Human Resources

Why your NFP needs an AI policy – and how to write one

Your NFP needs an AI policy

Generative AI has quickly made its way into almost every organisational workflow, and left the door open for a range of ethical grey areas to become potentially serious issues. From privacy breaches and the misuse of sensitive data, to biased outputs, misinformation and reputational risks – the risks that AI use pose to NFPs are new, varied, and often invisible until something goes wrong.

(And if you think your organisation’s employees aren’t really using AI, then think again – as many as a quarter (21-27%) of all employees are using AI tools secretly at work.)

So where should you start when it comes to writing an effective AI policy for your organisation, and what elements should one include?

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Could you be underpaying your employees? Here’s how to know and what to do

Could your NFP be underpaying employees?

As an NFP leader, how confident are you that the people delivering your organisation’s mission are being paid what they’re entitled to? Underpayment is broad problem that affects hundreds of employers and around 250,000 underpaid Australian workers each year. Recognising the early warning signs and taking corrective action can help protect both staff and organisational integrity. Here’s where to start.

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Making probation matter: a guide for NFP employers

Making Probation Matter

Hiring a new employee takes a lot of time and effort, which makes it all the more frustrating if a new hire resigns – around one in eight Australian employees resign during their probation period – or needs to be dismissed in their first few months in the role.

For smaller NFPs in particular, early turnover can unsettle team dynamics and add pressure to already stretched staff – impacts that are often avoidable with a structured probation process.

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Four trends that will shape NFP workplaces in 2026

With 2026 underway, we’re kicking things off with a look at what the year ahead might hold for the NFP sector workforce. And yes, as you might expect, AI will continue to have an impact on the sector this year.

But it’s far from the only thing NFP leaders should be on the lookout for this year. Here are our four predictions for the workforce trends the NFP sector will see this year.

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4 myths about redundancies – and how to ease a difficult transition for your staff

4 layoff myths – and how to ease a difficult transition for your staff

“Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets.”

These are the words of Didier Elzinga, CEO of Melbourne-based software firm Culture Amp, reflecting on his experience of navigating a difficult transition. Making staff layoffs can be a shock for any company, but the impact can be more profound in highly collaborative environments like the company Elzinga had built.

Here, Elzinga dispels some of the myths surrounding staff layoffs and shares his learnings on managing change, dealing with fear and more.

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Three things you urgently need to do to ensure your employee data is safe from cybercriminals

Keep your employee data safe from cyber criminals

Last month cybercriminals stole “highly sensitive documents like police checks, child support documents, pay negotiations, HR incidents, immigration sponsorship details, COVID vaccination credentials, tax file numbers, passports and licences” from employees of Pareto Phone, a supplier to many of Australia’s largest and most well-known NFPs.

With data breaches and cyberattacks on the rise, are you one of those employers who also doesn’t have appropriate systems to protect your employee information?

If so, we’re glad to be able to outline the key things that you should be doing today to protect your employee and volunteer data from cyber threats.

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The secret to retaining your employees? Focus on career advancement

The secret to retaining you employees? Focus on career advancement

Leaders overlook internal promotions at their peril. In a Pew Research survey, 63% of respondents who left jobs in 2021 cited a lack of advancement opportunities as a reason. And a 2022 study by consulting company McKinsey noted that a lack of career development and advancement was the most common reason given for quitting a job. With that in mind, here are three ways NFPs can use career development to retain employees for longer.

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Here’s how to retain your employees during the ‘Great Resignation’

One way organisations can avoid today’s so-called “Great Resignation” is to invest in building brands that are as compelling internally as they are externally. When leaders partner with marketing and human resources to explicitly align individual roles with an organisation’s inspiring brand purpose, organisations can transform an exodus of employees into an influx of talent.

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