How to manage an employee's positive drug test at work will depend on the circumstances and their role, but the first step should always be to re-test and confirm the result, says Mills Oakley associate Allison Grant.
Every HR and safety practitioner will potentially have to address drug and alcohol issues at work, but none should take action without a solid understanding of the legal landscape.
In this presentation, Luke Connolly and Allison Grant, from Mills Oakley Lawyers, explain:
When - and how - it is appropriate to conduct workplace drug tests;
How to respond to incidents of drug and alcohol use at work;
Drafting considerations for drug and alcohol policies; and
Legal risks arising from workplace drug and alcohol management.
Including a "gardening leave" clause in executives' contracts is always a good idea, but doing so won't necessarily mean you can enforce it, says employment lawyer Emma Pritchard.
What is a normal period of notice payable when a senior executive's employment is terminated? Should contracts contain tiered restraints? How hard is it to renegotiate a clause in an executive contract once they have signed it?
In her presentation earlier this month, Emma Pritchard of Harmers Workplace Lawyers provided listeners with information and guidance on how to best manage executive terminations.
Investigations into workplace incidents and allegations can go awry if HR practitioners don't avoid common pitfalls during interviews, say expert investigators Harriet Stacey and Alison Page.
A "very significant" judgment, awarding in excess of $300,000 to a terminated bank executive, should send employers rushing to redraft their contracts and policies, says Harmers chief operating officer Emma Pritchard.
Amendments to the Fair Work Act proposed by Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten aim to ensure there are "cost consequences" for employees and lawyers who lodge unreasonable unfair dismissal claims.
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.
In the event of an unfair dismissal claim from an injured worker, a solid paper trail is a critical element of an employer's defence, says Mills Oakley lawyer Luke Connolly - but when it comes to constructing one, many don't know where to start.
Costly legal disputes continue to highlight the many risks employers face when managing, disciplining, or dismissing employees while they are absent, injured or incapacitated. Attend this webinar for an up-to-date review of the legal framework applying to workplace absenteeism, injury and incapacity, and lessons from recent case law.
