Employers should have clear whistleblower policies that encourage staff to air concerns safely and anonymously, but not offer rewards or compensation in return, says McDonald Murholme employment lawyer Bianca Mazzarella.
Most employees affected by cancer fear being unfairly treated at work, highlighting an important role for HR to play in preventing discrimination, according to a legal specialist.
A worker who was sacked for breaching his employer's zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy has had his unfair dismissal claim rejected, despite his employer questioning the test results and admitting to procedural unfairness.
An employer's narrow focus on reasonable adjustments resulted in discrimination, a tribunal has found. Meanwhile, new research shows the "startling" difference between salaries of top-tier male and female managers; how Male Champions of Change organisations have progressed gender diversity; and what organisations are doing to counter expected skills gaps.
A recent high-profile case involving a BlueScope Steel employee accused of stealing sensitive and confidential information should send a warning to all employers to have secure contracts in place, lawyers say.
An HR manager whose employer illegally deducted meal and administration money from employee wages, then submitted false records to the Fair Work Ombudsman, either knew about the activity or was "wilfully blind", a Federal Circuit Court judge has found.
In a case that reinforces the importance of addressing underperformance early, an employee who didn't realise her performance was jeopardising her job until it was too late has successfully claimed she was unfairly dismissed.
An employee's "habitual" lateness in the face of multiple warnings left his employer with "no alternative" but dismissal, the Fair Work Commission has found.
Performance can help employers decide who should stay or go when a company downsizes, but without documentation to prove the criteria is applied objectively, the approach can be fraught with risk, a legal expert warns.
Employers might be required to restore leave taken by workers as a result of bullying, the FWC says. Meanwhile, learn what successful social media policies and performance management systems entail; how many people would take a pay cut to work from home; and more.
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.
