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, we empower small to medium businesses with flexible and expert HR solutions. We offer a fresh approach, delivering clear, cost-effective support without the rigid contracts you don't need. From our unique online membership and comprehensive retainers to a la carte services, we simplify compliance and management, giving you the confidence and freedom to grow your business.
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
Planning Employee Leave for the Year
Annual Leave Planning for the 2025 Christmas/New Year shutdown: A Guide for Australian Businesses
It’s just over 13 weeks until Christmas.
It's a good time to start planning for the Christmas/New Year period if you shutdown over that time. Determine the specific dates your business will be closed, and communicate this to your employees and clients.
Effective annual leave planning is important for a healthy and productive workplace.
As your trusted HR partner, we’ve put together a guide to help you manage annual leave proactively especially when planning for your Christmas/New Year shutdown.
Plan Ahead for the Christmas/New Year Shutdown:
If your business closes over the Christmas/ New Year period, you need to provide employees with the appropriate written notice as specified in their Award. You need to do this even if you have the information in an employment contract because you have to inform your employees of the dates each year.
It’s also wise to check if employees have enough leave to cover this period. If they don’t, you can explore options like agreeing in writing to take a period of unpaid leave or allowing them to take annual leave in advance. (Regularly checking leave balances when employees apply for leave throughout the year can be good too)
Just be sure to get a written agreement for any leave taken in advance (that puts an employee into a negative balance), outlining that they will repay the value if their employment ends before the leave is accrued. It's also important to understand that you can't force an employee to take unpaid leave, so making sure you come to a written agreement is important.
If you have an employee that is hired after the initial notice of the shutdown has been given to your team, you must give that employee notice as soon as reasonably possible (for example, it's a great idea to let them know as part of their induction, or even in the recruitment process).
Your employees are entitled to be paid for any public holidays during the shutdown period that fall on days they would normally work. This applies even if they have agreed to take a period of unpaid leave.
Why Strategic Leave Planning is Crucial for Your Business
A well-thought-out leave plan benefits both your business and your employees. Here’s why it’s essential:
Avoid Disruptions and Staffing Shortages: Last-minute leave requests can throw a spanner in the works. Planning ahead ensures you have adequate coverage, preventing disruptions to productivity and customer service.
Boost Employee Wellbeing: Regular breaks are vital for preventing burnout and keeping your team engaged and productive. Encouraging planned time off shows you value their wellbeing.
Ensure Compliance: As an employer in Australia, you have obligations under the National Employment Standards (NES) to provide annual leave. Proper planning helps you meet these requirements and ensures your payroll system accurately accrues leave entitlements.
Practical Strategies for Proactive Leave Management
Ready to take control of your leave planning? Here’s our best HR advice for 2025:
Create a Centralised Leave Calendar: A shared calendar, whether it’s a physical whiteboard or a digital tool, provides a clear overview of public holidays, peak periods, and approved leave. This helps employees choose dates that don't clash with critical business operations or when someone else is on leave.
Communicate Policies Early and Clearly: Your HR policy handbook should clearly outline leave policies, including notice periods, any restrictions during busy seasons, and the process for submitting leave requests. This transparency helps prevent misunderstandings and sets clear expectations.
Manage Peak Periods Effectively: Identify the busiest times of the year for your business and plan your staffing accordingly. For example, if you're in the retail sector, it’s best to avoid approving leave during peak holiday shopping seasons.
Be Fair and Consistent: Maintain a transparent and fair process for approving leave requests. Apply policies consistently to all employees to avoid any perception of favouritism. If your policy limits how many people can be on leave at one time, ensure it's applied fairly across the board.
Tools to Streamline Leave Management
You don’t have to manage leave manually. Here are some tools that can simplify the process:
HR and Rostering Software: Cloud-based HR and rostering systems are excellent for tracking and managing leave requests and entitlements automatically.
Spreadsheets: For smaller teams, a well-organised spreadsheet can be a simple and cost-effective way to track leave.
Whiteboard: A leave roster could be displayed in the office on a Whiteboard.
Automated Alerts: Many systems allow you to run regular reports and set up reminders for employees with high leave balances, encouraging them to book some time off.
A Quick Refresher on Annual Leave Entitlements in Australia
The National Employment Standards give details of what annual leave employees are entitled to:
Four weeks of paid annual leave per year for full-time employees.
Four weeks of paid annual leave (pro-rata) for part-time employees, based on their contracted hours.
Annual leave loading for employees covered by specific awards or enterprise agreements - your Award or Agreement will set out the entitlements.
It’s crucial to stay up-to-date with your Award conditions to ensure you remain compliant with all leave loading and Fair Work requirements.
Final Thoughts
Strategic leave planning is all about finding the right balance—ensuring your team gets the rest they need while keeping your business operating smoothly. By adopting these practices, you can create a win-win situation for both your employees and your bottom line.
If you’re struggling to manage leave or other HR challenges, My HR Partner is here to help. We specialise in simplifying people management for businesses across Australia, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
Need expert support with your HR? Contact us today to learn how we can tailor a solution for your business!
We provide HR advice and support. We have trusted partners to assist with any employment law issues
outside of our scope.
