Fiona Marsden: freelance writer/editor

Work holds a central place in the lives of millions of Australians. Here, you’ll find brief excerpts from a selection of my articles about human resources and other business issues.

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“Connect with Community”
True Wealth magazine: launch issue, September 2014

“Giving to charities through your workplace can strengthen your team, deepen your sense of purpose and help provide much needed services … “

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“Young guns”
Cover story, Making Connections
(RMIT University magazine inserted in The Australian Financial Review, 13 June 2013)

Meet four young graduates making their mark in food, wine and fashion.

Read my article here.

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“Board members and buck stopping:
what will the Model WHS Act mean for individual board directors?”
Cover story, National Safety (National Safety Council of Australia magazine)
February 2013 issue

“By the time you read this article, harmonised WHS laws will apply in all but two states, Victoria and Western Australia. As ‘officers’ under the laws, directors have an individual compliance obligation. What are the ramifications, and how can directors step up to the plate?”

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“Growth industry: releasing mature potential”
Venture magazine (Swinburne University of Technology)
Issue 3, 2012

“No matter which way you slice it, Australians will have to work smarter—not just harder—to support a growing proportion of older people in the community … [That’s why] encouraging people to stay on in the workforce makes good sense. It could also pay economic dividends … “

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”From Italy with … “
National Safety magazine, May 2012 issue

” … the recent decision by a court in the northern Italian city of Turin to hold individual owner/directors personally and criminally responsible for thousands of asbestos-related injuries and deaths serves as a reminder to Australian organisations that they can’t afford to relax their vigilance about OHS … “

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“Margin of error”
Professional Network (Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers Australia magazine)
December 2011 issue

“Risk and uncertainty are part and parcel of any new project—but managing them takes a specific set of skills. What are these skills, how can managers build them, and how can they engage staff in the risk management process … ?”

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“Taking the high road”
National Safety (National Safety Council of Australia magazine)
November 2011 issue

“Work-related road accidents account for about half of work-related deaths and 15 per cent of all road deaths—carving a destructive course through corporate and family life … They’re sobering statistics—and the Australian Transport Council believes corporate organisations should do something about them … “

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“How to write copy that gets noticed”
Osteo Life (Australian Osteopathic Association newsletter) Winter 2010 issue

Accounting Technician (Association of Accounting Technicians magazine) October 2010 issue

(Originally published online at Business Buffet. Amended versions also published in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network newsletter, December 2011; and on Imagine Creative’s blog page, May 2012. Please send requests for republication directly to me.)

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z“If you’re like many business owners, the prospect of writing copy for brochures, newsletters, websites and other communication tools is akin to having teeth pulled. You slave away for hours, only to come up with something that doesn’t … tell potential [clients] what they need to know … So, how can you write copy that attracts business—without wasting, time, blood, sweat and tears? …”

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“How to handle an employee complaint”
Workplace Advantage magazine, Winter 2010 issue

“When an employee makes a complaint, this onus is on employers and human resources professionals to do everything reasonable to resolve the situation, writes Fiona Marsden …”

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“Sick leave: what’s the evidence?”
Workplace Advantage magazine, launch issue, Autumn 2010

“In most cases, administering sick leave is fairly straightforward. But what should you do when employees do not supply the requested evidence? And if you believe leave is excessive or fraudulent, what is the wisest approach?”zz

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“Human resources: from administrative manager
to strategic business partner”
Workplace Advantage magazine, launch issue, Autumn 2010

“HR is taking on a more strategic role in Australian organisations, with strong potential to add value across all facets of decision-making …”

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“Keeping a finger on the pulse”
Human Resources magazine, October 2008

“A study in late 2006 found that Australian employees uses an average of 6.25 days of sick leave each year – up from 5.75 days in 2003 … With figures such as these, it is in the best interests of every organisation to encourage a healthier, happier workforce…”

Read the full article here.

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“Employee assessment tools: friend or foe?”
Human Resources magazine, October 2008

“HR management is a high-stakes exercise, with implications for organisational productivity, staff turnover and workforce engagement … anecdotal evidence suggests that an increasing number of [Australian] organisations are … using psychologically-based assessment tools as an adjunct to traditional tools such as face-to-face interviews, reference checks and informal feedback between managers and direct reports …”

Read the full article here.

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