The Australian human rights law framework doesn't cater for employees who have been wronged at work, according to high-profile discrimination claimant Christina Rich. She says corporate and individual leaders can play a role in reforming workplace culture, but the broader system needs to change.
Employers in Denmark have embraced flexible working hours arrangements, but some are finding it hard to overcome "flexitime jealousy", according to a visiting academic.
HR and recruitment managers should bear in mind "what a judge would think" before blithely rejecting job applicants who "fail" inherent requirements tests, a workplace relations lawyer says.
The low prevalence of paid maternity leave in female-dominated industries shows "there is more work to be done" on gender equality in Australia, says Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick.
Employers that fail to make "reasonable adjustments" for stress-affected employees returning to work could face discrimination claims, an employment lawyer warns, and improving communication streams, according to a business lecturer, is pivotal.
A new Australian Standard of Employment Rights gives employers and workers a benchmark against which to measure the industrial relations health of their workplace, says University of Sydney professor of labour law, Ron McCallum.
Policies prohibiting workplace love are untenable, an organisational psychologist says, but employers can take steps to prevent romantic relationships from stifling productivity or ending in a harassment claim.
The Fair Work Act allows for greater union involvement in the workplace, an IR lawyer says, and smart employers are fostering positive relationships with employees and their representatives in an effort to cement long-term growth.
Fair Work Australia's first good faith bargaining order should spur employers to put more thought and preparation into negotiations than was necessary under the old legislation, according to an employment lawyer.
An alternative mediation technique might be more suitable for resolving workplace conflicts than traditional problem-solving approaches, says Livingstones Australia principal consultant, Katy Russell.
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.
