.

  1. Focus On Deadlines

One of the best ways to encourage productivity and efficiency with remote workers is to set strict deadlines that workers have to meet. Ensuring that your team fully understands the scope of their work and being firm with deadlines is a fantastic way to ensure that every monitoring activity will be focused on one singular outcome instead of getting your team to collaborate together towards a shared goal. Individual deadlines can keep employees on their toes, thus ensuring that everyone is giving their 110% and reducing the need for business owners to constantly be checking up on activity and efficiency levels.

  1. End Of Day Report Summaries

With the number of tasks that your team has to deal with, it can be easy for them to lose track of what they have accomplished during the day. This is why introducing end of day report summaries is such a great idea. These summaries can be used as a tool to help both employer and employee identify opportunities for improvement, iron out any potential issues and keep track of their activity on a daily basis. Summaries should be paired with regular team meetings in order to make sure everyone is on the right track and no one is left lagging behind.

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Tracking and managing a remote workforce can be a challenging job, but it certainly isn’t one that is impossible. By utilising a wide variety of tools and ensuring clear and effective communication channels with your workforce, you’ll find that managing your team is a lot easier than you had ever imagined.

Why Do We Need More Young Leaders in the Workplace

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It is an excellent time to be an aspiring young leader. Young leaders are needed and in large quantities. Here are the reasons why.

To inspire a generation of future leaders

Part of leadership development includes mentorship. Young leaders are more likely to encourage more young leaders, as they give them the role model that they require to pursue this treacherous path.

Research shows that young-headed organizations are attractive to young and upcoming leaders. They see the young figurehead as an outstanding anchor in life that they can lean on for hope. As more young take up positions, the more it unlocks the potential of humanity.

They are qualified to take up leadership positions

The glass ceiling has yet to be shattered, as it takes almost twice the level of qualification for a young person to be promoted. With the right amount of leadership coaching, there are millions of potential leaders out there. Some fear taking responsibility, as they are unsure of their capability.

Young leaders are proven regarding inclusive and consultative working environments

A 21st-century leader must possess certain traits for him or her to be successful. One such trait is the ability to lead a friendly working environment. Research shows that young people are more likely to consult, learn, improve, listen to feedback, and extend empathy to their teams. When an organization has such a leader, there is less burnout, high job satisfaction rate, community-conscious workplaces, and meaningful work. Such organizations don’t just chase profits; they look at the bigger picture.

Young people are known to be resilient

In the modern era, new and diverse problems require an assortment of skills. Everyone is invited to the table to help navigate the new challenges in marketing, branding, customer relationship, product development, and other business processes. In the public sphere, issues of policy and implementation also call for everyone to participate.

In future, these traits will make the young become more inspiring leaders as the world moves towards experiential (customer experience-centric) economy.

They make the bulk of the consumers

Young people consume most of the products that come out of it. While they are doing a good job, they are shaping up to take the same by storm. They are bringing something that was not there in the past. Young people and leadership roles are becoming more compatible as more of them join the elusive class of executives and succeeding.

To promote an equitable workplace

More young people emerge to populate the emerging leadership roles in the public sphere and the corporate world. The overall outcome is a balanced workplace. Such an environment, though rare, it provides complimentary qualities that both men and women possess. The outcome is a successful organization.

Conclusion

For us to get more young leaders, we need more and more of them today to inspire others. That’s why we need more support and organisation who provide confidential counselling for young people. We also need to realize that the place for youngs in the global economy is enormous, the earlier we let them take the lead, the better it will be for the world.

Tips to Running a Family Law Firm Business in Sydney

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The practice of law is a respectable one indeed. No matter what type of legal professional in Sydney you are, solicitor or barrister. You’ll notice that people generally have huge respect for the legal profession. But one thing is important to keep in mind. Many legal professionals and practitioners work for large companies. Others run private businesses. Some work alone, others in small groups. So if you’re running a law firm, you must be a business person too. It’s not something to which you would have given much thought when you were struggling to pass those exams. In those days, the passion for the law would have carried you through. Yet, like it or not, law firms are areas where business and commerce intersect. To practice the legal profession profitably, you will need some business skills.

