The needs of mature-age employees are similar to those of many new parents or pregnant women in the workplace, according to a consultant for National Australia Bank, who recommends focussing on flexibility and recognition to accommodate older workers.
Taking steps to ensure mature-aged workers pass on important knowledge and skills before they retire is well worth the effort, but many employers are doing "too little too late", says Sageco creative director Catriona Byrne.
A proponent of an award-winning gender diversity initiative says that if she had her time again, she would have been bolder when implementing change, foregoing her initial "softly, softly" approach.
The time for talking about gender equality and waiting for people to "get it" is over - real action is needed now, according to Helen Conway, director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA).
The simplest solutions are usually most effective when it comes to accommodating people with a disability in the workforce, according to CEO of The Deaf Society of NSW, Sharon Everson.
Changing the language organisations use to describe flexible work will help remove some of the stigma that it is only for mothers, and allow it to become "mainstream", Diversity Council Australia says.
A little-known form of mentoring is helping to change the attitudes of senior executives to modern workplace challenges such as diversity and social media, says executive coach and trainer Melissa Richardson.
In a move that could have significant financial implications for big business, an Australian institution is urging the federal government to stop entering into contracts with employers whose diversity records aren't up to scratch.
Difference in the workplace often creates misunderstandings that give rise to conflict, but with the right management approach, difference can lead to respect, says Macquarie University professor of management Lucy Taksa.
Organisations are building some "quick wins" toward their diversity targets by boosting the numbers of senior women in traditionally female-dominated areas of business, but gender diversity experts say they need to broaden their approach in order to make real progress.
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.
