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Got a problem?  A quick guide for when to call your trusted HR and employment partner. 

18 November 2024

If your team feels out of sync heading into 2025 and you’re unsure when to seek help, here’s a quick guide for contacting your trusted HR partner.  It’s very easy to get lost in the… Read more ›

Leave reports.  Your canary in the coal mine.

15 November 2024

5 crucial reasons why it’s important for your business that your team members take their annual leave Warmer weather is here, which means it’s time to confirm with your teams what their… Read more ›

Success for everyone: How capability development planning creates a win-win for personal goals and organisational success 

30 August 2024

 In today’s competitive environment, aligning an individual team member’s goals with your company’s strategy is crucial for thriving and success. Robust capability development planning is… Read more ›

Recruiting for Great Working Relationships: A Shift from Skills to Synergy 

24 July 2024

 While doing some learning and development research this week, I came across the following quote that struck a chord.  “Relationships are the fuel for human development; they foster trust and… Read more ›

Governance recruitment the Stapleton Consulting way

10 June 2024

As a senior HR specialist with over 20 years of experience, Catherine leads our executive and governance recruitment services. Recruitment at this level takes a strategic and collaborative… Read more ›

Leveraging the Expertise of HR Specialists: A Cost-Effective Strategy for Growing Businesses in New Zealand 

10 June 2024

Navigating the employment journey as an employer and leader is a tough ride, filled with learnings, successes and let-downs.  No matter the size and scale, we all have our work… Read more ›

Recession, Restructure, Redundancy: Scary stories or golden opportunities??  

12 April 2024

For growing businesses, the words – recession, restructure, and redundancy can give business leaders anxious chills, closely followed by groans. However, they shouldn’t be words we avoid, and… Read more ›

Trial Periods Are Back: Navigating the New Terrain in Employment Agreements

23 January 2024

As we were gearing up for our summer holidays last year, a significant legislative HR change quietly made its way into the employment landscape. As of 23 December 2023, trial periods have once… Read more ›

Our Story – Catherine Stapleton, Founder of Stapleton Consulting

11 December 2023

Like so many other small business owners, when I set out to establish Stapleton Consulting, I had no idea what I was getting into. Owning a business, leading a team and nurturing client… Read more ›

Recent legislation change affects your employment agreements 

18 July 2023

On 13 June 2023 the Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Act 2023 (the Act) received Royal Assent and came into force. What does this… Read more ›

KiwiSaver Compulsory Employer Contributions – change may be coming

18 July 2023

Compulsory Employer Contributions – do you pay on top of salary or wages, or do you include it in your pay rates? For those that include the employer KiwiSaver contributions in the wages… Read more ›

Two recent Employment Court decisions we are pondering on. Watch this space.

18 July 2023

To ensure we remain aware of changes in our profession, particularly case law, we receive updates from a range of content providers. When an article or update sticks out and provokes interest, we… Read more ›

Mana & Dignity

6 July 2023

In June, I spoke about preserving mana and dignity, alongside the Harkness Henry employment team.  The topic was navigating restructure, redeployment, and redundancy.  For those who were unable… Read more ›

The shifting employment landscape

16 February 2023

My time away from the office in January was a well-timed escape from the grind of the weekly work and home routine. Travelling to places like Auckland, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Christchurch, and… Read more ›

Recruitment and online dating. Same same but different.

16 August 2022

For many employers and employees alike, finding good candidates and great jobs that will last can be like being a single 30 something trying to find a partner on tinder or bumble.  There is… Read more ›

The art of a good story and how this leads to great HR

6 May 2022

It is amazing how a story shared can change perspective and thinking processes. The impact can be even greater when there is an emotional connection and warmth behind that story. A story for story… Read more ›

Crowdsourcing: The best thing since sliced bread for better employee retention

27 April 2022

And the ideal solutions to your business problems Vaccination policies will need a once over and consideration as to whether they are required, and more importantly checking if they are in fact… Read more ›

