The fact that an employee's false bullying allegations against a colleague were just "bluff and bluster" made in the "heat of battle" didn't excuse his conduct, the Fair Work Commission has found in upholding his dismissal.
The Fair Work Commission has decided to raise the national minimum wage and minimum award rates by 3.5%, after four years of declining "real wages" for these workers. Meanwhile, more than 70% of HR leaders think employees now value financial wellbeing programs as much as physical and mental health offerings.
After shoving a woman out of a lift on his way to work because he thought she was "rude", an employee has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission he was unfairly sacked.
A recent decision serves as an important reminder that termination entitlements must be paid on an employee's last day, and not in an employer's next pay cycle, lawyers warn.
The context of "humorous" communications between employees who were friends outside of work was crucial in determining whether some comments were unlawful discrimination, the Federal Circuit Court has noted.
A court has awarded an employer $270k in damages after two of its employees left to establish their own business, in breach of their 12-month contractual restraints.
An employer must pay workers' compensation for a psychological injury, even though its former employee didn't show signs of mental ill health while she was working, was facing multiple stressors in her personal life, and lodged her claim outside the required timeframe.
"Anomalies" in an employer's management of performance and conduct issues meant the process lacked clarity and resulted in a dismissal that was valid, but harsh, the Fair Work Commission has found.
The prospect of general protections claims lodged on the basis of employees' "future workplace rights" is an important area for employers keep an eye on, a lawyer says.
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.
