May 2013 Issue 82

1. Look Deeper A lot of excellent talent was downsized during theGFC and more recent times. Look deeper into what the candidatehas been doing with that time off - it might be an eye opener. 2. Talking too much Sure, it's natural to want to talk about yourbusiness when hiring. We like and should talk about our expectationsand management style,...

Promoting a healthy work environment is one thing but promotinga healthy work environment hundreds of kilometres away from home can be difficult. Unfortunately, the road trip environment does not promote healthy eating. Petrol stations in the middle of nowhere are made of sugar, and fast-food stores are in the areas we pull over to restand recuperate. Think back to the...

It is early days yet and of course there is no certainty that the Labor Government's changes will pass Parliament (and who knows whether the Liberals will roll them back any way if they win the coming election).However, here are a few thoughts on the effect of the proposals on Estate Planning if the amendments pass. It is proposed that...

According to recent studies (including by Accenture) , the overwhelming majority of business leaders see sustainable business practices as fundamental to the growth of their companies. And for good reason: factors such as spiralling energy and resources costs, along with increased emphasis on corporate social responsibility and other factors are combining to make sustainability a 'must have' for business. The...

There has been much discussion recently on how to develop a productive and harmonious relationship between the board and management. We know that this is critical for good governance and organisational effectiveness but can be difficult to achieve in reality. The importance of this relationship is critical across all sectors whether the organisation be in the Private, Public or Not...

We'll get your business and your people set up, in place and ready for work on time. Total Solutions For You We have expertise in professional relocation management and commercial relocation services. We understand the wider issues, the need for careful planning, detailed project management and clear communication with your staff. Our experienced team takes total responsibility for your relocation,...

The Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) Visa ("subclass 457 visa") is in practice the most common work visa used in Australia. Its popularity has continued despite the substantial changes to the 457program in 2009, when it became more expensive and more onerous for an employer to recruit overseas workers. These changes were implemented to prevent abuse of the scheme. The...

With the end of the financial year fast approaching, organisations need to start looking at ways to minimise tax liabilities. While business owners should have strategies in place all year round to reduce tax liabilities, 30 June presents some additional opportunities and is a critical deadline for minimising tax for the financial year. Seven key opportunities to reduce tax liabilities...

Small to medium sized businesses are finding ways to streamline their business operations by moving away from traditional on-site servers to internet based servers, a process known as 'cloud computing. 'Cloud computing refers to the storage of information, applications and other business tools online. The hardware used for this informationis stored in a remote location and managed by a third...

Cloud computing first came to my notice when I tipped thecontents of my coffee mug onto my Macbook Pro and congratulatedmyself on having the forethought of regularly backing up all of my fileson an external hard drive. Only to find that when I had purchased thereplacement laptop and plugged in the external back-up drive, it too,was faulty! It was a...

If you are a B2B enterprise it makes senseto be advertising in the B2B magazineand other vehicles just like this, to reachthat specific, highly targeted market. Youknow the audience and you are not wastingdollars in a "scattergun" approach, whereyou have no idea of the audience you arereaching. Of course, creativity and clarity inyour messaging should certainly be a feature.Creative approaches...

The Gillespie Group is a team ofaccountants and financial advisors who offer a wide range of expertiseand experience in the world ofbusiness, taxation, wealth creation andfinance. They are focussed and committed toproviding the highest levels of personalisedsupport to their clients and, like OPC, theyunderstand that people and their businessesare unique and require timely and accuratesolutions tailored to suit their individualneeds....

Australia's federal system involving the eight state and territory governments and the Commonwealth can create confusing and potentially conflicting requirements for businesses operating across borders. But now, for the first time, businesses thatoperate in the ACT and other jurisdictions can go toone online service - www.business.gov.au/ablis - tounderstand their compliance obligations. The Australian Business Licence and InformationService, ABLIS, was launched...