More info
Get HR Advice from our HR expert
Our Latest Blog Post
Planning Employee Leave for the Year
Annual Leave Planning for the 2025 Christmas/New Year shutdown: A Guide for Australian Businesses
It’s just over 13 weeks until Christmas.
It's a good time to start planning for the Christmas/New Year period if you shutdown over that time. Determine the specific dates your business will be closed, and communicate this to your employees and clients.
Effective annual leave planning is important for a healthy and productive workplace.
As your trusted HR partner, we’ve put together a guide to help you manage annual leave proactively especially when planning for your Christmas/New Year shutdown.
Plan Ahead for the Christmas/New Year Shutdown:
If your business closes over the Christmas/ New Year period, you need to provide employees with the appropriate written notice as specified in their Award. You need to do this even if you have the information in an employment contract because you have to inform your employees of the dates each year.
It’s also wise to check if employees have enough leave to cover this period. If they don’t, you can explore options like agreeing in writing to take a period of unpaid leave or allowing them to take annual leave in advance. (Regularly checking leave balances when employees apply for leave throughout the year can be good too)
Just be sure to get a written agreement for any leave taken in advance (that puts an employee into a negative balance), outlining that they will repay the value if their employment ends before the leave is accrued. It's also important to understand that you can't force an employee to take unpaid leave, so making sure you come to a written agreement is important.
If you have an employee that is hired after the initial notice of the shutdown has been given to your team, you must give that employee notice as soon as reasonably possible (for example, it's a great idea to let them know as part of their induction, or even in the recruitment process).
Your employees are entitled to be paid for any public holidays during the shutdown period that fall on days they would normally work. This applies even if they have agreed to take a period of unpaid leave.
Why Strategic Leave Planning is Crucial for Your Business
A well-thought-out leave plan benefits both your business and your employees. Here’s why it’s essential:
Avoid Disruptions and Staffing Shortages: Last-minute leave requests can throw a spanner in the works. Planning ahead ensures you have adequate coverage, preventing disruptions to productivity and customer service.
Boost Employee Wellbeing: Regular breaks are vital for preventing burnout and keeping your team engaged and productive. Encouraging planned time off shows you value their wellbeing.
Ensure Compliance: As an employer in Australia, you have obligations under the National Employment Standards (NES) to provide annual leave. Proper planning helps you meet these requirements and ensures your payroll system accurately accrues leave entitlements.
Practical Strategies for Proactive Leave Management
Ready to take control of your leave planning? Here’s our best HR advice for 2025:
Create a Centralised Leave Calendar: A shared calendar, whether it’s a physical whiteboard or a digital tool, provides a clear overview of public holidays, peak periods, and approved leave. This helps employees choose dates that don't clash with critical business operations or when someone else is on leave.
Communicate Policies Early and Clearly: Your HR policy handbook should clearly outline leave policies, including notice periods, any restrictions during busy seasons, and the process for submitting leave requests. This transparency helps prevent misunderstandings and sets clear expectations.
Manage Peak Periods Effectively: Identify the busiest times of the year for your business and plan your staffing accordingly. For example, if you're in the retail sector, it’s best to avoid approving leave during peak holiday shopping seasons.
Be Fair and Consistent: Maintain a transparent and fair process for approving leave requests. Apply policies consistently to all employees to avoid any perception of favouritism. If your policy limits how many people can be on leave at one time, ensure it's applied fairly across the board.
Tools to Streamline Leave Management
You don’t have to manage leave manually. Here are some tools that can simplify the process:
HR and Rostering Software: Cloud-based HR and rostering systems are excellent for tracking and managing leave requests and entitlements automatically.
Spreadsheets: For smaller teams, a well-organised spreadsheet can be a simple and cost-effective way to track leave.
Whiteboard: A leave roster could be displayed in the office on a Whiteboard.
Automated Alerts: Many systems allow you to run regular reports and set up reminders for employees with high leave balances, encouraging them to book some time off.
A Quick Refresher on Annual Leave Entitlements in Australia
The National Employment Standards give details of what annual leave employees are entitled to:
Four weeks of paid annual leave per year for full-time employees.
Four weeks of paid annual leave (pro-rata) for part-time employees, based on their contracted hours.
Annual leave loading for employees covered by specific awards or enterprise agreements - your Award or Agreement will set out the entitlements.
It’s crucial to stay up-to-date with your Award conditions to ensure you remain compliant with all leave loading and Fair Work requirements.
Final Thoughts
Strategic leave planning is all about finding the right balance—ensuring your team gets the rest they need while keeping your business operating smoothly. By adopting these practices, you can create a win-win situation for both your employees and your bottom line.
If you’re struggling to manage leave or other HR challenges, My HR Partner is here to help. We specialise in simplifying people management for businesses across Australia, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
Need expert support with your HR? Contact us today to learn how we can tailor a solution for your business!
We provide HR advice and support.
We have trusted partners to assist with
any employment law issues outside
of our scope.
More info
PO Box 1079
Coolangatta QLD 4225
ABN 30 644 527 015
Get HR Advice from our HR expert