HR guidance
Practical help when you have to act fairly, and aren't sure how.
A complaint lands, a grievance is lodged or a team stops working, and you're the one who has to respond. We help you work out what to do next, in what order, and how to do it fairly. By the hour, with no retainer.
$290 an hour, ex GST. No retainer, no lock-in.
Often matched to HR guidance
HR and people specialists, outside your business.
Adam, Kieran and Shiv
When owners and managers call
You might be here because...
- Someone has made a complaint and you're not sure whether it's formal.
- You need to have a hard conversation and want to get it right.
- A grievance has been lodged and there's no HR team to handle it.
- People aren't ready to sit down together yet.
- You're worried about doing something that makes it worse.
- You want a second opinion before you decide.
Choosing the right process
Guidance, or mediation?
This is
HR guidance
Is for you: what to do, what to say and what to write down, so you can respond fairly and in the right order.
This is
Mediation
Is for the people in the dispute, once they're ready to talk. It needs everyone involved to take part.
Guidance often comes first, and mediation follows when the time is right. Some matters need both.
How it works
How guidance works.
Triage call or a first session
Tell us what's happening
A few minutes on what's happened so far, who's involved and what you're worried about.
What first, what can wait
Get the order right
We work out what needs to happen now, what can wait and what not to promise yet.
Conversations, letters, notes
Help with the hard parts
Wording for the conversations you need to have, the letters you need to send and the notes you should keep.
If it needs one
Choose the process
Whether this needs mediation, a facilitated conversation, an investigation or a clear management decision.
After each session
Next steps in writing
A short written summary of what we agreed you'll do, so nothing gets lost.
Pricing
By the hour, with no retainer.
HR guidance
an hour, ex GST
$290
- Complaints, grievances and hard conversations
- What to do, and in what order
- Wording for conversations and letters
- No retainer, no lock-in contract
If a matter is heading toward dismissal or a legal claim, we'll tell you it's time for employment law advice.
On our panel
Who you might work with.
Policy and process
Adam Boyce
Dispute resolution specialist
Senior executive background in dispute resolution, equal opportunity and employment law.
Lead investigator
Kieran Plasto
Workplace investigator, registered psychologist and accredited mediator
Registered psychologist, former criminal investigator and police negotiator, with more than 30 years' experience in complex workplace dynamics. Leads our workplace investigations.
Founder, triage and mediation
Shiv Martin
Nationally accredited mediator and conciliator
Founder of the Shiv Martin Group. A mediator, conciliator and independent decision maker, and the person you'll speak with on a triage call.
Every matter is matched on the triage call, and checked for conflicts of interest before anything is booked.
Free guide
The first 48 hours
Questions
HR guidance: common questions.
Is this the same as an HR outsourcing contract?
No. There's no retainer and no lock-in. You book the hours you need, when you need them, at $290 an hour ex GST.
Can you tell us whether to dismiss someone?
No. Decisions about someone's employment are yours, and when a matter is heading toward dismissal or a legal claim, you need employment law advice. We'll tell you when you've reached that point.
What about investigations?
If there's a formal complaint of bullying, harassment or misconduct, the facts may need to be established independently first. We can run that investigation, quoted after scoping, or help you work out whether one is needed at all.
Can you work alongside our HR provider?
Yes. Some businesses use us for a second opinion, or for a matter their provider has already advised on and can't be neutral about.
Is this legal advice?
No. We don't give legal advice and we're not a law firm. If your situation needs a lawyer, we'll say so on the triage call, and we're happy to work alongside yours.
Where to next
- ServicesPolicy and procedure reviewGrievance and conflict policies people can actually follow, and that support your psychosocial duty.Read more
- ServicesWorkplace mediationFor colleagues, managers or a whole team. A structured, confidential conversation with someone on nobody's side.Read more
- Who we helpOwners without an HR teamWhen every disagreement between your people seems to land on your desk.Read more
Request a triage call
Start in the middle.
Calm, clear and early is usually better than perfect and too late. $290 ex GST for 45 minutes, and a short email of next-step recommendations afterwards. No obligation to book further work.
- 1Send a request with a few lines about your situation.
- 2We reply within two business days, check suitability and agree on a time and payment arrangements.
- 3You speak with Shiv for 45 minutes, then receive a short email with next-step recommendations.
Adam, Kieran and Shiv