INDUSTRY
Manufacturing and automotive components
WORKFORCE
Blue and white-collar employees
Services
Key Outcomes
- Maintained HR continuity during parental leave
- Increased capability and confidence of existing internal HR resource
- Avoided the cost of hiring a temporary senior HR employee
- Provided practical day-to-day HR guidance and support
The Challenge: Supporting HR Continuity Without Increasing Headcount
When a senior HR team member went on parental leave, the business faced a common but critical capability gap within the HR function.
While an internal HR coordinator remained in the role, they did not yet have the experience or confidence to independently manage more complex employee relations and compliance matters.
This created several operational and workplace risks:
- Reduced internal capability to manage employee relations and compliance matters day to day.
- Increased exposure to workplace risk due to inexperience.
- Pressure on internal teams to “fill the gap” outside their expertise.
- Potential cost of hiring a temporary senior replacement
The business needed a solution that would maintain HR support, protect against risk, and avoid unnecessary cost
Our Approach: Fractional HR support and an embedded HR partner
Now Actually partnered closely with the internal HR resource to provide practical, hands-on support during a period of reduced senior capability within the team.
We focused not only on maintaining compliance and operational continuity, but also on building the confidence and capability of the internal HR resource through ongoing guidance and real-time support.
- Risk and compliance support: Assessed areas of highest HR and compliance risk to ensure sensitive matters were managed appropriately and consistently.
- Day-to-day HR guidance: Provided practical support across both routine
and more complex employee matters as issues arose. - Employee relations and workplace advice: Supported employee
relations and compliance-sensitive decisions while helping the business
navigate operational HR challenges confidently. - Coached, guided, and educated: The business’ internal HR resource was
coached through real-time scenarios to build capability and confidence in
their role. - Simplified complex HR issues: Complex HR matters were translated into
clear, practical solutions that leadership could implement.
By taking a partner and education-led approach, we helped maintain HR continuity, reduced risk exposure, and strengthened internal capability without the need for a temporary senior replacement.
The outcome: Stronger internal capability and ongoing HR continuity
With our support, the business maintained operational HR continuity during a period of reduced senior capability while avoiding unnecessary recruitment costs and disruption
Improved workforce planning
The business gained greater confidence recruiting, planning and maintaining staffing levels across multiple venues.
Increased compliance confidence
Employment contracts, Award compliance and HR processes were reviewed, reducing workplace risk and strengthening employer confidence.
Stronger leadership quality
Leaders were better equipped to manage employee matters, supported by Now Actually’s practical HR advice and ongoing coaching.
More consistent people practices
Onboarding, employee management and HR processes became more structured and consistent across all venues.
Reduced operational disruption
By strengthening workforce planning and HR capability, the business reduced the operational impact of labour shortages and maintained a stronger focus on delivering a positive customer experience.
It was very reassuring for us to have someone as knowledgeable and experienced as Now Actually to guide through a recent HR process.
It was reassuring for us to know that everything was being done correctly but also humanely.
Alan Saunders, Director Principal
Impact Australia
Who is this relevant for?
- are managing temporary gaps within their HR team,
- need HR support supporting parental leave or extended leave periods,
- want to strengthen internal HR capability,
- require flexible HR expertise without increasing headcount,
- need guidance through employee relations or compliance matters,
- or want practical HR support that works alongside their internal team.
Frequently asked questions about fractional or outsourced HR support
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