Business Tips for Family Law Businesses

Are you a solo practitioner? Or are you a partner in a firm of family law solicitors? Either way, you have business responsibility. You must make yourself and your partners if need be, aware of certain aspects of the running of the company.

  • You must take a certain amount of time in the month to assess the situation in your business. If you’re a partner in a company rather than running the company alone, there must be regular meetings. This will keep everyone up to date with business matters.

  • In the case of a partnership, you each should have clearly defined responsibilities. Unless it’s specifically agreed that one person takes care of business.

  • One person could be responsible for tracking  company profitability. Another could be responsible for overseeing the office staff employed by the company.

  • You must try to project the company’s profitability for a year. based on the income the company makes per month. You should make careful notes of the partners who bring in the most revenue. Also, note the clients who are most profitable for the company. Use company successes discreetly in marketing the company’s services.

Marketing Tips for Family Law Businesses

Professionals sometimes find hustling for business to be distasteful and sleazy. It doesn’t have to be that way if you’re doing it right. Reliable Family law specialists are always in demand. You must alert the relevant people in the community of your presence.

  • Remember, families, are at the heart of local communities. So make sure that the local community has an awareness of who you are and where you are. You could incorporate your company’s years of service into a slogan. Especially if those years are long enough, i.e. ‘serving the families of our community for 30 years.’

  • If your local area has a community newspaper. It’s no harm to slip in a discreet advertisement on a regular basis. It will put the word out that you’re available to help local families. It may also generate gratitude from the newspaper committee. It depends on revenue from local advertising to keep afloat.

  • Keep a cash float handy in case someone requests your company to sponsor or co-sponsor a local event. Such as a community fundraiser. Remember, they will display your name as one of the event sponsors. This gets your name out among local community members.

Plant the Seed and Reap Rewards

You may have joined the profession because of your passion for law. Or to do good work in the greater community. But those running their own business must develop business management and marketing skills. It takes a little work to get them. But they pay off in the end.

Home Renovation Ideas & Tips to Increase Home Value

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Renovating your home makes it more attractive and comfortable. However, there are other renovations that you can undertake that increase the resale value of the home. It doesn’t matter whether you don’t plan to sell in the near future – it makes it worthwhile for you to have a return on investment from what you put in place. Not every renovation idea adds value to the property; some might give you just minimum returns. Here are renovations that give you maximum ROIs.

Home Renovation Ideas to Increase House Value

1. Remodel Your Kitchen

Whether it is a full or partial remodel, the changes you make to your kitchen will add some value to the property. This is because this is the single most room in the home and buyers consider it a priority. If your kitchen is cramped, make it spacious. Add a fresh coat of paint and clean the cabinets and other kitchen furniture. Replace any damaged appliances and install a countertop. Finally, make sure the light is bright and airy.

2. Update Your Bathroom

The bathroom also adds to the resale value of your home. Use modern styles when updating this part of the house because it has since turned from being a room for keeping clean and now it is a place of a luxury. Install new faucets and showerheads. Next, install tiles on the wall around the bathtub.

3. Invest in Interior Lighting

Lighting makes a huge difference in the way your indoors look. You need to know that buyers prefer as much natural light as possible because this saves on energy costs. Use different types of lights for various purposes. You can use lights to set the mood or use task lights to illuminate parts of your kitchen for easier handling of tasks. Move through the house and understand where changes are needed. Go online and shop for deals so that you save on costs and save more than 50 per cent on purchases.

4. Re-do Your Insulation

Redoing the insulation in your home is one of the eco-friendly renovations that you can undertake. Extra insulation makes your home more energy efficient, which means you pay less for gas and electricity. This reduces on utility bills, something that homebuyers are looking for. Work with a qualified contractor who will check the insulation and come up with an estimate depending on what you need.

5. Install New Cabinets

If working with a decent budget, go for new cabinets. Cabinets create a dramatic look that will transform your kitchen. The cabinets will add a different style and a different tone. You can also try a new layout.

