In this special episode of The Legal Brief, produced in partnership with Kingston Reid, we unpack what HR teams need to know about the proposed changes to restraint of trade clauses, and, if passed, how employers may need to rethink the way they protect their business, retain talent, and safeguard key customer relationships.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Kingston Reid partner Emily Baxter about the reforms proposed by the Albanese government, including a ban on non-compete and co-worker non-solicitation clauses, a new statutory framework for permitted restraints, and a prohibition on cascading clauses. They also discuss the practical steps employers may wish to start thinking about even now, from reviewing employment contracts and protecting confidential information to strengthening retention strategies and workplace culture in an increasingly competitive labour market.

To learn more about Kingston Reid, click here.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with Harmers Workplace Lawyers, we detail what constitutes best practice for workplaces in undertaking investigations against the backdrop of increased regulatory scrutiny.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Jenny Inness, Harmers Workplace Lawyers executive counsel and team leader, about the uptick in workplace investigations and why this is happening, the need for a case-by-case approach to navigating conflict, overcoming challenges that arise in such investigations, consequences that arise from not conducting an investigation correctly, the nexus between such investigations and workers' psychological safety, plus how law firms retain independence when assisting with investigations, the need to engage with law firms, and more.

To register for Jenny's upcoming webinar on "Managing mental health in the workplace", click here.

To learn more about Harmers Workplace Lawyers, click here.

New data suggests that workers are increasingly optimistic about the job market, are seeing greater vocational opportunities, and thus have less intent to stay with their current employers. What does this mean for employees and businesses alike?

In this episode of The HR Leader Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gartner director analyst in HR Neal Woolrich to discuss Gartner's recently released Global Talent Monitor survey and its headline findings and takeaways, what's causing an uptick in worker confidence and why, flow-on consequences for the labour market, how employers can and should be responding, the need for open, honest dialogue with the workforce, and whether AI wellbeing officers should be employed by businesses.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia (DLPA), we unpack how employers and the HR function can better navigate shifting demands from the workforce in FY2026–27 and beyond.

Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back DLPA chief executive Karlie Cremin to discuss how workers are staying in jobs for longer (thereby amplifying the need to build better engagement), the headline factors driving evolving employee expectations and why they are accelerating, the place for wellness in this conversation, the impact of "scope creep", what employees are generally expecting and why, the desire to have idiosyncratic needs accomodated, generational differences, practical steps that employers should be taking, and how HR can help bridge divides.

To learn more about Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia (DLPA), click here.

There is a perfect storm of workplace issues, from the need for productivity to the age of AI, that are driving worker burnout, presenteeism, and a range of other health issues. Against this backdrop, employers and HR teams must act swiftly to improve cultural health and avoid looming, unsustainable drop-offs in worker output, satisfaction, and happiness.

In this episode of The HR Leader Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with The Culture Institute of Australia chief executive Karl Treacher, who is also the author of Built to Burn, to discuss whether workers' holistic health has ever been worse in Australia, why we are approaching a point of no return, how cognisant business leaders are about such issues, how we got to this point, the scourge of increased productivity on workers' wellness, the role AI is playing in accelerating such issues, what employers must do about it, the role of HR, and solutions that can and should be implemented.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia (DLPA), we explore how and why skills are becoming increasingly more important than one's qualifications and what it means for how HR must view professional development moving forward.

Host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back DLPA chief executive Karlie Cremin to discuss the extent to which professional development is dropping down the priority list against a tough economic environment, why it is actually a pressing concern, why traditional approaches to professional development may no longer be fit for purpose, the extent to which employers are looking to make necessary pivots, the skills that are critical right now, ensuring proper return on investment, what works and doesn't work in shifting the team's approach to professional development, and what DLPA has observed and can offer to businesses looking to evolve the approach to growing and training workers.

To learn more about DLPA, click here.

In this special episode of The HR Leader Podcast, produced in partnership with ELMO, we explore AI as a workforce transformation from the perspective of the HR function. What does a tangible impact look like? And how ELMO's own journey shows HR teams how to reduce overwhelm, build capability, improve process design, and take on a more strategic role.

Host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with ELMO global chief people officer Anne Tosky about why AI transformation is workforce transformation, why Australian businesses are falling behind what ELMO learnt on its own journey, and the practical, evidence-based steps HR can take, from engaging staff in open dialogue to using ELMO's AI Maturity Assessment tool.

To learn more about ELMO's AI Maturity Assessment tool, and to learn more about ELMO, click here.