Giving a senior employee three months' notice of termination, then summarily dismissing him on "inexplicable" grounds after just a month, had the potential to cause such "extreme" damage to his reputation that it warranted $450k in damages, a court has ruled.
One employer will have to face an unfair dismissal claim lodged outside the 21-day timeframe after the Fair Work Commission accepted the employee had no internet access, but another employee has failed to prove his poor mental health prevented timely lodgment of his claim.
One third of employees are sexually harassed at work, but official complaints are much lower because victims fear others will think they're overreacting, according to new research.
The Fair Work Commission has awarded $4000 compensation to an injured employee who was preparing to return to work when he was dismissed for misconduct that occurred eight months earlier.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has warned employers to "get their house in order" or risk higher penalties under its new, tougher approach to non-compliance. Also in this article, data on the extent of unplanned sick leave around public holidays; an employer's 'identity' discrimination exemption; and more.
The Fair Work Commission's new approach to annualised salaries in modern awards will require a radically different approach by employers, according to legal experts.
A psychological assessment specialist has been ordered to provide its reasons for labelling an employee "unsuitable" for his job, to assist his unfair dismissal claim.
Casual employment remains in a "state of flux", and until some sort of intervention gives employers clarity, the best thing HR can do is conduct a workforce audit to understand where their risks lie, a lawyer says.
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.