VIVO advocates the value of Workforce Guardian
Managing three busy inner city cafes, a thriving catering service, and a team of 28-30 permanent, part-time and casual employees certainly doesn't sound like a walk in the park. Co-Founder and Director of Sydney's award-winning VIVO group, Angela Vithoulkas, admits that while she loves her job, anything to make her day a little easier is a welcome consideration.
"You've got to be everywhere at all times, available to anybody who needs you. Mole hills quickly escalate into mountains when everyone is working under pressure in a busy hospitality environment," says Vithoulkas. "Maintaining a smooth-running service under all conditions is my main priority, and a vital responsibility to my team."
The last thing Angela needs to think about at the end of her day is keeping up with the constant changes to Australia's complex employment legislation.
To allow her the freedom to concentrate on the things that really need her attention, Vithoulkas enlisted online employment relations service Workforce Guardian.
Peace of mind assured - keeping in step with employment law
"I'm happy knowing I can be where I'm needed most now, and that someone is looking after my interests while I look after my staff,' says Vithoulkas. "It makes a huge difference to our piece of mind knowing that someone's actually got our back!"
"Workforce Guardian is different. It helps employers operate on the right side of employment law and to do the right thing for their business and their employees.
The assistance has been a huge relief for Vithoulkas, who says she struggled in the past to find adequate employment related information that she could trust. Like many business owners, she found it difficult to keep up with the changes to employment legislation, and to devote the time needed to apply the changes correctly within her business.
"It's a welcome change to not feel any apprehension or uncertainty about implementing employment law correctly. Workforce Guardian is independent and has built its business around providing sound employment relations advice. The personal approach the company takes has definitely helped us understand the laws better."
Contracts in minutes, employment advice at her fingertips
Vithoulkas has used the online service to generate up to date, fully compliant contracts for her staff members and has searched through the wealth of best practise work processes and templates provided on hiring, managing and firing employees to fine-tune her own employee management policies and practises.
The particular things Vithoulkas likes about Workforce Guardian include:
- Straightforward to use - it's easy to work through the menus and select the information you require.
- Online - all the information is in one place and you can access it securely from any computer terminal - anytime - which is brilliant for a time poor business owner.
- Easy and quick to create employment contracts - you just answer a series of questions using an interview style format, press the button and a 10 page compliant contract is generated - it takes only about 6 -8 minutes all up!
- Verified by independent advisors - Clayton Utz and Workforce Guardian Employment Relations experts have verified all the information provided - so you know it is up to date, fully compliant and from a trusted source.
- Computer-novice friendly - the system walks you through the menus step by step - even the most computer-illiterate could use it.
- Peace of mind - using Workforce Guardian stops you worrying about the unknown - there are lots of horror stories of owners being sued for simple mistakes or things they hadn't known about - this service stops you falling through the cracks - it keeps you on the right side of the law.
No more surprises
Above all else Vithoulkas likes how the system provides a wealth of information about employment law in an easy to understand manner. It has given her the confidence that she is on the right track and, even better still, she's learning new things about employing staff every day.
"I now realise the importance of having the correct systems in place for providing staff with a code of conduct as well as an employment agreement when you hire them," explains Vithoulkas. "It makes everyone's jobs easier when they know exactly what is expected of them - such as turning up on time and wearing the right uniform."
Clayton Utz Head of Clayton Utz workplace relations and employment law Joe Catanzariti couldn't agree more - his single most important piece of advice to employers is to put everything in writing - when disputes escalate into a court hearing the first thing a lawyer asks to see is the paperwork - it's crucial to have it.
A wholehearted endorsement
Would Vithoulkas recommend other SMB owners sign up to Workforce Guardian?
Absolutely!
"$950 a year is a small cost for the peace of mind that comes with knowing we have effective employment policies and laws in place."
