Published on 17/11/2018 by Any Business.Com.Au

Small Business Owner Essentials: management, development, flexibility, safety, understanding

Getting the best out of your employees and fostering the right environment can be one of the keys to small business success.

Check out our take on the essentials to getting the balance right.

Managing and developing staff

Management is often the responsibility of the business owner and manager. It's important to assist staff to make sure they are trained to complete their job and have a safe workplace.

Managing employees can be challenging, but good employee management can lower staff turnover and create a productive and successful workplace. Effective employee management can inspire, lead and motivate your employees to accomplish the goals of the business.

The importance of flexibility

As an employer, it is important to consider the work-life balance of your employees. Achieving work-life balance means employees are better able to manage their work time, with their leisure activities, health, family and other personal commitments.

There are a number of benefits to providing a business culture that encourages and promotes work-life balance for your employees. Creating a family-friendly, flexible workplace may help you attract and retain quality employees. It can reduce the business costs associated with absenteeism, recruitment and retraining of staff, and low morale.

Creating a positive work culture that promotes flexible work arrangements, can establish your business as an employer of choice, building your reputation and increasing the goodwill of your business. Your business may also be eligible for a number of awards.

Bullying and harassment

All employees have a right to work in a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. As an employer, you have a responsibility to ensure that these rights are met. Employer responsibilities are set out in a range of state, territory and federal laws which help protect people from unlawful behaviour.

Harassment is unwelcome conduct that humiliates, offends or intimidates people. It's not only harmful to the victim, but also to the success of your business by lowering productivity and increasing staff turnover.

Under Australian anti-discrimination law, an employer may be legally responsible for discrimination and harassment in the workplace. To minimise the risk of legal action as a result of this, employers can actively implement anti-discrimination policies and ensure staff are aware of the consequences.

As well as discrimination, bullying is a form of workplace harassment that employers must address. Bullying behaviour includes:

• unfair and excessive criticism

• publicly insulting victims

• constantly changing or setting unrealistic work targets

• undervaluing employees' efforts at work

As an employer, you should be aware of the legal risks associated with harassment and bullying and the steps that can be taken to minimise your potential liability.

Complaints and dispute resolution

Problems arise every day between businesses and their employees. Most problems between employers and employees relate to issues such as wages, awards and agreements, harassment or discrimination.

How do I deal with an employee dispute?

While there are many ways to resolve conflicts, most problems can be resolved through simple discussion and common sense between the parties involved. In virtually all instances, you should at first attempt to resolve a dispute through direct discussion and negotiation. This will save you and your business from the possibility of a costly legal battle.

The Fair Work Ombudsman's website has an online learning centre with free interactive courses to help employers and employees talk to each other about difficult topics. The courses help you get ready for the conversation and practice your skills.

Establishing a process to resolve complaints without the need for court involvement is not only a cheap and effective way to resolve disputes, it is an important part of your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Ready to run a business? Find the one that's right for you here.

Checkout our listings here
Ab Assets/Broker Avatar

AnyBusiness.com.au

Curtis is a leading expert in the business-for-sale industry, serving as a senior content creator at anybusiness.com.au.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Curtis has accumulated extensive knowledge in the domain of business sales, acquisitions, and valuations. His deep understanding of market dynamics and his ability to translate complex industry jargon into accessible insights make him a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to buy or sell businesses.

Related articles

07/08/2025 by AnyBusiness
Running a small business in Australia is incredibly rewarding but far from easy.From juggling cash flow to dealing with rising costs and navigating red tape, many small business owners find themselves stretched thin.In fact, according to recent reports by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), economic pressures and staffing shortages remain top concerns across industries.If you're a small b...