HR departments too often fail to take a risk-management approach to decisions affecting people, exposing themselves to potential liability under the model work health and safety laws, according to safety and employment lawyer Fiona Austin.
In this 15-minute podcast, employment lawyer Kristin Duff (Ramsey) answers 13 questions from subscribers about employment contracts, in relation to probation periods, changes to remuneration packaging, terminating fixed-term contracts, employment offers and more.
Performance reviews and disciplinary processes that can withstand outside scrutiny will become even more critical when the Fair Work anti-bullying regime comes into force next year, according to DLA Piper partner Murray Procter.
The question of whether certain behaviours constitute bullying or are just the consequence of abrasive personalities is so problematic that employers should shift their focus to the prevention of both, says HR Business Direction's organisational psychologist Trish Cloete.
Organisations should draft employment contracts with enough flexibility to allow for circumstances to change without requiring employee sign-off every time, says an employment law specialist.
One of the best ways to uncover the truth about a workplace incident or allegation is to build a close rapport with the employees involved, according to undercover operations expert Dr David Craig.
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.
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.