The opportunity cost if you get covid

19 April 2022

My email inbox is so much lighter, and the to-do list is easier to manage.  Who would say that after a week of sick leave thanks to covid?  I can because I indeed… Read more ›

The Covid-19 Leave Payments and Subsidies Guide

7 March 2022

Here is your guide to navigating the leave and subsidies It seems Omi has been getting all too friendly with the general population lately.  Clients are reporting many falling ill in the past…

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My hand is up, and I have something to share

25 February 2022

Right now, in this moment as I type, the to do list looks endless and I have several messages from clients with questions, and other calls to make. Life admin needs drastic… Read more ›

[cringe] it’s February!

8 February 2022

11 months to go. What’s the plan? Yep. We now have 11 months of 2022 to go and you are back to the realities of work and far from your beachside deck chair.  Holiday blues anyone? I… Read more ›

2021. The year that reminded us Rome wasn’t built in a day.

17 December 2021

As I reflect on the year that has been, it seems again we have a year of 2 parts: before August and after August. Or otherwise known as before Delta, and after. Lockdowns have frustrated many since… Read more ›

Covid Protection Framework

30 November 2021

Well we finally got more information about this traffic light system and how we need to operate from Friday.  The piece that we are now missing is what level we start at from Friday.Check out the… Read more ›

The Vaccination Change Guide

12 November 2021

Covid government policy changes keep people like HR and H&S Consultants need. We know that negotiating your way through HR issues can feel overwhelming and full of anxiety. If, after the…

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Have you had any CONVOS lately?

25 October 2021

What is getting you through the day? It’s after 1pm and I am busy typing away at this blog post. The team’s chat is pinging away. The lockdown update has happened, and my team are sharing… Read more ›

How to kill Rosemary and save employee retention

15 October 2021

I have my moments where I am caught pondering various topics and thoughts staring out the window.  I have just finished listening to Jim Collins – Good to Great.  So many great concepts and… Read more ›

Welcome to Delta Level 2

9 September 2021

Like me, I am sure you were stoked and relieved to know that kids are back at daycare today and school tomorrow.  Parents in Level 2 regions can now focus without those tiny terrorists… Read more ›

Leave entitlement quiz – are you on the right track?

1 September 2021

With most of the country entering level 3 on Wednesday, but many still unable to return to work or working reduced hours from home, we thought now was a good time to test your knowledge on annual…

Industry Update: Sick Leave Entitlements Have Increased

26 August 2021

It has happened.It will be effective this Saturday, 24 July 2021.Sick leave entitlements have increased. Sick leave entitlements will increase to 10 days per annum for all employees at their… Read more ›

Industry Update: Fair Pay Agreements

6 July 2021

So, I really shouldn’t be saying this, but every time I hear or see the words ‘Fair Pay Agreements’ I groan and cringe. This is mainly because I worked in Australia when Julia Gillard… Read more ›

Industry Update: Immigration NZ Employer Accreditation

1 July 2021

Do you like you are the only one feeling overloaded by all the employment changes? I’m here to give you comfort in knowing that you are not.  Many clients our team are working with are feeling… Read more ›

Winter Blues

24 May 2021

Are these heavy feelings getting you down? It’s winter and I have that sinking feeling.  The dreary rainy days are pulling me down.  Come back all-day sunshine.    Lockdown was a year… Read more ›

‘Lucozade cheaper than Powerade’

30 April 2021

How ‘Lucozade cheaper than Powerade’ stood out from the crowd and got us thinking. Yep that was the name used on a job application we received through Facebook recently. It made us sit up in our… Read more ›

If you were this employer what would you choose – A or B or C?

6 April 2021

If you were this employer what would you choose – A or B or C? Your current inventory system is causing more headaches and the reports it spits out require hours of manipulation to get the…

The Change Game.

15 March 2021

I am excited to be launching my first ever online learning course – The Change Game. For those who may have a restructure looming on the horizon this course is designed so we can guide you…

The pace of change

26 January 2021

When to make a change and how quickly to move  The January blog about cadence generated quite the response.  My thoughts seems to have given many…

Why I don’t work Fridays?

