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The HR Link: People-First Conversations

The HR Link: People-First Conversations

By: Amy Christopherson - Grounded HR
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 The HR Link: People-First Conversations is the podcast for Australian business owners who want clarity, confidence, and compassion in managing their teams. Hosted by Amy Christopherson, founder of Grounded HR, each short and practical episode transforms HR from overwhelming and compliance-heavy into a people-first advantage. Expect expert tips on compliance in Australia, real-world HR examples, and actionable tips designed for busy business owners. Whether you’re hiring your first employee, navigating tricky team dynamics, or building a positive workplace culture, The HR Link is for you.Amy Christopherson - Grounded HR Economics
Episodes
  • Hiring Your First Employee? Here’s What You Need to Know

    Hiring Your First Employee? Here’s What You Need to Know
    Dec 15 2025
    Hiring your first employee is one of the biggest milestones in HR in small business, but it often comes with overwhelm, confusion and worries about getting things wrong. This episode will help you feel more prepared, more confident and more supported as you step into this next stage of business growth.In this practical and reassuring episode, Amy walks you through the essential steps to take before hiring your first team member. She breaks down culture, job design, compliance, contracts, onboarding and the realities small business owners often miss when preparing to employ someone for the first time. You will finish feeling clearer about what to do, what to avoid and how to set your new employee up for success.In this episode, you’ll learn:• How to know when it is the right time to hire• Why cultural fit matters more than technical skill• What small business owners must understand about awards and compliance• Why contracts need to be clear, tailored and legally sound• How to onboard and support your new employee in the first three monthsResources & Links– Explore The HR Link: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/the-hr-link– Get in touch for a Free Call with Amy to see how people-first HR can support your small business: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/contact – Get The People First Performance Pack: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/grab-the-people-first-performance-pack – Free HR resources for small business owners: •⁠ 7 HR Steps to Hiring a Superstar⁠ • Employee Engagement Checklist • Contracts Checklist 👉 Follow The HR Link on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and the early excitement of hiring00:30 The nerves and opportunity in bringing on your first employee00:56 Understanding overwhelm and compliance basics01:23 Why cultural fit is essential01:50 Strategic planning and identifying when to hire02:16 Early indicators that it is time to recruit02:37 Facing legal fears and hiring responsibilities03:02 Risks of underpayment and compliance mistakes03:31 Steps in the hiring process and why to seek help04:22 Defining the role and job design04:45 Why strong contracts matter05:15 How to advertise the role05:33 Paying above award and hiring for fit05:53 Skills versus fit in small business hiring06:17 Contracts, payroll and superannuation setup06:36 Why to involve HR or your accountant early09:18 Induction and onboarding foundations09:39 Setting your new employee up for success10:03 A clear guide for the first three months10:36 Free hiring checklist availableAbout The HR Link: People-First ConversationsThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is the podcast for Australian business owners who want to manage their teams with clarity, care, and confidence. Hosted by Amy Christopherson, founder of Grounded HR, each episode brings you short, practical conversations that simplify HR and centre the humans inside your business.Whether you’re hiring your first employee, navigating team challenges, or just want to make sure you’re “doing it right,” this podcast will give you the tools and reassurance you need.New episodes are released fortnightly on Tuesdays at 7am. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.Connect with Grounded HR– Website: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/ – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedhr.au/ – Grounded HR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/groundedhr/ – Amy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-christopherson-au/ – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroundedHR.au/ – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedHR – Explore The HR Link, your HR Partner in Your Pocket: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/the-hr-linkDisclaimerThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is here to share people-first insights and education, not legal advice. Every business is unique, so we encourage you to seek tailored guidance for your own circumstances.
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    12 mins
  • How to Create HR Policies That Actually Work (Without the Jargon)

