The Federal Parliament's inquiry into workplace bullying reports that improving workplace culture is "the greatest investment that can be made" toward eliminating the problem, and advocates management targets for encouraging positive workplace behaviour.
Can not inviting someone to Friday drinks amount to bullying? What should HR do about informal, seemingly insignificant harassment complaints? How do you deal with behaviour that was once welcome, and is now unwelcome?
Ashurst lawyer Taboka Finn answered these questions and more in our recent webinar - we have transcribed a selection for you here.
Employers hoping to act on bullying and harassment that takes place online or out of hours should ensure the conduct passes the "sufficient connection to the workplace" test, says Ashurst lawyer Taboka Finn.
Are your policies and practices covering workplace bullying and harassment clear, comprehensive, and easy to follow? Are they capable of protecting your organisation from these risks?
This webinar, presented by Ashurst lawyer Taboka Finn, explains:
How bullying and harassment definitions are evolving;
The potential impact of proposed laws in this area;
Ways to handle online, social media and out-of-hours behaviour;
OHS issues that HR professionals must be mindful of;
Considerations for your anti-bullying and harassment policies; and
A ruling that it was unjust to dismiss a worker for "offensive, derogatory and discriminatory" posts about his managers highlights the critical importance of social media policies in the workplace, according to an employment lawyer.
The days of tolerating wolf-whistles in the workplace are over, but according to psychologist Dr Jennifer Loh, employers need to beware of a far more subtle - but equally destructive - form of discrimination.
Two organisations have avoided being found vicariously liable for s-xual harassment committed by employees, after proving they had taken reasonable steps to prevent and manage the incidents.
It's time for HR professionals to get over any embarrassment they feel about discussing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employment issues, says former High Court judge Michael Kirby.
Not enough employers are conducting the workplace audits necessary to prevent and manage bullying, says People and Culture Strategies managing principal Joydeep Hor.
Organisations seeking to avoid sexual harassment scandals should rely not on policy or procedure to change their culture, but on the behaviour of their leaders, says Professor Julie Zetler of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Macquarie University.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.
After years of legislative and regulatory changes, employers' key compliance challenges continue to shift and evolve. Attend this webinar to catch up on recent developments and their HR implications, preparing you and your organisation for what lies ahead.
