About Karen Hillen

Tapping into more than 30 years’ experience in Human Resources, staffing & payroll, Karen loves helping you get the best out of your people while providing you, the business owner, with peace of mind.

Karen partners with you to assist in proactively managing your people, providing the tools you need to enhance productivity & maximise profit. With her friendly, approachable & professional manner, she ensures you feel comfortable & confident in her services. Just knowing you can speak with Karen & receive the right advice, eliminates the concern of HR issues – providing welcome reassurance for busy business owners.

About Karen Hillen

Tapping into more than 30 years’
experience in Human Resources, staffing & payroll, Karen loves helping you get the best out of your people while providing you, the business owner, with peace of mind.

Karen partners with you to assist in
proactively managing your people, providing the tools you need to enhance productivity & maximise profit. With her friendly, approachable & professional manner, she ensures you feel comfortable & confident in her services. Just knowing you can speak with Karen & receive the right advice, eliminates the concern of HR issues – providing welcome reassurance for busy business owners.

By working with Karen, you’ll have the right HR contracts and policies in place, your business is compliant with employment law and you’ll know you’re paying the correct rates of pay to your staff. She is skilled at analysing complex HR issues, able to quickly adapt to a variety of situations and offer a choice of viable, practical solutions.

Karen is a Certified HR Coach with a Diploma in Human Resource Management, Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Certificate IV in WHS. She also is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland & the Industrial Relations Society of New South Wales.

Why not benefit from Karen’s vast level of HR expertise and experience? To discuss your HR requirements book in for a call.

By working with Karen, you’ll have the
right HR contracts and policies in place,
your business is compliant with
employment law and you’ll know you’re paying the correct rates of pay to your
staff. She is skilled at analysing complex
HR issues, able to quickly adapt to a
variety of situations and offer a choice
of viable, practical solutions.

Karen is a Certified HR Coach with
a Diploma in Human Resource Management, Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Certificate IV in WHS. She also is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) & the Industrial Relations Society of New South Wales.

Why not benefit from Karen’s vast level
of HR expertise and experience? To discuss
your HR requirements book in for a call.

About My HR Partner

My HR Partner – Mission

At My HR Partner, our mission is to provide excellent, cost-effective HR services tailored to the unique needs of small to medium businesses. We deliver easy-to-understand solutions while ensuring structure and compliance, giving business owners peace of mind and confidence. Our expert advice and flexible options help solve HR problems effectively, ensuring businesses have the right documents and processes in place.

We aim to instil a sense of relief and confidence, knowing that all HR aspects are covered and that employees are treated well. Our unique online membership offers a starting point for comprehensive HR support without unrealistic contracts. With My HR Partner, navigating HR challenges becomes effortless.

As your on-demand HR Manager, we deliver competitively priced, reliable & practical HR solutions for professional
service business owners and teams across Australia. By tapping into our comprehensive industry experience, My
HR Partner actively supports you with expert HR advice & assistance, whenever you need it, while ensuring you are
compliant with current workplace legislation.

We have trusted Employment Law partners to assist with any employment law issues outside of our scope.

You speak directly with one of our HR experts, not a call centre or generic phone advisory service. We provide tailored,
personalised service & advice, and vitally, we deliver consistent information throughout our relationship with your
business. We’re proactive in offering a range of potential options and solutions, so you never have to worry about
an HR problem while you’re working with us.

Most business owners & managers don’t have the time, knowledge or skills to manage HR themselves. Our role is to
help you eliminate the worry of dealing with HR issues, wasting hours of valuable time waiting on the phone for Fair
Work or trying to determine whether you’re doing the right thing by your employees.

My HR Partner provides a higher level of support and advice than many similar services. While we happily answer
questions, providing advice and guidance quickly and efficiently, we also offer for your employees to speak with us
directly, once authorised by you. This can help resolve staff concerns before they even become an issue.

Engaging our service is like having an HR manager on staff, at around 10% of the cost of employing one. Consider
us to be an insurance policy for your HR requirements, with great return on investment.

About
My HR Partner

As your on-demand HR Manager, we deliver competitively priced, reliable & practical HR solutions for professional service business owners and teams across Australia. By tapping into our comprehensive industry experience, My HR Partner actively supports you with expert HR advice & assistance, whenever you need it, while ensuring you are compliant with current workplace legislation.

We have trusted Employment Law
partners to assist with any employment
law issues outside of our scope.

