Marie Tovio Consulting

11/03/2026

Let's be honest – the exit you didn't handle properly has a way of coming back through the front door. 🚪

When an employee says "I quit!" in the heat of the moment, it can feel like a relief. But accepting that resignation too quickly? That's where things can get very costly, very fast.

In my latest podcast I'm unpacking why heat-of-the-moment resignations are one of the most mishandled situations in the workplace - and what every employer needs to do before they take someone at their word.

🎧 Watch here: https://youtu.be/_Q1sVdN3x8A

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

10/03/2026

Most employment problems don't happen overnight.
They build quietly - through outdated agreements, unclear expectations, or a manager who wasn't quite sure what to do and hoped things would sort themselves out.

By the time it becomes a formal issue, the cost (in time, stress, and legal exposure) is almost always higher than it needed to be.

That's why I put together a short Employer Risk Check for 2026 - 10 questions to help business owners and HR teams take an honest look at where their employment practices actually stand right now.
Things like:
• Are your employment agreements still fit for purpose?
• Do your managers know when to act - and when to call for help?
• Are your workplace policies genuinely up to date, or just ticking a box?

It's not about finding fault. It's about getting ahead of risk before it becomes a real problem.

If you work through the questions and a few of them make you pause - that's useful information. That's exactly the kind of early signal worth paying attention to.

Read the full Employer Risk Check here - https://www.tovioconsulting.co.nz/blog

If you’d like support working through any of these, please contact me:
📱 021 932 332
📧 marie@tovioconsulting.co.nz
🌐 www.tovioconsulting.co.nz

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮



𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

08/03/2026

Accepting a heat-of-the-moment resignation could be your most expensive mistake.

When an employee says "I quit!" mid-argument - do you take them at their word? A lot of employers do. And that's exactly where things go wrong.

In the latest episode of The HR PI Podcast, I'm breaking down "The Resignation Ruse" - what makes a resignation legally valid, and what happens when employers act too fast on words said in the heat of the moment.

The risks are real.
The fixes are simple.
But only if you know what to do.

🎧 Watch here: https://youtu.be/_Q1sVdN3x8A

𝙈𝙏𝘾 - 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮

07/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! 💜

Today we celebrate the strength, leadership and impact of women in workplaces across New Zealand and beyond.

This year’s theme - - encapsulates what we stand for:
- Equal opportunity isn’t enough without equitable support.
- Fair policies aren’t enough without inclusive cultures.
- Diversity isn’t enough without belonging.

We see every day how inclusive, equitable workplaces create stronger businesses. Fair policies matter - but so do supportive cultures, flexible practices and genuine opportunity.

International Women’s Day is a reminder that equity requires ongoing action, not just intention.

Here’s to the women leading change, advocating for fairness, and shaping better workplaces for everyone.

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