Coronavirus (COVID-19) (253 items)

Australia needs to develop a clear definition of 'essential workers', to provide clarity for employers in the event of another crisis such as the COVID pandemic, an inquiry recommends.

An employee was left feeling isolated and depressed after her numerous emails to an HR leader were ignored, a commission has ruled in rejecting an employer's reasonable action defence.

An employee who live-streamed her participation in an anti-lockdown protest has failed to convince a commission that her dismissal was harsh because several mitigating factors "clouded" her judgement.

An employee has been awarded $83k in compensation, as well as ongoing weekly payments, for a psychological injury caused by being told he'd need to get a COVID-19 vaccination to continue working.

A worker can pursue her claim that she was unfairly sacked for receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, after the Fair Work Commission found she was an employee, not an independent contractor.

An employer did not have to grant an employee's flexible work request but has been encouraged to explore reasonable adjustments, to address his concerns about catching COVID at work and potentially impacting his wife's IVF treatment.

The Federal Court has restrained a non-legal representative from communicating with three major employers on behalf of unvaccinated workers, finding his emails have become "progressively more aggressive" and threatening.

An employee who wouldn't consent to being "stabbed" with "poison" has failed to prove her employer dismissed her when it refused to send her to client sites.

An employee who was told to delete his employer's number after refusing to disobey COVID health directions has successfully appealed a finding that he wasn't dismissed.

After the Federal Government reintroduced pandemic payments for casuals over the weekend, Employment Minister Tony Burke has stressed that this topic highlights why addressing "insecure work" is a key priority.