Many people kick start the New Year with a myriad of resolutions, from keeping fit to losing weight or achieving financial goals. However, many of those resolutions fail to embody anything remotely close to working life. The first week back is usually a slow one; clearing out the inbox (usually spam as most other people were also on break) dusting off the keyboard and restocking the cupboard with fresh new stationery. So when your employees hit the deck with the January blues, here are some ideas to instil excitement and motivation. Inspiring your team can start even before the New Year kicks off. If you give out Christmas gifts at the end of each year, do your research first. Find out about your team and ensure you’re getting each and every one of them something that is thoughtful and representative of how you see them as individuals. If specialised gifts are not within your budget, ensure you do something, whether it be a Christmas party or even a personalised card that lets each of your employees know how much you’ve appreciated their efforts throughout the year. By feeling this appreciation, they are more likely to come back to work in a positive frame of mind.

We enjoy sharing this kind of information as this is good news for parents.
On 1 July 2014, the rates for paid parental leave increased. If you’re self-employed or an employee and eligible for paid parental leave, you may receive up to a maximum of $504.10 a week before tax. If you’re self-employed and make a loss or earn less than the minimum wage, for at least 10 hours work a week, the payment is $142.50 each week before tax (equivalent to 10 hours each week at the current minimum wage rate). If you’d like a fact sheet on your obligations as an employer or on paid parental leave for self-employed people, please contact us.