20 January 2021

and it is not because I am a mum… I wear many hats and I am often asked ‘how do you do it?”! What’s the secret to balancing it all? Where do…

Are you an Avocado Leader?

4 December 2020

I love avocadoes. They are great on toast with tomatoes and ground pepper, or whizzed up in a chocolate mousse. But did I ever think they would be used to describe the new type of leadership? Um… Read more ›

Privacy Act Changes – what do they mean?

4 December 2020

There has been a series of videos and updates released about the changes. This is great because if you are like me, I prefer videos and podcasts to make the most of my travel time. Below we have… Read more ›

Pay Equity – what is it about?

4 December 2020

Pay equity is about women and men receiving the same pay for doing jobs that are different, but of equal value (that is, jobs that require similar degrees of skills, responsibility, and… Read more ›

Changing of the guard and creating a space for something new

4 November 2020

When you recruit and employ a new person for your team, you are changing the way your team will work together and the culture.  If this new person is coming in to fill a vacancy, this signals that… Read more ›

It’s all about the actions behind the outcomes.

16 October 2020

My morning drive includes 2 stops before work. Daycare and school. There are several parts of my drive that I cringe and prompt anxiety to well up. There’s the place on a long stretch where I… Read more ›

Is your bucket heading for burnout?

25 September 2020

I love people watching.  I catch myself staring and watching others wondering what conversations are about when waiting in a queue.  With friends in my younger days we would make up stories… Read more ›

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 2

22 September 2020

At rock bottom, experiencing a dark moment and not sure how you got there? Day 2️⃣ of mental health awareness week started with me listening to some moving stories from ladies who had hit rock…

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 1

21 September 2020

Ever felt like the walls were closing in on you? Or are you anxious and feel like you can’t breath? ???????????????????? How we breathe sets the tone for how we feel and think. That’s the…

Have you filled your bucket lately?

8 September 2020

One the weekend I received a well timed invite to a BBQ.  I was solo parenting that weekend and a chance to relax with like-minds while the kids played sounded perfect.  When I was leaving the… Read more ›

Learn how to be open to making changes and restructuring

13 August 2020

When leading a business you have to adapt and roll with whatever comes your way. Sometimes you can anticipate and have a plan. Other times you may not. But one thing is for sure tomorrow is always… Read more ›

The work is always there but the people don’t have to be

12 August 2020

When leading a business you have to adapt and roll with whatever comes your way. Sometimes you can anticipate and have a plan. Other times you may not. But one thing is for sure tomorrow is always… Read more ›

The Employment Journey eBook – let’s choose your HR adventure

4 August 2020

Sometimes running a business can feel like your own Indiana Jones movie, full of unexpected ‘adventures’, pots of gold and dangerous pirates lurking around every corner! We know that negotiating…

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Flexible workplaces – do you have what it takes to stretch?

27 July 2020

There are no simple answers when it comes to designing flexible workplaces or deciding how and when people work. Do you know why? Everyone is different and so are our businesses. Heard of the… Read more ›

That dirty c-word

20 July 2020

Recently while driving I heard an advert and I cringed because there are many other words I would rather use than “Covid”. I’ve said it a few times and I won’t be saying it again. I now cringe… Read more ›

Subcontractor or employee? Which one is best for your business?

11 June 2020

It’s frustrating figuring out what to do with your recruitment strategy when there is so much uncertainty about the next 6-12 months. Have you considered engaging a contractor instead of an…

What’s the potential HR value in contact tracing apps?

27 May 2020

Yesterday I checked into a cafe. It was my first time, I was going to stay. The sun was out and I was going to bask in it with a coffee while I wrote my blog. No takeaway coffee. The process of… Read more ›

How to improve productivity in your business

11 May 2020

This month’s blog hasn’t been an easy one to write.  I find my writing and creativity is shocking when I have been stuck in the detail of something.  But I am committed to doing a… Read more ›

It’s FriYAY and maybe our last one in Level 3 ???? let’s keep up the team work!!