You speak directly with one of our
HR experts, not a call centre or generic
phone advisory service. We provide tailored, personalised service & advice, and vitally, we deliver consistent information throughout our relationship with your business. We’re proactive in offering a range of potential options and solutions, so you never have to worry about an HR problem while you’re working with us.

Most business owners & managers
don’t have the time, knowledge or skills to manage HR themselves. Our role is to help you eliminate the worry of dealing with HR issues, wasting hours of valuable time waiting on the phone for Fair Work or trying to determine whether you’re doing the right thing by your employees.

My HR Partner provides a higher level of support and advice than many similar services. While we happily answer questions, providing advice and guidance quickly and efficiently, we also offer for your employees to speak with us directly, once authorised by you. This can help resolve staff concerns before they even become an issue.

Engaging our service is like having an HR manager on staff, at around 10% of the cost
of employing one. Consider us to be an insurance policy for your HR requirements, with great return on investment.

Our Latest Blog Post

Podcast Episode 20: Affordable Employee Benefits: Creative Solutions for Small Businesses

Blog| Employee Engagement| Managing Performance| Podcast

November 18, 2024•3 min read

Welcome back to the My HR Partner blog. Today, I’m excited to delve into a topic close to my heart—providing affordable employee benefits for small businesses. If you’re running a small business and looking for ways to keep your employees motivated and feeling appreciated without straining your budget, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore some creative, cost-effective strategies to enhance your workplace culture and retain your top talent.

Why Offer Employee Benefits?

Employee benefits are crucial for retaining staff and boosting morale. While large corporations can offer extravagant perks, small businesses can also make a significant impact with thoughtful, budget-friendly options. The key is to focus on what truly makes your employees feel valued and engaged.

Some Examples of Creative, Cost-Effective Employee Benefits

Birthday Leave

One simple yet impactful benefit is offering a day off on an employee’s birthday. This small gesture shows appreciation and allows employees to enjoy their special day without the stress of work. For a small business, you can set clear guidelines to ensure fairness, such as allowing the day off within a two-week window around their birthday. Also consider how this leave would apply to part time employees.

Employee of the Month/Week/Quarter

Recognising outstanding performance can be as simple as implementing an Employee of the Month/Week/Quarter program. This can include a range of rewards – anything from a gift card to a special lunch or even an extra day off. The goal is to celebrate achievements and motivate your team. Just make sure the criteria for awards are clear and equitable to avoid any feelings of unfairness.

Flexible Work Hours

Offering flexibility in work hours or remote work options can be a valuable benefit. If you have employees who’ve recently hit a significant milestone or achieved their targets, consider giving them an extra hour/s off or the option to work from home for a day. This type of reward can be highly appreciated and doesn’t necessarily come with a financial cost.

Personalised Rewards

Tailor rewards to individual preferences. If you have a small team, you can personalise rewards like restaurant vouchers, movie tickets, or sports event passes based on what each employee enjoys. This personal touch not only shows that you value their preferences but also makes the reward more meaningful.

Recognition Programs

Don’t underestimate the power of recognition. Implement a structured recognition program where employees are acknowledged for their hard work and milestones. Whether it’s a trophy, a plaque, or a simple shout-out in a team meeting, celebrating achievements can foster a positive work environment. And……. Sometimes all it takes is to say Thank You.

Involving Employees in the Process

Engage your team in brainstorming sessions to gather ideas for benefits that would truly resonate with them. This collaborative approach ensures that the perks you offer align with what your employees find valuable. It also helps in creating a sense of ownership and involvement in shaping the company culture.

Balancing Fairness and Motivation

When designing reward programs, it’s important to ensure they’re fair and inclusive. Avoid scenarios where only a few employees repeatedly receive rewards, as this can lead to resentment. Instead, consider team-based goals or rotating awards to keep everyone motivated and feeling valued, but at the same time, you don’t want to be seen to be just giving an award to someone to “share it around”. It needs to be something to strive for.

Conclusion

Affordable employee benefits can make a significant difference in maintaining a motivated and happy workforce. By thinking creatively and understanding what your employees value, you can implement effective benefits without breaking the bank. If you need more tailored advice on setting up a benefits program or managing HR concerns, feel free to reach out to us at My HR Partner.

Thank you for joining me today. Keep your team happy, and let’s continue working towards a thriving and positive workplace culture.

Stay tuned for more HR insights and tips on the My HR Partner blog and podcast.

Back to Blog