Tips to Attract Lots of Potential Buyers

Now that you’ve made the decision to sell your home, the time has come to make sure people will want to buy it. Your real estate agent will tell you a little about how others have prepared their houses for sales, but ultimately the task of getting the house ready is in your hands. Here are some basics that will ensure the house presents well and attracts the right type of attention.

  1. Taking Care of the Essentials of the House

Your first task is to ensure that the structure of the home is in great condition. To this end, you want the wiring, plumbing, and the foundation checked by a professional. If there is any type of repairs needed, you’ll want to hire handyman manly services to take care of those issues. When a prospective buyer asks if the roof has been inspected recently or if the wiring is up to date, you can answer in the affirmative. That will help keep the conversation going.

2. The Clutter Goes Now

Since you are offering the property for sale, no one really wants to look at your collection of knick-knacks or stuffed animals. As much as you like them, they are preventing buyers from seeing what the house has to offer.

Before you have the first person come to look at your house, get rid of the clutter. See this as the opportunity to decide what makes the move with you and what needs to be donated or given away to friends. Pack up all but a few accent pieces to help give some character to the rooms. Everything that you plan on keeping can go into storage for now.

3. Clean Everything

Once the clutter is out of the way, every inch of the home must be cleaned thoroughly. You may not detect the scent left by the dog because you are used to it. Buyers entering the home will quickly notice the smell and begin to be turned off immediately.

Leave nothing undone when it comes to the cleaning. Wash down the walls, have the window treatments cleaned, and hire a service to steam clean all the carpeting. Don’t forget to clean all the bathrooms thoroughly and go over the hardwood floors and tiles. Even the kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned. All this hard work will leave the home smelling fresh and looking great.

Remember if you don’t have the time or are not that great at cleaning, you can always hire a professional house cleaning service to do the job. Rest assured that the money will be well spent.

4. Staging: Less is More

With the clutter gone and everything cleaned, you need to turn your attention to staging the home. This will likely mean putting some pieces of furniture in storage. Your goal is to leave enough in each room to provide inspiration for using the space while providing the opportunity for buyers to see the architectural details of each room. This provides them with the ability to envision their belongings in the space, something that could lead to receiving an offer.

Remember that while your real estate agent will do a great job of finding potential buyers and bringing them to the property, preparing the house for sale is up to you. Get things in order, and ensure that the house is always at its best. Doing so will mean receiving an offer sooner than later, and maybe even getting an offer that is a little more than your original asking price.

This article comes courtesy of Rokco Builds, trusted customer-centric services in building and construction based in Morningside, QLD.

Simple Steps to Starting Your Small Farm Business in Australia

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If you’ve already got land and are looking to start a farm – whether it’s for practical reasons, such as using your own organic farm to provide food for you and your family, or just because you’re looking for something to do with your time and your land – getting started is a fun and approachable process! Farming in Australia does require some planning and foresight, but setting up your own farm is a highly rewarding process that can be as enjoyable as it is useful.

The Basics

First, before anything else, make sure that you know what you’re getting into! Farming is a large commitment of time and energy. Plan out the steps you’ll need to take to get your farm up and running – shop around farm machinery sales for equipment to make your life easier, such as small tractors for both organic farms and standard farms. You can also opt to use proper diesel engines and generators from Kubota to improve fuel efficiency on your farm. Accord fertilizer spreaders are really handy tools to help make sure you’re using your time and energy efficiently – don’t create more work for yourself than you have to.

Getting Up and Running

Look carefully at your land to decide what you’ll be able to grow and maintain. You might need to be looking at a customised trailer for your farm site. Farming in Australia presents several unique challenges, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help or advice along the way. Move at a slow and steady pace while you determine the needs of your particular farm’s crops; an easy way to burn out both physically and financially is to move too quickly and take on more than you’re ready for.

Maintaining Your Farm

Remember that you’ll be putting a good amount of money into your farm for a year or two before you start becoming comfortable with the process and that it can take even longer to turn a profit if that ends up being your goal.

No matter what the length of time, make sure you’re maintaining your finances – keeping a budget (and keeping it up to date!). It is one of the most useful ways to make sure you’re sticking to a sustainable pattern of work.

