Workplace harassment not only includes sexual harassment against women or men, but it is widely defined by the federal laws. The emotional and verbal abuse includes bullying, intimidation, put downs, harassment, coercion, shame, lying, exerting values of power, being overworked to extreme, condescension, excessive demands of perfection, creating feelings of powerlessness, being made to feel insignificant or inferior, excessive demands of perfection, not providing employees sufficient information to perform, belittling depriving of rights and benefits, unsuitable nonverbal behaviors, talking down to another, and setting up circumstances for failure.

According to the federal law, there is a lot of importance of reporting workplace harassment. These laws apply to employees, applicants, and former employees. Part time, full time and temporary employees are equally protected in this regard.

You should comply with the importance of reporting workplace harassment because you have the right to work in a harassment free environment. If you are harassed by the employer for a job, you can report it because the law states that no employer can make job decisions based upon color, race, religion, origin, sex, genetic information, marital and parental status.

Mostly women complain about sexual harassment at workplace, but they don’t feel appropriate to report it because they fear they might be led down or fired from work. Federal laws clearly state that sexual harassment should be reported immediately to the concerned authorities with suitable evidence. The law also asserts severe punishment for employers or employees who indulge in such acts. Such punishments depend on the nature of harassment.

You must have sound knowledge of the harassment laws and the importance of reporting workplace harassment because this will help you take the best action in case you are harassed.

You can report harassment very easily if you have enough evidences. A safe workplace will ensure better staff retention and satisfaction, whereas it will also enhance the reputation of the organization. It creates a professional environment and increases the willingness of employees to speak up confidently on such issues.

Many workplaces do not provide much information or completely ignore the employment rules and harassment reporting. The ignorance of these matters increases the confidence of such employees and employers who are responsible for harassing both genders equally.

Praise Often, Not Occasionally

This does not mean managers and supervisors have to make a daily ritual of telling its staff members that they’ve done a good job. The key is to avoid only praising an employee after completing a huge project or reaching a milestone. Positive reinforcement should be a regular part of the process. For example, let one of your employees know that you appreciated his/her feedback during a company meeting. Such a statement can easily turn their day from a good one to a great one.

Remind Them of Their Value

Employment agencies and those in human resources deal with job seekers and employers on a regular basis, which allows them to recognize how important the relationship is between a company and those they hire. If you’re the owner of a business who has been fortunate enough to work with a group of individuals that regularly contribute to your business’s success, make sure to remind them that their efforts do not go by unnoticed. This approach is especially helpful if you have an employee that has hit a rough patch or is experiencing frustration with their job. Explain how their job duties contribute to the success of the company and while there are areas where they can do better, they should take the initiative to be the best at their job they can be.

Encourage Growth

It is important to recognize that content employees are not always happy employees. To boost their motivation, encourage them to take steps to advance in their position. Should a promotional opportunity come up, make contact with the employee that you feel has the best shot and let him/her know that if they really want to flourish, they should take advantage of the offer.

Helping them envision a better working situation is a great way to get them to invest in themselves not only for the good of the company but so that they feel good about their efforts and talents.

Looking for staff to fill certain positions is no easy task. If you’re having a difficult time finding individuals to meet your company’s criteria, working with arecruitment agency may be just the right solution. With expert knowledge in the recruitment process, this type of company can help you secure people that will not only fulfill their responsibilities but help your business grow and thrive.

Author: Vlasta Eriksson

9 tips to get the best out of your first day

• Observe: always observe your fellow workers and see how they do things. Because they are usually more experienced than you they will have small short cuts and tricks of the trade. By observing you can pick these up quickly. You will also be able to assess your colleagues and know which ones are more friendly and trustworthy.
• Ask questions: do not be afraid to ask pertinent questions that will clarify tasks and help you to accomplish them better.
• Listen carefully to instructions: Be a good listener and understand the instructions you are given.
• Be polite and respectful to other employees: it is important to treat other workers well. After all you will be spending at least 8 hours with them. If you are decent with your fellow workers they will usually be decent to you.
• Respect your immediate supervisor: Always show your supervisor respect. It is not an easy job to be a manager and they do deserve your respect. If you treat them properly and do not argue with them they will be more inclined to like you and help you out with complicated tasks.
• Try to follow instructions carefully: listen to instructions and follow them to the letter. When you first start off you will not know the shortcuts you can take so you will need to follow the entire procedure to accomplish something.
• Take your time: Nobody expects miracles on your first. Take time to accomplish tasks and do them right. As a newcomer nobody expects you to be as fast as experienced workers and they know you can and will make mistakes.
• Own up to mistakes: If you make mistakes be honest and admit that you have done it and try to rectify your mistakes. Everybody appreciates honesty, especially when it comes to mistakes. If you make a mistake and you very likely will on your first day admit it and ask how to rectify it. This is much appreciated and mistakes can be forgiven if you try to set them right.
• Keep a low profile: it is always good to keep a low profile. This will prevent you from getting into trouble with your colleagues and the management. If you stay quite you can also get more work done and get to know your fellow workers better.

