Free HR Services from our Employee Relations Experts. Find out more.

Our Business Services

Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA

With over 130 years of experience representing WA businesses, we’re ready to help with the resources and advice you need to succeed.

Employee Relations Helpline

Employee Relations Helpline

Get timely, reliable and practical employee relations advice on employment laws, the awards system and other human resource matters. CCIWA Members get unlimited access.

Business Law WA - Legal Services

Legal Services at BLWA

Through our incorporated legal practice, Business Law WA, our team of experienced, client-focused business lawyers offer a full range of Commercial Law & Employment Law services for all your essential legal needs.

Accounting & Taxation Services

Optima Partners and CCIWA

Innovative and personalised accounting, taxation and business advisory services that focus on delivering the best results to help your business grow.

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Construction & Mining IR Services

Construction & Mining IR Services

We offer extensive, independent and practical industrial and labour relations support to the engineering, construction and mining industries.

Workplace Training & Development

Workplace Training & Development

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Our dedicated team specialises in assisting employers maximise the benefits of investing in apprenticeships and traineeships to build local skills for the diverse WA workforce. Our team of experts will provide all the advice, support and services you need — free of charge.

Work Integrated Learning – Internships

Work Integrated Learning - Internships

Tap into WA’s future workforce with our Work Integrated Learning – Internships program. This free service facilitates university student work experience placements for your business.

Industry Capability Network WA

Industry Capability Network WA

Connecting your business with mining, construction, infrastructure, defence and other major projects using the ICN Gateway.

International Trade Services

International Trade Services

Take your business global using our comprehensive suite of international trade services to streamline importing and exporting, reduce risks and identify international partners.

You have one free articles for this month. Sign up for a CCIWA Membership for unlimited access.

HR case study: Why you need to call in the experts

By CCIWA Editor

 Staffing is continuous issue for business, whether attracting, maintaining or terminating.  

Getting your staffing systems in place, as early as possible, can reduce your chances of costly disputes and incredible stress.  

Good staff who are loyal and enthused are worth their weight in gold.  

The West Australian Institute of Martial Arts has 1700 students, 40 full-time, part-time and casual staff, and runs at three locations.  

Some 10 years ago, it was one quarter this size. With its growth, WAIMA has learned and moved forward from costly mistakes. 

General Manager Michelle Pitter says when it started, they all had the same vision, drive, work ethics, standards and passion to grow and excel.  

“When we started expanding, we needed to employ more people and we just presumed the new staff all had the same work ethic or knowledge as we had,” she says.  

“You can never presume. We quickly learned we needed strict procedures and systems in place. Then, if you do have problems, it’s better because everyone has communicated in the right way.”  

Training 

“We’ve appointed a trainer and assessor within our company because even though we had our procedures, people interpreted it in their own way, and made their own version,” she says.  

“So now we have a trainer, we know everyone is following the same system, because it creates chaos if you don’t”.  

Technology 

As well as the trainer, WAIMA uses technology to help. It’s co-created a training portal which includes all procedures, videos, audio, the leadership program, and opportunity for instructors to obtain different levels.  

For all the payroll needs, it uses accounting package, Quickbooks.  

Give staff a voice 

“Managing 40 staff, we need to keep a check on what they’re doing, and deal with their issues quickly,” Pitter explains.  

WAIMA uses a checklist that staff submit each evening, and an end-of-day report to summarise challenges, successes, and issues.  

“Managers get busy sometimes so with that system in place we can easily be on top of things quickly. That was a challenge we found a solution to,” she says. 

The company uses ‘Teams’ on Office 365 which gives information in a Facebook messenger style format so that managers’ email accounts aren’t flooded.  

Legal help and dispute resolution 

The organisation enlisted outside help to create systems to review and assess employee performance, an employee handbook, management handbook, working out award levels and contracts.  

When staff issues arise, Pitter recommends getting outside advice. 

“They interviewed us and the employee about the issue, and this third party came to the conclusion. You need to take yourself out of the equation and this way the employee feels like it is not a biased decision and it is resolved.”  

CCIWA provides a variety of help such as HR related subscription services, which includes information and forms to assist with resolving staff issues, a phone advice line, and a team of workplace relations experts.   

Terminating 

“When you need to terminate a contract, and you don’t have written evidence, it’s a challenge,” Pitter says.

“You really need to set out a proper performance management plan. That’s massive, absolutely massive and we’ve learned from our mistakes with that.”  

She says you need to have provided staff with training and opportunities to achieve the things you ask them to do.  

“There’s weekly meetings, there’s a performance management template that we follow, and we had to create a management booklet on policies and procedures. If you manage the situation verbally, that’s not enough.”  

CCIWA’s Workplace Relations can help you get all your policies and procedures in order for a range of issues that may arise, while the Employee Relations Advice Centre can answer your questions over the phone.   

 

 

 Staffing is continuous issue for business, whether attracting, maintaining or terminating.