Founder and Managing DirectorNatasha is a leading HR expert, entrepreneur, author and sought-after media commentator for outlets such as Sunrise (Channel 7), ABC Radio and The Australian Financial Review. Natasha co-founded Employee Matters in 2011 to help Australian businesses achieve success through their people.
Hiring the right people and keeping them is critical for any small business. In the eyecare sector, where teams are often small and close-knit, one poor hire can quickly impact performance and culture.
In a recent feature, Natasha Hawker, founder of Employee Matters, shares practical strategies to help businesses hire smarter, build strong teams and manage risk effectively.
Start Strong With Structured Onboarding
The first six months are critical, this is when employees are most likely to leave. A clear induction process helps new hires:
- Understand expectations
- Settle into the team
- Feel supported from day one
- Build a Strong, Multi-Generational Team
Today’s workforce spans multiple generations, each with different expectations. Rather than seeing this as a challenge, successful businesses treat it as an opportunity and investing in people and building a culture where everyone can thrive.
Focus on What Drives Business Success
Strong people management drives:
- Growth through performance
- Profit through culture
- Sustainability through risk management
This starts with hiring the right people, developing their skills and actively managing workplace risks.
Hire Smart and Protect Your Business
A key principle:
Hire slow, fire fast. Rushed hiring decisions can be costly, impacting productivity, culture and retention.
It’s also essential to:
- Use properly drafted employment contracts
- Ensure correct award classifications
- Stay compliant with workplace laws
- Use AI Carefully in Recruitment
AI can help screen applications, but it shouldn’t replace human judgement. The best candidates don’t always fit a standard template so always include a human review in your hiring process.
Need Support With Your Recruitment?
Getting hiring right makes all the difference to your business success. Get in touch with us for recruitment and HR support.
Get in Touch
Tell us a bit about your business and we’ll be in touch to:
- Understand the challenges that are holding your team or growth back
- Show you how our embedded HR and Recruitment Experts can solve problems faster, without the overheads
- Identify high-impact areas where HR and Recruitment support could save you time, stress, and money
- Map out a tailored approach based on your goals, industry, and internal capabilities
Alternatively, you can call us on (02) 8021 4206.
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