How do you plan for the coming year with so much unpredictability still in the air? 2020 has been tough to say the least, but there are a few ways to be proactive about budgeting for 2021 without losing sight of our ultimate financial goals. As an author on Business Insider puts it, it’s all about cutting down on certain major expenses and focusing on what’s still available in a post-pandemic world. 

How do you plan for the coming year with so much unpredictability still in the air? 2020 has been tough to say the least, but there are a few ways to be proactive about budgeting for 2021 without losing sight of our ultimate financial goals. As an author on Business Insider puts it, it&rsquo;s all about cutting down on certain major expenses and focusing on what&rsquo;s still available in a post-pandemic world.

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Enterprise Explores

Budgeting for 2021 After a Shaky 2020

Hiring your first, or even your 50th, employee isn't just about growth; it comes with legal obligations that many businesses underestimate. When those obligations are ignored, the consequences are both punitive and costly. Sara Lau of law firm Skrine joins the show to discuss where employers go wrong, accidentally or maliciously, including why a simple notice clause cannot protect you from an unfair dismissal claim.

Tune In To Find Out:


The 24-Month Penalty: Why permanent employees can secure up to two years of back wages if they fail the "just cause and excuse" test.


The PMR Protocol: A forensic breakdown of the three legal pathways to termination, Performance, Misconduct, and Retrenchment, and the specific evidentiary requirements for each.


The Statutory Minefield: Why commissions, bonuses, and long-term incentives are subject to EPF and how one oversight cost an employer millions.


The "Acquiescence" Trap: Why letting minor misconduct slide today prevents you from taking legal action tomorrow.


Ironclad Separation: How to utilise MSS and VSS schemes to avoid unilateral termination risks while ensuring documents are legally protected.

Hiring your first, or even your 50th, employee isn't just about growth; it comes with legal obligations that many businesses underestimate. When those obligations are ignored, the consequences are both punitive and costly. Sara Lau of law firm Skrine joins the show to discuss where employers go wrong, accidentally or maliciously, including why a simple notice clause cannot protect you from an unfair dismissal claim.Tune In To Find Out:<ul><li>The 24-Month Penalty: Why permanent employees can secure up to two years of back wages if they fail the "just cause and excuse" test.</li><li>The PMR Protocol: A forensic breakdown of the three legal pathways to termination, Performance, Misconduct, and Retrenchment, and the specific evidentiary requirements for each.</li><li>The Statutory Minefield: Why commissions, bonuses, and long-term incentives are subject to EPF and how one oversight cost an employer millions.</li><li>The "Acquiescence" Trap: Why letting minor misconduct slide today prevents you from taking legal action tomorrow.</li><li>Ironclad Separation: How to utilise MSS and VSS schemes to avoid unilateral termination risks while ensuring documents are legally protected.</li></ul>

Protect Your Business: Avoiding Common Employment Law Mistakes

With global shocks and competitive pricing squeezing profit margins, many SMEs are under immense pressure.

Azfar Asa'ad of CPA Australia joins the show to share insights from their latest survey of over 4,000 small businesses, as well as why cutting costs alone is a trap and the critical danger of remaining in "pilot purgatory" with AI.

Tune in to find out: 


The Cost-Cutting Trap: Why slashing operational expenses to protect thinning margins is actively sabotaging your future expansion goals. 


The New Hiring Mandate: Why resilient owners are selectively expanding their headcount, and the strict three-part criteria every new role must clearly pass to justify the investment. 


Defying "Pilot Purgatory": Why early enterprise AI adoption isn't a magic pill for structural struggles, and the specific drivers that high-growth businesses leverage instead. 

The 39% Blindspot: The overlooked cyber vulnerability threatening small enterprises, and why failing to upgrade from basic e-commerce defenses guarantees irreversible reputational loss.

With global shocks and competitive pricing squeezing profit margins, many SMEs are under immense pressure.Azfar Asa'ad of CPA Australia joins the show to share insights from their latest survey of over 4,000 small businesses, as well as why cutting costs alone is a trap and the critical danger of remaining in "pilot purgatory" with AI.Tune in to find out:&nbsp;<ul><li>The Cost-Cutting Trap: Why slashing operational expenses to protect thinning margins is actively sabotaging your future expansion goals.&nbsp;</li><li>The New Hiring Mandate: Why resilient owners are selectively expanding their headcount, and the strict three-part criteria every new role must clearly pass to justify the investment.&nbsp;</li><li>Defying "Pilot Purgatory": Why early enterprise AI adoption isn't a magic pill for structural struggles, and the specific drivers that high-growth businesses leverage instead.&nbsp;</li></ul>The 39% Blindspot: The overlooked cyber vulnerability threatening small enterprises, and why failing to upgrade from basic e-commerce defenses guarantees irreversible reputational loss.

When Cost Cutting Becomes a Trap for SMEs

77% of Malaysians rely on private cars, significantly higher than the 54% global average, and our appetite for future car-related tech is massive. Thomas Tan of Ipsos Malaysia joins the show to unpack why 61% of Malaysians would feel safer in a self-driving car and how "first-mile/last-mile" friction is keeping public transport usage at a stagnant 14%. We also explore the shift from "nationality bias" to "value-driven" buying and why your next car might come from a tech giant rather than a traditional automaker.

77% of Malaysians rely on private cars, significantly higher than the 54% global average, and our appetite for future car-related tech is massive. Thomas Tan of Ipsos Malaysia joins the show to unpack why 61% of Malaysians would feel safer in a self-driving car and how "first-mile/last-mile" friction is keeping public transport usage at a stagnant 14%. We also explore the shift from "nationality bias" to "value-driven" buying and why your next car might come from a tech giant rather than a traditional automaker.

Budgeting for 2021 After a Shaky 2020

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