Does promoting people based on merit give everyone a fair go? The results of a debate this week should have employers questioning who decides what 'merit' is, and whether they're really appointing the best leaders.
An employer that did not renew a senior worker's employment contract because of insubordinate and unprofessional behaviour has been cleared of adverse action by the Federal Court.
HR professionals must be prepared to have tough conversations about potential compliance breaches to reduce their personal exposure to legal penalties, warns employment lawyer Fay Calderone.
Every day, HR professionals are required to defend and explain their practices in courts and tribunals, with far-reaching ramifications including legal liability and reputational harm. Watch this webcast to understand how to protect yourself.
The behaviours associated with unconscious bias often persist even when people recognise they are there, and HR practitioners need to help employees deal with bias without judgement or accusation, says Edward Nelson, a senior consultant with rogenSi.
A boss who engaged in "intolerable, disgraceful and dishonourable" conduct when he s-xually harassed a female trainee has had his penalty reduced, after an appeal court agreed it was "manifestly excessive".
Employers that initially fail to deal with social media misuse in the workplace could be waiving their right to address that misconduct at a later date, warns an employment lawyer.
Employers can't expect workers who have experienced s-xual harassment to make formal reports, but they can encourage "bystander intervention" to identify - and prevent - unacceptable behaviour, the University of Wollongong's Dr Michael Flood told a seminar this week.
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.