Maintaining your farm equipment regularly to extend their life-cycle. Some parts such as auto-glass might need to be replaced more often than other parts. Be diligent in the physical work you do and the records you keep; this will ensure that you minimize risks among the factors you control, leaving you to work with factors you can’t control, such as weather and wildlife.

Planning and Thought: A Winning Combination

Make sure you’re putting careful thought into the start and development of your farm and you’ll find the process both challenging and rewarding! Modern technology has made the ancient systems of farming much more manageable and maintainable, and you’re in an excellent position to take advantage of the benefits these technologies offer.

Make sure you plan and move slowly when you get your farm up and running and you’ll be able to look out over your work in relatively little time, full of the pride that only an endeavour like farming can give.

Featured Photo © Pixabay

About The Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to home improvement, productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

The Benefits of a Freight Forwarders Liability Insurance

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Transporting cargo across national and international borders is now easier than ever. Many shipping companies even operate across continents with ease. However, everyone involved in the delivery of these products always experiences worries on whether the cargo will arrive on time and whether it will get damaged in transit. In case the goods get damaged, everyone involved will have to pay huge sums of money in legal settlements, and that can be very bad for business. To reduce the stress involved in the transport of cargo, you should consider taking out an insurance plan for freight forwarder.

Benefits of a Freight Forwarder Liability Insurance

Here are some of the reasons why you should take a freights forwarder liability insurance policy:

  1. It Protects You from Legal Liability

Your company could stand to lose a lot of money if a client takes legal action on the loss or damage of their cargo. Since you are not in direct control of the goods, you can reduce the potential losses from such cases by taking out an insurance plan. With such a policy, the insurance company will be responsible for the payments resulting from the loss or damage of the goods. In fact, they will also cover business interruptions arising from the events. In other words, a freights forwarders liability insurance plan will transfer the legal risks to the insurance company.

2. It Protects Your Property and Contents

Natural calamities may strike at any time, and there’s no telling whether they will affect your business. The only sure way to make sure you don’t suffer losses when these events occur is by taking out a freights forwarders liability insurance plan. These insurance policies typically cover all services offered by the distribution, storage, and transport of cargo. Your property is used to performs some of these functions, and that means it is automatically covered in the plan.

3. It Protects You From Employer Liability

Very few things can stress an employer more than the threat of getting sued by an injured or sick worker. These compensation claims are usually very high, and they can easily cause financial stress in your company. With a freights forwarders liability insurance plan, you will be covered from this liability. That means any employee who gets injured because of their work will be compensated by the insurance company.

4. It is Affordable

Unlike many other forms of insurance, freights forwarders liability insurance is able to cover many things under a single umbrella. As mentioned earlier, the insurers endeavour to cover all the services offered on the cargo, and this includes its transport and storage. The result of this is that you will not have to pay multiple fees for different types of covers. You will eventually eliminate the duplication of services, and that will keep the pricing as low as possible.

Conclusion

Freights forwarders liability insurance is essential to all parties involved in the delivery of goods, particularly if the transaction is made across international borders. With this insurance, you will be protected from legal issues that may arise from the damage of loss of the goods. You will also protect your property and will receive coverage for any injuries on your workers. You can visit insurance brokers to get the best deals on the market.

Featured Photo © Pixabay

About The Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to home improvement, productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

9 Considerations for Choosing Right Home Generators

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Photo © Ryan Tauss on Unsplash

To choose the right home generator is like selecting a quality and new refrigerator or dishwasher; you have needs and you simply want the best. For this reason, you may end up perplexed and confused. Nowadays, there are a number of generator types coming from different retailers and manufacturers in various models, shapes, prices, and sizes.

When choosing generators for home, it is very important to read and research between the lines; these items can put your family at risk. Here are top considerations when choosing what backup power solution works best for your lifestyle and home.

1. Sound Levels

Check the sound decibel and ensure the unit muffler is great quality. A loud and noisy generator will interrupt your family’s favourite program or disturb at night. Simply put, it will not allow your family to enjoy home comforts. Most reputable and good quality standby units sound like an air conditioning compressor or quieter. Purchase models which feature a great quiet mode.

