HR professionals who encounter suspicious medical certificates are entitled to question them, but "you should be very sure of your facts before putting allegations to employees", according to Workplace Law managing director Athena Koelmeyer.
What are your options when an employee is sick after exhausting all leave entitlements? Have you ever been given a medical certificate that seems less than legit? Watch this webcast to understand how to manage personal leave in a legally sound way.
It is acceptable for an employer to require a medical certificate to cover certain absences and not others, but not to place an "arbitrary" limit on the number of times it will accept an alternative, according to the Fair Work Commission.
A pilot program to help workers manage the physical, emotional and relational challenges associated with fly-in fly-out work has achieved success - and won over some "really strong-charactered males" who wouldn't otherwise ask for help, according to John Holland Group HR strategy and delivery manager (minerals and industrial) Shameelta Pratap.
Employers of people who work alone, are geographically isolated, or have the potential to be alone when working late or travelling on the job, must take reasonable steps to minimise associated risks - even if that means doubling their staffing, says Kemp Strang partner Lisa Berton.
Drug and alcohol testing policies that follow industry and Australian standards are more likely to be considered reasonable - and therefore enforceable - than those that depart from standard practice, according to employment lawyer Erin Rice.
The need for drug and alcohol testing in high-risk workplaces is largely uncontested, but disputes still arise over the types of tests administered, and how employers respond to positive results.
This short webcast explains what every employer should consider when implementing a testing regime.
Employers should not view workplace bullying and harassment only as something to take seriously in the event of a complaint, but as "part of core business", according to occupational psychologist Dr Moira Jenkins.
Recent changes to the Fair Work Act provide further motivation for employers to ensure their staff know what bullying is - and what it's not, according to Workplace Solutions director Fay Calderone.
Some employers have successfully stepped up to the task of managing psychosocial safety, but in many other workplaces, initiatives are falling flat. Join us for an HR Daily webinar to understand what's holding back progress in this critical space and how to move forward.