8 May 2020

Every one has a different tolerance for risk and are likely to apply the rules more strictly than others. Keep this and the H&S culture you want in mind, when developing your Covid plan, how…

Funding for SMEs and Planning for your take off

15 April 2020

Check out Catherine’s latest video where she gives you an update on the latest government announcement and things to consider for your business in these COVID-19 times. For those with HR and…

How to stay positive and flexible in your business during Covid-19

2 April 2020

I’m trying to stay positive and be adaptable and flexible in such trying times while working from home in my new temporary office space, but it can be pretty difficult. If we think about where we…

The NZ Government’s Stimulus Package Update

30 March 2020

Check out our latest video below for details of the government’s stimulus package announcement from Tuesday. Feedback is that businesses and sole traders applying, are receiving speedy application…

Minimum wage increases on 1st April 2020

28 March 2020

Catherine has made a short video to share some suggestions for things to look out for within your organisation this year regarding the minimum pay increases that happen on the 1st April 2020. With…

It’s real people – let’s make a plan

24 March 2020

Alert level 3 to Alert level 4 – It’s real people. If your people can work from home.  Great.  If they can’t, well they are on the subsidy and using annual leave to top up wages.  The… Read more ›

COVID 19 subsidies explained

18 March 2020

Check out our latest video below for details of the government’s stimulus package announcement from Tuesday. Feedback is that businesses and sole traders applying, are receiving speedy application…

Minimum Wage Data

2 March 2020

To give you an idea of what has been happening to employee pay in the previous 15 years, download a table of the changes to the minimum wage and average ordinary time earnings. These figures were…

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Minimum Wages

2 March 2020

On 18 December 2019, the Government gave 250,000 (that’s a quarter of a million) workers notice that they would be getting a pay rise on 1 April 2020.  If you are a SME employer, you may have… Read more ›

7 essential attributes to look for when recruiting new team members

10 February 2020

As you’re getting your head back into work mode this year, it’s time to contemplate on areas in your business you would like to develop further over the next 12 months. What areas would like… Read more ›

Our Top HR Tips for Surviving the Silly Season

12 December 2019

Tis the Silly Season where silly things can happen and do happen! Summer holidays are so close but we still have two weeks to go … unless you are secondary school teachers ? This is the… Read more ›

5 Leadership Lessons Taken from Grey’s Anatomy

5 November 2019

It has been a while since the last blog post. Suffice to say we are quite happy to see the back of September and to a lesser extent October.  These months saw us fire-fighting in our… Read more ›

The 4 seasons of business planning

31 August 2019

August is the last month of winter and WOW what a wet dreary month it has been! Sorry you haven’t heard from us in a while.  We got distracted with a few re-organisation projects on the… Read more ›

The importance of consolidation after change

8 July 2019

I talk a lot about reflection and review.  That’s because it is hard to know where to go if you don’t know where you have been or what you have learnt along the way.  I push for… Read more ›

Trial periods vs Probationary periods

14 June 2019

On Monday 6 May, the legislation changed so that only businesses with less than 20 employees could utilise trial periods.  It doesn’t matter if you employ casuals, permanent or temps. If… Read more ›

Performance Reviews: Pause, Reset & Act

11 June 2019

As I write this on a gloomy Saturday afternoon, I look out my office window only to see grey clouds and leaves furiously flying around. It’s easy to feel down and overburdened by whatever hard… Read more ›

Building time into your day to have fun and laugh in the workplace

12 May 2019

Many took advantage of the Easter and Anzac public holidays to take a break and get some distance from work.  Threes weeks later and all of this may seem like a distant memory now.  … Read more ›

Domestic Violence Leave – another tool for your employer toolbelt

27 March 2019

Upon hearing that employees are now entitled to receive paid domestic violence leave was your first response “Why?”. It was? Then hold on a wee sec as I’m going to tell you why you… Read more ›

How to prepare for the minimum wage increase

4 March 2019

minimum wage increase: What does it mean and how to plan for it As at 1 April 2019, the minimum wage increases to $17.70 per hour. That equates to $708 for a 40-hour week. This is the… Read more ›

When is casual employment REALLY casual?

