Two employees who were sacked after they punched a supervisor in the head were unfairly dismissed, the Fair Work Commission has found, in a case that illustrates the dangers of "unsophisticated" HR management.
Every HR professional should understand the key terms in employment contracts, when to review and vary them, and how contracts interact with legislation, industrial instruments and workplace policies. Watch this webcast to ensure you're across these areas.
Employers that want to keep pace with the rest of the world must adapt their organisations to welcome employees from different cultural backgrounds, but too many expect immigrants and foreign workers to simply 'fit in', says growth strategist and culture specialist Pamela Young.
Traumatic experiences such as workplace bullying not only affect the employees who are directly involved, but also those who support them, and "vicarious trauma" can have a serious impact on a worker's health and productivity, according to employment lawyer Josh Bornstein.
As the Fair Work Commission's anti-bullying regime starts to take shape, an industrial barrister has compiled a list of 13 issues employers should consider when preparing to defend a claim.
Confusion about how long an organisation should retain a sick or injured employee who's unable to work could be stopping many employers from lawfully terminating absent staff, according to lawyers from Hicksons' workplace relations group.
Smartphone technology has made it relatively easy for employees to secretly record disciplinary or performance conversations, says Ashurst Australia partner Marie-Claire Foley, who warns that unlawfully obtained evidence can be admissible in court.
Court rulings show how important it is to draft contracts clearly, and to include simple clauses that can protect organisations from expensive litigation, but many employers still haven't learned the lessons, says Hynes Legal associate director, Kristin Duff.
Employers are only beginning to realise the potential impact of LinkedIn on their ability to retain business contacts, enforce post-employment restraints, and avoid costly claims, according to DLA Piper Australia senior associate Elizabeth Ticehurst.
The end of any contracting arrangement heralds a heightened risk of employee entitlement claims, but those involving unpaid superannuation are particularly hard to defend and costly to address, according to PwC partner Rohan Geddes.
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.