    How to Create HR Policies That Actually Work (Without the Jargon)
    Dec 1 2025
    Many small business owners know they need HR policies but feel overwhelmed by where to start. In HR in small business, the challenge is often not creating policies, but creating ones that are actually useful, understood, and aligned with the way your team works. This episode will help you strip back the complexity and build policies that support clarity, compliance, and culture.In this practical conversation, Amy breaks down how small business owners can create policies that genuinely reflect their values, protect their team, and meet legal obligations. She explains why policies fail, how to simplify them, and how to build a policy framework that strengthens communication and culture over time. This episode is designed to help you feel more confident, less overwhelmed, and supported as you build the foundations of HR in your business.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why most small business HR policies fail and how to fix them• How to write policies that reflect your values, mission, and vision• The legal and compliance requirements every policy must include• Why plain language matters and how to make policies easy to understand• How to roll out and reinforce policies so they stay alive in your businessResources & Links– Explore The HR Link:– Get in touch for a Free Call with Amy to see how people-first HR can support your small business. – Get The People First Performance Pack – Free HR resources for small business owners: • Employee Engagement Checklist • Guide to Managing Underperformance • Contracts Checklist • 7 HR Steps to Hiring a Superstar👉 Follow The HR Link on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.Timestamps0:00 Introduction and why policies often fail0:22 Making policies simple and meaningful0:49 The risks of overly complex HR documents1:34 Understanding compliance in small business HR2:27 Why every small business needs written policies3:33 Where to find help and policy support4:26 Step 1: Start with legal essentials4:51 Step 2: Use clear, plain language5:36 Step 3: Reinforce and regularly review policies6:23 Reviewing policies6:52 The role of leadership in consistent enforcement8:15 Building your manual over time8:40 Setting realistic policy goals9:01 HR support available for policies and proceduresAbout The HR Link: People-First ConversationsThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is the podcast for Australian business owners who want to manage their teams with clarity, care, and confidence. Hosted by Amy Christopherson, founder of Grounded HR, each episode brings you short, practical conversations that simplify HR and centre the humans inside your business.Whether you’re hiring your first employee, navigating team challenges, or just want to make sure you’re “doing it right,” this podcast will give you the tools and reassurance you need.New episodes are released fortnightly on Tuesdays at 7am. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.Connect with Grounded HR– Website: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/ – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedhr.au/ – Grounded HR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/groundedhr/ – Amy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-christopherson-au/ – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroundedHR.au/ – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedHR – Explore The HR Link, your HR Partner in Your Pocket: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/the-hr-linkDisclaimerThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is here to share people-first insights and education, not legal advice. Every business is unique, so we encourage you to seek tailored guidance for your own circumstances.
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    11 mins
  • Leadership Growth Through HR Support in Small Business

    Leadership Growth Through HR Support in Small Business
    Nov 17 2025
    HR in small business is often about more than policies and processes. For many business owners, it is about finding their leadership style, setting boundaries, and learning how to lead people with confidence and care. In this episode of The HR Link: People-First Conversations, Amy shares real client stories and explores how the right HR support can transform not just your business, but your leadership and wellbeing too.Drawing on her own experiences and those of her clients inside The HR Link, Amy reveals the powerful shifts that happen when small business owners are supported to lead with intention. From burnout and overwhelm to clarity and confidence, she explains how The HR Link helps owners move from reactive decision-making to proactive, human-centred leadership. This episode is an honest look at what happens when you combine HR structure with heart.In this episode, you’ll learn:How HR support helps small business owners move from reactive to proactive leadershipThe real transformations clients experience through The HR LinkHow intentional listening and self-leadership create lasting changeThe role of boundaries, priorities, and communication in effective leadershipWhy leadership growth and team wellbeing go hand in handLeadership can feel lonely, but it does not have to be. Through her people-first approach, Amy helps small business owners find calm, confidence, and connection in the way they lead. By listening to this episode, you will see that HR support is not just about compliance, it is about creating the conditions where you and your team can thrive.Resources & Links– Explore The HR Link: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/the-hr-link– Get in touch for a Free Call with Amy to see how people-first HR can support your small business: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/contact – Get The People First Performance Pack: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/grab-the-people-first-performance-pack – Free HR resources for small business owners: • Employee Engagement Checklist • Guide to Managing Underperformance • Contracts Checklist • 7 HR Steps to Hiring a Superstar👉 Follow The HR Link on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.Timestamps00:00 — Learning from Others' Leadership Journeys00:34 — Human-Centered Leadership Approach01:10 — Why the HR Link Was Created01:38 — From Burnout to Proactive Leadership02:28 — Client Story: Overwhelm to Wellbeing03:05 — Intentional Support and Unexpected Insights03:58 — Leadership Through Listening04:33 — Setting Priorities and Boundaries as a Leader07:28 — Transformations Possible with the HR Link07:54 — Chasing Your Vision for Better LeadershipAbout The HR Link: People-First ConversationsThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is the podcast for Australian business owners who want to manage their teams with clarity, care, and confidence. Hosted by Amy Christopherson, founder of Grounded HR, each episode brings you short, practical conversations that simplify HR and centre the humans inside your business.Whether you’re hiring your first employee, navigating team challenges, or just want to make sure you’re “doing it right,” this podcast will give you the tools and reassurance you need.New episodes are released fortnightly on Tuesdays at 7am. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.Connect with Grounded HR– Website: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/ – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedhr.au/ – Grounded HR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/groundedhr/ – Amy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-christopherson-au/ – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroundedHR.au/ – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundedHR – Explore The HR Link, your HR Partner in Your Pocket: https://www.groundedhr.com.au/the-hr-linkDisclaimerThe HR Link: People-First Conversations is here to share people-first insights and education, not legal advice. Every business is unique, so we encourage you to seek tailored guidance for your own circumstances.
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    9 mins
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