17 January 2019

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young lady, who I will call, Jane.  Jane had applied for a full-time permanent role but was offered and signed a casual… Read more ›

The Employment Guide to Surviving the Christmas Rush

10 December 2018

The weeks leading into Christmas can be difficult and strained Deadlines are a plenty, but time and patience are few.  We currently have clients distracted with petty issues taking centre… Read more ›

Welcome to the era of Talent Shortages: 5 tips for employee retention

18 September 2018

We all know – it is hard to find good people.  It is also just as hard to keep them. The employment market is tight.  People with good technical and people skills are a hot… Read more ›

Our Recruitment Services – We do things a bit differently around here

28 August 2018

As a boutique specialist consultancy, we do things differently to standalone recruitment agencies. When you partner with us, you get across-the-board HR, recruitment, payroll and health and safety… Read more ›

Stapleton Consulting – Our Why

26 August 2018

Developing our brand story took us on a path of discovery. We uncovered our values, our why and how these came to be. Pulling this together and illustrating this as a brand is no easy task….

New look. New brand. Same people

2 August 2018

We are so excited to show off our new branding.  It is our 2nd birthday present to ourselves. The past two years have been about learning and development.  Working with great clients and… Read more ›

Case Study – Getting creative when you can’t find everything you want in one candidate

29 July 2018

Two years ago, a local business owner was referred to Stapleton Consulting because they had an employment challenge.  Their challenge – recruiting the right person for a job that included… Read more ›

Workforce Planning – Part 5 – People planning summed up

21 June 2018

The start of winter heralds a time of reflection and planning.  Businesses are setting budgets, reviewing the year that has been and considering what is ahead.  Your employees will be doing the… Read more ›

Workforce Planning – Part 4 – Got your salary/wage budget sorted?

19 June 2018

The start of winter heralds a time of reflection and planning.  Businesses are setting budgets, reviewing the year that has been and considering what is ahead.  Your employees will be doing the… Read more ›

Workforce Planning – Part 3 – Capability and Expertise

17 June 2018

The start of winter heralds a time of reflection and planning.  Businesses are setting budgets, reviewing the year that has been and considering what is ahead.  Your employees will be doing the… Read more ›

Workforce Planning – Part 2 – Using Employee Performance Reviews for planning

13 June 2018

The start of winter heralds a time of reflection and planning.  Businesses are setting budgets, reviewing the year that has been and considering what is ahead.  Your employees will be doing the… Read more ›

Workforce Planning – Part 1 – Preparing for Change

11 June 2018

The start of winter heralds a time of reflection and planning.  Businesses are setting budgets, reviewing the year that has been and considering what is ahead.  Your employees will be… Read more ›

Intro Series Part 5 – What can we offer you and the value?

11 June 2018

This time last year I created a website for Stapleton Consulting. At the time I had the intention of producing interesting updates and sharing information on all things… Read more ›

Intro Series Part 4 – What makes us different? Why come to us?

11 June 2018

This time last year I created a website for Stapleton Consulting. At the time I had the intention of producing interesting updates and sharing information on all things employment related.  As… Read more ›

Intro Series Part 3 – Who do we work with?

11 June 2018

This time last year I created a website for Stapleton Consulting. At the time I had the intention of producing interesting updates and sharing information on all things employment related.  As… Read more ›

Intro Series Part 2 – What is HR? What type of work do we do?

11 June 2018

This time last year I created a website for Stapleton Consulting. At the time I had the intention of producing interesting updates and sharing information on all things employment related.  As… Read more ›

Intro Series Part 1 – How Stapleton Consulting Came to Be

12 February 2018

This time last year I created a website for Stapleton Consulting. At the time I had the intention of producing interesting updates and sharing information on all things employment related.  As… Read more ›

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