An employer has discovered a big downside to converting its casual and on-hire workers to permanent: a marked increase in workers' compensation claims, according to its general manager of HR support.
Shifting the emphasis in unfair dismissal proceedings off process and onto the reasons for termination would - if implemented - be a welcome change for HR professionals, employment lawyers say.
Organisations that use their HR department to manage employees but their accounts department to manage contractors could be heightening their risk of sham contracting arrangements, says an employment law expert.
An employee who was described as a "super manager" - but deemed "unsuitable" for her role after she made a s-xual harassment complaint - was exposed to unlawful adverse action, the Federal Circuit Court has found.
Origin Energy's contingent workforce model went from a "chaotic" free-for-all resulting in six-figure fines to a centralised structure saving the company $21 million in just a few years, says its HR general manager, Keith Wilkinson.
Employers that engage on-hire workers without understanding the parameters of the arrangement are exposing themselves to an under-the-radar legal minefield, warns a lawyer.
All employers should consider putting in place a workplace s-xual harassment prevention plan, even though such plans are only expressly prescribed in one jurisdiction, according to a risk management expert.
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.