2. Its Cost and Functions

Do you opt to pay extra cash for a premium brand generator or save cash and purchase a cheap budget brand? It is important for you to beware of the company’s leadership and reputation to ensure that you are purchasing a quality generator from a trusted dealer. Cost is usually dependent upon how big your home is, what circuits you want to back up, and your location.

Examine if the generator has its own programmer controller, which allow hands-free operation. The controller makes the unit to be user-friendly especially for the busy homeowners as it acts as the brain of the unit and sends an alarm when it requires maintenance.

3. Fuel Supply

This is a vital part of choosing a home generator. The fuel type should depend on factors such as affordability, accessibility, environment impact, shelf life, and storage safety. Some of the commonly used fuel types include:

· Diesel

Diesel generators require less maintenance, they are fuel-efficient and least flammable. However, they are louder because of the powerful compression ignition and response. Diesel cannot be stored for too long.

· Gasoline

Gasoline is highly accessible and it’s the most typically used. Even so, it is highly flammable and it has a short shelf life.

· Propane

Propane is safe to store and it is a clean fuel. However, it is highly flammable and it is more expensive.

4. Warranty

It is important to consider warranty offerings as well as seals of approvals. A generator company that is most reputable and trusted will offer you warranty flexibility that suits your budget and needs.

5. Generator Sizing

The engine is the heart of the generator. Larger size generators use liquid-cooled engines while smaller ones use air-cooled engines. Consider purchasing an engine built for heavy-duty unit usage. A quality home electric generator has a better engine that has long intervals, and it requires an oil change after every 200 hours or longer per service.

6. Ease of Installation

Consider choosing generator systems with pre-wired transfer switches in order to make it easier for a qualified installer or DIYer.

7. External Shell

Do not overlook the generator’s external shell. The external casing should have easy access for servicing. Consider choosing hinge enclosers and not bolted enclosers. Additionally, rust-resistant shells are the best for they are durable.

8. Weather Protection

Standby home generators with protected control panels are the best for homeowners that are planning to place their units near the windows.

9. Portability

If you love to do some renovations or rearrange your home furniture, you can choose to purchase a portable generator. They come with a transport trailer or wheels.

About The Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to home improvement, productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

Respite Care – What to Expect

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Respite care describes short-term care solutions, designed to provide caregivers with a temporary break. Respite care options provide caregivers with an opportunity to take a temporary rest, whilst knowing that their loved one is cared for by a registered and trained professional.

Respite care is therefore flexible and can be tailored for each individuals needs. For example, temporary care can be provided for the elderly, or for those with conditions that require supervision. Care can also be offered from hourly to weekly, in the comfort of your own home, or within a residential care home. If you have questions about respite care in NSW, read on to find out what to expect.

Home Care

One of the most important features of respite care is that it is designed to provide individualised and flexible care. Many people choose to receive home care after recovering from an operation or illness, or simply when extra help is required for some of life’s daily tasks. Respite care providers can assist you or a loved one with various tasks including personal care and with completing household chores.

Respite care providers step-in to complete the tasks that are performed by your usual caregiver. At home care is therefore structured with flexibility in mind, ensuring that the care provided is specific to the individual and their needs. Some clients may require constant supervision and care, while others will only require care for a few specific hours each week.

Residential Facilities

Residential facilities can be utilised for an overnight stay, or for an extended period of time. Respite care provided in a residential care facility is a great option for any primary caregiver that requires a temporary break, but who wishes to ensure that their loved one is cared for in a supervised environment. Many leading residential facilities offer numerous accommodation options, including single or shared rooms. Many will also offer various social activities, including day trips and activities. These programs are a great way for individuals to make friends and participate in group activities.

Many individuals choose to receive respite care at a residential facility as a trial when considering whether or not to enter into aged care. Having an opportunity to stay at a facility temporary can be a good opportunity to decide whether or not it is the right fit.

