Marie Tovio Consulting

05/03/2026

Verbal agreements are a bit like the weather - they feel solid in the moment, but things can shift fast. 🌦️
Under the Employment Relations Act, employment agreements must be in writing, signed, and kept on file.

If your agreements haven't been reviewed lately, now's a great time. I help employers get the paperwork right before it becomes a problem. 📋

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

03/03/2026

🎙 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗣𝗜 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗼
🕵️‍♀️ 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 14: "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘦”

Ever had an employee storm out and say "I quit!" in the heat of the moment - and then wondered… did they actually resign?

It's one of the most mishandled situations in the workplace, and it can land employers in seriously hot water if it's not dealt with correctly.

In this week's episode - "The Resignation Ruse" - I'm unpacking exactly what happens when emotions run high and words are said that may (or may not) reflect a genuine intention to resign.

We discuss:
✅ What actually constitutes a valid resignation
✅ How to protect your business when things go sideways
✅ The steps every employer should take before accepting a heat-of-the-moment resignation
✅ Real-world scenarios that play out more often than you'd think

Whether you're a business owner, a people leader, or someone navigating a tricky HR situation right now - this one's for you.

Because in employment relations, the difference between acting too fast and acting too slow can cost you everything.
🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/_Q1sVdN3x8A

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

02/03/2026

February and the long hot summer season flew by!
If you're anything like most of the businesses I work with, it probably felt like the year finally shifted into gear.

Recruitment kicking off, performance conversations happening, projects finding their rhythm, and for some, complex employment matters carrying over from late last year that still need careful attention.
March is already looking full, which I love - but it also means I want to give everyone a heads up now rather than later.

I'll be having ankle surgery on 26 March and will be off for two weeks from that date. The timing works reasonably well with the Easter break, so I'm hopeful the impact on clients will be minimal. I'm planning to be back in the office from 9 April - crutches and all. 🩼

If you've been thinking about reaching out for support with anything employment relations or HR-related, now is genuinely the best time to get in touch and lock something in before my diary closes up.

Whether it's a tricky situation you're navigating, a process you want to get right, or simply a conversation you've been putting off - let's talk.

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

26/02/2026

If your policies haven’t been reviewed in years, they’re not protecting your business - they’re just taking up space.

Employment law evolves. Your documentation should too.

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

24/02/2026

February HR/ER News from Marie Tovio Consulting - https://mailchi.mp/84c8b70d72f7/marie-tovio-consulting-hrer-news-8335465
managing escalating workplace issues, insights from high-performing employers, and a 10-point employer risk check for 2026

19/02/2026

The issue isn’t performance reviews.

It’s the fact they only happen once a year.

Good performance management is ongoing, human, and two-way - not an annual surprise event.

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

18/02/2026

Short-term absences can leave managers guessing. In our recent podcast, we share how to gather evidence fairly and understand what’s really happening for your employees - without jumping to conclusions.

🎧 Watch here: https://youtu.be/oTRucZ4eE1A

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

17/02/2026

Frequent sick days can challenge any workplace – but the way we respond makes all the difference.

In our recent podcast “Managing the Serial Sickness Mystery,” we explore how to:
• Spot patterns without jumping to conclusions
• Have sensitive, supportive conversations
• Balance employee wellbeing with business needs

It’s about understanding people and creating a culture of care and fairness for everyone in the workplace.

🎧 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzkknQvfHFs

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

What to do when there's ongoing unplanned absence

12/02/2026

Words matter.
Tone matters.
Timing matters.

Small tweaks to communication can significantly reduce unnecessary anxiety in your team.

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

10/02/2026

🎙 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗣𝗜 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗼
🕵️‍♀️ 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 12: "𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺”

Frequent short-term absences can be a real puzzle for any workplace.

How do you balance empathy with productivity?
And when does it become a pattern that needs addressing?

In our latest episode, “Managing the Serial Sickness Mystery,” we dive into practical strategies for identifying trends, having sensitive conversations, and supporting both employees and the business.

Whether you’re an HR professional, manager, or business owner, this episode gives you actionable insights to tackle one of the trickier aspects of workplace management.

🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/oTRucZ4eE1A

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

08/02/2026

2026 planning doesn’t need to be 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 - but it does need to be 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

Over the past year, I’ve worked with many organisations dealing with the same pressures: stretched leaders, capability gaps, unresolved performance issues, and a constant feeling of being reactive instead of in control.

What’s been clear is this - people planning is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s one of the most practical leadership tools available.

When organisations leave people strategy too late, the impacts are predictable:
– Hiring becomes rushed
– Performance issues drift
– Managers apply standards inconsistently
– Training gets postponed
– Small issues escalate into bigger problems

The good news? Effective people planning doesn’t require a 40-page strategy document. It requires clarity, sequence, and follow-through.

I’ve just written a practical blog designed for senior leaders and HR teams, it walks through:
• How to align people decisions with business priorities
• Where most organisations are exposed to people risk
• A practical planning sequence that works across industries
• How to move HR from reactive to genuinely strategic
• Simple prompts leaders can use immediately

If your 2026 planning is underway (or needs to be), this will be a helpful resource.

👉 Read the full article here:https://a0ec51ac-7ebe-493e-8532-8898a1ed0b80.filesusr.com/ugd/1a0d3a_02b7a8e63d3a4a64bb444cd68546bad9.pdf

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

04/02/2026

Handling workplace misconduct?
It’s not just what you do - it’s how you do it.

In this episode of The HR PI Podcast with Marie Tovio, we break down how to structure a disciplinary investigation meeting, the process all attendees should follow, and tips to keep it fair, professional, and compliant.

🎧 Listen here: https://youtu.be/Jf-PUVvijzY

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