Managing people risk, return to work, franchises & culture with Damian Tarry

YS Up - Governance and Boards

In this episode of YS Up Governance and Boards Podcast, 3YS Owls Governance Consultants, Ainslie Cunningham and Deb Anderson discuss with Damian Tarry, Senior Human Resources Officer for the Retail Food Group (ASX:RFG) some of the challenges faced by franchisees during COVID-19, the importance of communication and empathy as part of a return to work strategy and some great HR tips to support return to work . Damian also shared with us his experience working remotely and gave us a glimpse into his family life including the chooks. "I think if I talk about the COVID-19 situation, I think again, it's probably, look for other businesses that have been through this, there's some great information out there. Collaborate, with people that you're partnering with as well. So that you're getting that really good community feel for how to approach it. Communicate regularly with your employees, the more you communicate the better. And then listen. So, it's got to be two way, listen to what they're saying. And I think, really you can apply that to nearly everything you're doing from a SME point of view, to look after your employees. This is the time to really do that. Look after employees and your customers, and that will pay off in the long run." - Damian Tarry Summary of episode · Managing work from home and return to work for employees from a Human Resources lens · Return to work tips post pandemic · Food Franchises · Working remotely · Coffee and carbs · The importance of a supportive board in times of crisis · Worksafe resources · National Retail Association support · Supporting employees with anxiety and stress and providing support through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) · The importance of communication · Find what is good for you. About Damian Tarry Damian is a Human Resources professional on the Gold Coast enjoying a diverse career where he has worked within a range of industries including hospitality and tourism, childcare, financial services and retail. The experiences obtained through this time have provided strong learning opportunities including public listings, mergers and acquisitions, cultural transformation, rapid growth and operational turnarounds. A number of the early roles included remote area living which have added the depth of knowledge and people leadership required for being a strong HR practitioner given the exposure to wide ranging issues where resourcefulness was a must. Damian's current role is as Chief HR Officer for Retail Food Group supporting iconic food brands such as Gloria Jeans, Brumby's Donut King, Crust Pizza, Michel's and DiBella Coffee both in Australia and overseas. Damian is a strong advocate for people and brings organisational focus to engagement and capability where real impacts can be made no matter what the challenge or life cycle is. From NSW originally, Damian lives on the Gold Coast with his wife Monica, kids Arlo and Brooke, dog Boston and chickens. Review, Like and Comment If you enjoyed this episode please remember to review, like and comment. You can leave a rating and subscribe for the latest episode at iTunes using the apple icon in the player above. About Us - 3YS Owls - Governance Consultants 3YS Owls are a corporate governance firm and incorporate...