Reliability

Respite care providers are trained professionals. Before choosing to hire a care provider you can review their requisite qualifications and other additional training they may have undertaken. Many professionals who care for those with disabilities, Alzheimer’s or other individual conditions, will carry additional qualifications and experience working with patients with the same needs. Industry leading respite care providers will ensure that your loved one’s caregiver is experienced and able to assist with any individualised care requirements.

Costs

As the options of respite care available are so varied, so too are the costs involved. Whilst some services will be charged by the hour, others will be charged by the number of days or weeks. The costs of the service will also vary depending on the level of care and supervision that is required.

Some individuals may be eligible for government funding or other financial assistance programs in order to subsidise the costs of respite care.

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Respite care is a fantastic option for any caregiver that requires a temporary break, or any individual that requires additional care for a short or extended period. With so many flexible options available, respite care can include as much support or care as each individual requires. From help with shopping and household chores, to expert care for disabilities or health conditions; respite care is an affordable option for every family.

Rebooting your Resume for Executive Roles

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One reason that people seek out professional resume writing services is that, at some stage, their trusty resume, which has served them well for years, has suddenly stopped generating call-backs.

clip_image002Generally, the problem falls into one of two types. The Type One problem is that the market has changed; far more common is the Type Two problem, that the applicant has changed.

For people who have been with one employer for decades, the job market really might be substantially different. Compared with 10 years ago, resumes tend to be more focussed on achievements, to profile career development rather than long service and to leave out personal details such as age and marital status.

Perhaps the most significant environmental change in recent years has been the advent of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which electronically read (parse) a resume. Although not deployed universally, they are now common and will become more so. How to write an ATS-friendly resume will be the subject of a later article.

For Type Two problems, a more customised approach is required. Many people who have successfully used a highly technical resume in the past suddenly find it impossible to step up into a leadership role. These might be Solution Architects who want to move into a CTO role, Financial Controllers applying for CFO positions or Senior Policy Advisors wanting to try their hand at an EL1 or EL2 role in government. In all these cases, the would-be exec has simply outgrown their previous resume.

No reputable professional resume writing service will tell you that there is a single formula for a successful executive resume. Certainly, one should be extremely sceptical of any claim that there is a correct number of pages or a standard format that will work for every candidate. On the other hand, there are some principles of good practice that can help.

The first and hardest change is to let go of the old version. Is it really important how proficient a CTO is at programming in C++? The reason to hire a CTO who was a Programmer and then a Software Designer and then a Solution Architect is not for their hands-on skill but their understanding of what goes into successful technological changes, why they work or don’t, who needs to input into design, how you get clients to realise the benefits of new technologies and so on.

If 15 years of software design got you to Solution Architect, 20 years is not going to get you to CTO, not unless along the way you learned more strategic and profound lessons than a few additional coding tricks.

By way of an example, the table below shows just a few priority differences between executive and professional resumes.

 

Solution Architect

CTO

Skills

infrastructure analysis

project management

software design

Achievements

technical solutions developed

compliance with budgets and schedules

Skills

digital maturity strategies

change leadership

oversight of large project and ops teams

Achievements

organisation-wide change

future-proofing business

Financial Controller

CFO

Skills

financial and management accounting

statutory reporting

budgeting and forecasting

Achievements

resolution of audit issues

streamlining of reporting functions

Skills

risk, compliance and governance

strategic planning

personnel management

Achievements

leadership of major organisational change

improvement in top or bottom-line results

Senior Policy Advisor

EL1 / EL2

Skills

policy and environmental analysis

stakeholder engagement

project coordination

Achievements

delivery of policy reports

provision of advice to Minister

Skills

government agency interoperability

senior-level stakeholder influence

leadership and vision

Achievements

new program or initiative launched

measurable change in social outcomes

Not all leaders are alike. An executive resume needs to carve out a clear point of difference. Once you’ve established your credentials, with clearly articulated and relevant achievements, then the work really starts. How do you stake out a niche area of practice, that is uniquely yours? In the first place, curb the instinct to describe yourself as a dynamic, passionate change-maker. Sounding like everyone else is inherently self-defeating if the purpose is to stand out. Think about what it is that you offer, which someone less skilled, less experienced or just not you couldn’t do. That’s the value proposition; that’s the focus of your resume.