It was unreasonable for an employee to require a formal plan to understand how she could meet her employer's performance expectations, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in rejecting her unfair dismissal claim.
With the Federal Government urging a return to business as usual by July, employers have to consider some important questions about how they'll approach the transition, a workplace lawyer says.
The Fair Work Commission has rejected that an employee should be classified as part-time and eligible for JobKeeper because her employer intended to offer her a permanent role. Also in this article: an employer won't be able to make an employee's role redundant despite COVID-19 until after her discrimination claim is decided; whistleblower compliance risks falling by the wayside during the pandemic; and why more start-ups are engaging HR professionals.
An industrial relations specialist has been ordered to pay an employer's costs of defending an unfair dismissal claim, with the Fair Work Commission describing its actions as "reckless", costly and "highly prejudicial".
Qantas is facing a claim from a former employee over discrimination and harassment going back 30 years, and has failed in its attempt to block media access to the allegations.
Many employers have hit pause on disciplinary processes in light of disruptions caused by COVID-19, and procedural fairness will be critical as these recommence, says a workplace lawyer.
Phasing out the JobKeeper scheme, rather than suddenly ending it, is one of several suggested measures to ensure a smooth labour market recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Reduced face-to-face interaction and hasty email communication – coupled with job insecurity, isolation and stress – could see COVID-19 distancing measures heighten the risk of bullying claims, a workplace lawyer says.
A Qantas engineer was rightly sacked for "plainly unwelcome" and "sleazy" behaviour, despite errors in the allegations against him, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
A commission has ordered an employer to reinstate a leader sacked for bullying, suggesting better support could significantly improve his management style.
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.