Making a good impression on your first day should be your goal. This is because first impressions are lasting impressions. People will remember you best by what they first see in you, so be sure to try to make a good impression on your colleagues and the management right from your very first day. This in turn will impact your whole career with the company.

Looking for Jobs in Cairns, Jobs on Sunshine Coast and Jobs in PNG please call us +61 7 4050 3888 or apply online:

Signature Staff

Knowing what is needed when conducting an induction for a new employee is a great start in creating a productive and confident employee who will benefit the business in short and long term.

The 7 elements of What Should an Induction Program do?

1. Establish rapport
2. Introduce the organisational culture
3. Outline the organisational Vision and Mission
4. Clarify job role and responsibilities
5. Familiarise employees with conditions of employment, facilities and amenities, policies and procedures, whilst avoiding information overload
6. Obtain feedback on the effectiveness of the induction process
7. Fast Track Your New Employee

Getting a new employee started in your business is like starting a farm. You don’t just go out and grow crops. The connection you make in the beginning are like seeds planted in the ground – they won’t pay off in the short term. But if you water, fertilize, and give them plenty of sun, they’ll grow into your first crop – and from that first crop you will get more seeds and harvest again and again.

Visit Signature Staff’s brand new OHS Services

Format Guidelines – The length of the CV and the formatting you choose i.e font

To view the full article please email: mentor@signaturestaff.com.au

Author: Vlasta Eriksson

Your Employment Agency Cairns

Including funny questions in the interview process will not only put the candidate at ease but it will relax them and make them enthusiastic about the interview. As an interviewer the aim is to achieve the best possible match for that job. The goal is to have the interviewee in the right mind set as well as it identifies the psychological structure of the candidate. The candidate’s answers given to this style of questions play an important part of the selection process. Ultimately it will smooth the interview process.

When is the best time to use funny interview questions? Most of the job interview questions are divided into three parts. In the first part, the questions relate to the interviewee’s family, education, hobbies and interests. The second part is set around the technical skills for the job. While the last is to judge the candidate’s personality � his/her nature, decision making capacity, ideology, and ability to solve problems.

Funny interview questions can be used at any point of the interview. Using these questions at the start of the interview will break the ice especially when you sense the candidate to be too tense and nervous. Funny questions work extremely well between the first and the second part of the interview process. Most people are very comfortable to talk about themselves, their family, education and their interests. Throughout this part the interview the candidate is in their comfort zone by asking the funny questions at this point the candidate is put at ease and in the right frame of mind before proceeding with the technical or the behavioural style questions. You will notice that the interviewee will concentrate on the questions at hand and not worry about their state of mind. Closing your interview with a funny question can be a tricky one. One thing that should be considered is the lasting and memorable impression on the interviewee. The interviewer needs to make that judgment taking into consideration the position they are interviewing for as well as how the interview process went.

Consider doing your next interview with a little sense of humor. Even if the candidate might not be successful in your position you have made the interview memorable and the candidate will gain a lot more confidence for their next interview.

Consider some of these questions to ask in your next interview:

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

• What do you often eat for your breakfast?
• If I give you one million dollars how would you spend it?
• What are the most embarrassing situations you have had?
• Tell me about your recent travelling experience.
• What do you do when you lose your passion for something?
• If you didn’t have to work what would you do?
• What makes you laugh?
• Tell me about one of your worst habit or quality?
• What would be your first question to the people of Antarctica?
• Which is your favourite language other than your native language?
• Mention some incidents when you laughed at yourself?
• If I granted you one wish to change the world what would it be and why?
• If I take a look inside your refrigerator what would I find?
• If you are given a chance to travel into the past where would you go and why?
• If you are alone in a desert what would your thoughts be?
• If you would like to go on a trip where would that be?

Author: Vlasta Eriksson

Have also a look at our Human Resources Products and OHS

The construction industry on the other hand has not been so lucky still struggling and it doesn’t look like it will be picking up for a while. Commercial, Mining, Financial Services are also on a steady rise.

Cairns has recorded 8.9% unemployment for June and should be dropping further in the next few months.

Employers have been challenged with new legislations coming into the 2011 Financial Year.

Federal wage increase has been fairly confusing for most SME due to number of Modern Awards being in the transition period. The ATO has made a new ruling with regards to the Salary Sacrifice being recorded on the payment summaries for last financial year. And not to mention Modern Awards are still is a state of confusion for most employers.

WHSQ is slowly getting through auditing all medium size business, so if you are a business and declared over one million but less then ten million in workcover for the financial year 2009 your turn is coming.

Here are couple of useful links:

Fair Work Australia

Pay Rate Calculator

If you’re finding it just too much to take in and would like some assistance we are offering Employer Coaching Program.

Covering the following:

• Recruitment Process
• Employment Process
• Employment Procedures and Policies

To find out more contact Vlasta Eriksson on 07 4050 3888 or vlasta.eriksson@signaturestaff.com.au