The Fair Work Commission has ruled that junior pay rates for employees aged 18 to 20 in the retail, fast food and pharmacy sectors will be phased out over the coming years. In practical terms, this means that workers who are legally adults will increasingly be entitled to full adult pay, regardless of age.

Fuel Prices Are Climbing… Now Your Team Wants to Work From Home. The fuel crisis is real and I have no doubt it is showing up inside your business.

Not on your P&L first — but in conversations with your team. So what can you do about it?

Franchise businesses operate within a unique structure. While each location is typically owned and operated by an individual franchisee, they all sit under the same brand and system.

This model allows businesses to grow quickly and scale across many locations. However, it also introduces HR risks that are often underestimated by both franchisors and franchisees.

Understanding these risks is important for protecting both the business and the brand.

When most small businesses start, HR is often an afterthought.

Hiring happens quickly, policies are informal, and documentation is minimal. That might work when you have two or three employees. But once a business begins to grow, weak HR foundations can quickly lead to confusion, performance issues, and legal risk.

Strong businesses build strong teams — and that starts with getting the HR basics right.

Here are the five HR foundations every small business should establish.