Managing workers on extended sick leave, or with long-term injuries, requires carefully balancing business needs against employees' rights, says employment lawyer Luke Connolly.
Interview questions about a candidate's fitness for work must be clearly linked to the relevant statement of duties, says Blake Dawson employment lawyer Stephen Woodbury.
Initiatives that encourage employees to be proactive about their health are commonplace, but financial wellbeing, which can also affect performance, is still widely overlooked, says Innergi co-founder Matt Linnert.
HR managers could be found personally liable for bullying and harassment at work, under the national OHS framework, if they fail to take steps to prevent it, according to Hicksons Lawyers partner Brad Swebeck.
The world's best managers view the growth of employees as an end, not a means, and take responsibility for their people's wellbeing, according Gallup researchers Jim Harter and Tom Rath.
One in five Australian adults experiences mental health problems each year, but nearly half of all senior managers do not believe their workers will be affected, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Australia's "anti-dobbing" culture can obstruct efforts to eradicate workplace bullying and create a "huge problem" for employers, says general counsel for Harmers Workplace Lawyers, Greg Robertson.
Employers should consider the demographic of their workforce and the needs of their workers before running health clinics, says work health expert Paul Burnett.
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.
