Dangers abound for employers that "rigidly" follow their workplace policies when determining which adjustments are reasonable to help employees return to work, says a lawyer.
Leaders who aren't committed to inclusion pose the biggest obstacle to workplace diversity, and HR professionals must address it, says HR leader Rhonda Brighton-Hall, on the launch of resources to prevent discrimination at work.
Employers that wait for "perfect conditions" before introducing workplace changes will never get started, says Telstra's head of inclusion Troy Roderick.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched an assessment tool that distinguishes those employers just "starting out" on fostering workplace diversity from their more advanced counterparts, and offers practical guidance on how they can improve.
A diversity program run by men, for men, has helped one Australian employer shift the mindset that flexible work arrangements are only for female employees.
Employers that fail to act on swearing in the workplace could be putting their people and reputations at risk, but how is HR supposed to decide what words should and shouldn't be tolerated?
Does promoting people based on merit give everyone a fair go? The results of a debate this week should have employers questioning who decides what 'merit' is, and whether they're really appointing the best leaders.
The behaviours associated with unconscious bias often persist even when people recognise they are there, and HR practitioners need to help employees deal with bias without judgement or accusation, says Edward Nelson, a senior consultant with rogenSi.
Employers should beware of depriving introverts of opportunities to share their ideas and opinions, according to communications specialist Catriona Pollard, who says many workplace practices unintentionally favour extroverts.
Racist comments should be addressed not simply because they're "wrong" or "bad", or contravene a workplace policy, but because they can do serious, long-term cultural damage, says Irish Ambassador Noel White.
Some employers have successfully stepped up to the task of managing psychosocial safety, but in many other workplaces, initiatives are falling flat. Join us for an HR Daily webinar to understand what's holding back progress in this critical space and how to move forward.
