Episode Details

Cutting headcount is one of the toughest calls HR has to make. And today, it's more complicated than ever.

Restructures, redundancies and redeployments come with enough challenges on their own. Add psychosocial safety risks into the mix, and the room for error expands quickly. So how can HR get it right?

Host Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR sits down with Kathryn Dent, Partner at HWLE Lawyers, to break down what every HR practitioner needs to keep front-of-mind – not just during and after a restructure, but in the lead-up too.

Don’t miss your monthly ER/IR pulse check with Elisha Middleton, Workplace Relations and Remuneration Lead at Western Power. This month she covers the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review, updates to employment-related rates and thresholds, and the recent Paid Parental Leave expansion and Payday Super legislation.

Plus, we answer your questions on:

• Practical steps HR and managers can take to minimise psychosocial risk during a redundancy or restructure
• What outplacement and career transition support should look like for affected employees
• How HR should respond when employees are reluctant to move into alternative roles.

Further learning:

• Article – HR case study: Maintaining workforce performance during organisational disruption: https://bit.ly/3TOyKJg
• Article – 4 legal considerations when managing a partial redundancy: https://bit.ly/4yQyGJk
• Visual resource – HR’s 2026-27 Australian Employment Law and HR Reform Calendar: https://bit.ly/4yD92HL
• Course – Organisational Design: https://bit.ly/4fj0o9K

Resources:

• Template – Amendment to terms and conditions of employment: https://bit.ly/4wdrBAB
• Template – Redundancy invitation to consultation: https://bit.ly/3RsIsAg

Connect:

1. Follow AHRI on LinkedIn.
2. Connect with Jonathon Woolfrey FCPHR, Elisha Middleton and Kathryn Dent.
3. AHRI members can join the AHRI LinkedIn Lounge to access bonus content and continue the discussion: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13848256/.
4. Not yet an AHRI member? Join today and access a range of benefits, as well as a passionate community of HR practitioners: https://www.ahri.com.au/ahri-membership.