News and Updates

NOTT*HR (*Not Over The Top)

You’ll notice a few new things in our website. There’s our new subscription package for Boost Partners. For a fixed monthly fee Boost will develop and implement an HR plan to support the objectives of your particular business, focussing as always on minimising the risks and maximising the opportunities that having employees presents.

The other thing you’ll note is  NOTT*HR. What is all that about. For quite some time we have been looking for a way to describe the way we deliver HR support to our customers. Our clients aren’t … Read more

Managing poor performance

The key word is the first word, MANAGING. Employees who don’t perform to expectations are frustrating. Most of our clients are small to medium sized businesses and a non performing staff member has a pretty big impact, not only on the performance of the business, but also the morale of the other employees.

Sometimes it is the very “smallness” of the workforce that stops employers from dealing with the non performance issues. Often there are fears that confronting the issues will lead to an unpleasantness in the workplace. More often … Read more

What use is an HR system?

We’ve been busy here at Boost in 2012. We have a great project on the go, setting up an HR structure for a company here in Wellington. This firm has grown considerably over the years and required a more formal structure to manage the HR function.  Once in place, the structure will assist them to hire, remunerate, train , manage performance,identify talent and skills and on it goes.  It’s a very enjoyable project, as its all about recognising how the people that work for the business contribute to its success.… Read more

What happens when Christmas falls on a Sunday?

That’s the case in 2011, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday this year. As Boxing Day and January the 2nd are also public holidays (both falling on a Monday) the holiday (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) are transferred to the Tuesday.

If Sunday is a day that would otherwise be worked, the holiday is observed on the Sunday. If Sunday is a day that would NOT normally be worked, the holiday is transferred to Tuesday.

Have a great Christmas break. Revitalise yourselves for the challenges … Read more

Cory Jane under the high ball

I have spent  more time than usual discussing rugby over the last month or so. I have been on several juries that have ultimately executed a few referees, watched the Welsh visitors to Wellington file in and out of the Welsh Bar, across the road from our office here at Boost and entered a texting war with one of my brothers, who bet me $100.00 Australia would be the ultimate winners of RWC 2011! Ha! It has been, on a number of levels a really great event.

And then of … Read more

NZIER Industry productivity and the Australia_NZ income gap

Last week the NZIER published a report presenting their views on why incomes in New Zealand have fallen behind those of Australia. Historically it seems that this difference has largely been explained by Australia’s greater capital investment in business (more diggers, computers, and other equipment that makes people more productive in their work).  This report researches the differences in multi factor productivity (labour productivity)  and concludes that Australia’s advantage can be explained at this level. Australia structure their work, their workplaces and manage their people better then we do.

So … Read more

10 Sure fire ways to lose the Rugby World Cup

1. Decide to come second or third, better still don’t set an expectation about the team’s result at all
2. Pick a team who lack the skills required
3. Pick a team who don’t want to win (it’s all about participation)
4. Don’t coach them…they’re all good anyway…they’ll be right
5. Don’t correct faults, there’s 14 other guys to make up for it
6. Keep players who no longer contribute
7. Don’t set expectations of individual players
8. Don’t have a game plan, it interferes with their natural flair
9. Keep moving the try line and goal posts
10. Don’t

… Read more

Ask for what you want – Job Descriptions

Imagine you have a small boy and you want him  to dress himself and be ready to go out. You send him to his bedroom and tell him that you are leaving the house in 10 minutes and he should be ready to go out. Easy!

So you come back in 10 minutes and little Johnny  is still in his pyjamas playing Lego. He is not dressed,  has not cleaned his teeth and his room is definitely not tidy.  You are cross.

“You are meant to be ready to go … Read more

US Debt

Although the numbers are bigger than most of us could ever imagine, (how many trillions?) the issue that the US faces is not too dissimilar to the issues that many businesses face. The debate continues in the US but it seems that the Democrats and Republicans may be nearing an agreement to insure against a default. That agreement is based around reducing expenses and no increase in taxation.

Reducing expenses is something that every household and business knows about. For a whole country however reducing expenses might mean a reduction … Read more

Interviewing Applicants

The Interview is still a popular tool in staff selection. Unfortunately, the way they are constructed and carried out, most do not produce the type of information that would enhance the chances of making the right choice.

Making the right choice is really important. Every employee should be the right one for your business. He or she should have the skills and/or capabilities to do the tasks that are required of their position. They should also be a “fit” for your business. They need to understand and respect the values … Read more