When departing employees breach their contractual restraints, seeking an injunction won't often be the best way to respond, a workplace lawyer says.

The Federal Court has dismissed an appeal by two employees who were ordered to pay a former employer $270k in damages, after breaching their contractual restraints and soliciting its clients.

An HR consultant took necessary and appropriate steps to examine an employee's own conduct when determining whether her bullying and other allegations had a "proper foundation", the Federal Court has ruled.

Modern awards should be clearer and easier to apply, to help employers avoid inadvertent underpayments, and the Australian Government should clarify the availability of a due diligence defence in criminal matters, a wage theft inquiry has recommended.

The absence of evidence from a director closely involved in the sacking of a "serial complainant", after he assaulted a colleague at work, has undermined an employer's defence to his adverse action claim.

An organisation's pet-friendly workplace policy helps it to attract talent, and creates connections that foster collaboration, its people leader says.

It's relatively rare for discrimination claims to proceed to a final hearing at the federal level, but some recent decisions provide "really valuable guidance for employers", a lawyer says. Read our webcast description here then watch the full presentation with premium membership.

A discussion that followed a heated workplace argument was "objectively clear" in addressing conduct standards, and wasn't intended as a dismissal, the Fair Work Commission has found.

What constitutes reasonable action in a performance management scenario is illustrated well in a recent Fair Work Commission decision, a workplace lawyer says.

New studies help to explain why return-to-office and flexible work policies often fail to achieve their desired outcomes.