Providing an environment that promotes positive mental health has clear benefits for companies as a whole, including an increased level of productivity, reduced errors and a decrease in sick days.

One of the key factors linked with employment satisfaction and retention is the degree to which people have the opportunity to know, use and are managed by using their strengths at work. 

Learning new skills and ways of looking at the world keeps us engaged and alert. Humans are wired to learn. Remember that old saying, ‘Use it or lose it’? Turns out that applies to neural pathways too. The old-fashioned way of learning as an adult is to pay money to an expert and go off […]

Organisational culture is much more than the values written in the employee handbook or on the poster outside the HR office. This is highlighted by one of my favourite quotes by Torben Rick that ‘Culture is the organisation’s immune system’  Whilst non-profits don’t always have the same budget for staff activities as large corporations, this doesn’t […]

We’re six months into 2019. Not quite sure how June snuck up so quickly but here we are. June is the traditional mid-year review time. Below we list some ideas around how to make these go smoothly, but who says you have to stick with tradition? June is a great time to bring your team […]

Nothing sends an enticing message to prospective employees like a great recruitment process – and that all starts with your job listing. A clear recruitment process saves your time and that of your prospective applicants – sending a clear message that your organisation is respectful and efficient. Ever been baffled by jargon in job vacancy […]

Checking a potential employee’s references is crucial for any role. It can provide a good overview of the candidate’s suitability for the position. It may give insights into levels of ability and, depending upon questions asked, into things such as work style and ethics. It can also highlight any potential red flags or areas where an individual […]

We can’t wrap staff in cotton wool, but we can do our darndest to create a healthy work culture to prevent AND put systems in place in case employees tip off the edge of high productivity into the depths of burnout. Protecting your staff from burnout isn’t just about one person, the effects ripple out […]

The new year is traditionally a time when people look to make changes to their lives – which can often include a change of job or career. Losing good employees can be costly in so many ways – from the cost of recruitment and training of a new employee, the loss of knowledge and skills to […]

The staff party might be planned, employee gifts wrapped and the Christmas cards signed, but what do your employees really want? You might not be able to fulfil their dreams of dishing out bonus cheques or pay rises, but here are some ways to show appreciation to your employees, with a not-for-profit and social enterprise […]

I have been talking to job seekers in the do-good sector, four of them. These fabulous four have applied for, on average, eight jobs in the last six months. These folks are good at what they do, and their CV’s were some of the best I have seen. They heard back from the grand total […]

Why do organisations need to change? Organisations are fluid and impacted by both internal and external factors.  Not managing changes effectively can be devastating and long-lasting, so it’s important to understand the potential issues and equip ourselves with techniques to support change-management initiatives, especially in the do-good space.   Factors for change The Chartered Institute […]

We all know it’s important to choose the right staff. Increase your chance of getting it right first time with these seven traits to consider when recruiting for a not for profit (NFP).  You want the best possible staff for your not for profit (NFP). Hiring the wrong people can cost you money and impact the […]

What if I told you that the best person for your job vacancy is already within reach? It’s true. Most of the time the ideal job candidate is in your network, or your staff’s. Your staff know your organisational culture so they have an idea of who would be a good fit. They know the […]

Overwhelmed with the recruiting process? If you recruit more than a few times per year, you’ll know how much time and people resource can be taken up in this process. Today, there are so many great, SaaS-y (software as a service) tools on the market to help employers streamline and automate parts of the recruitment […]

Guest post by  Sustainable Business Network Getting your workplace basics right will help your organisation reduce the cost, waste and environmental impact of your workplace. It will help maximise the creativity and productivity of the people who work with you, plus help retain them and attract new talent. Compiled from industry experts across the Sustainable […]

  Guest post: Lyn, StrategicPay. — With the settlement in April 2017 for care workers, organisations in the not-for-profit sector directly affected will face some interesting challenges over the next 12 months and further into the future. This settlement affects 55,000 employees spread across many organisations, but is concentrated in the Health Sector. The initial […]

  Guest blog: Lyn Brieseman, Senior Consultant and Strategic Pay — As an employer how do you know how much to pay your people? Strategic Pay surveys not-for-profit organisations on what they are paying their people as part of our regular survey of what is being paid across the whole market. Our recent survey in May 2017 […]

One in five New Zealanders will experience mental illness this year.   That means that right now, you or someone in your workplace is likely to be affected. People drawn to purposeful work at not for profits are usually interested in contributing to a cause they believe in and are willing to invest in making […]

Guest blog by Laura Allen at Volunteer New Zealand on best practice in volunteering. — Annually, over one million New Zealand volunteers contribute more than 270 million hours of unpaid work to non-profit organisations. While this sounds like a huge number, the reality is that there has been a 42% reduction in hours volunteered in the […]