The Fair Work Commission is becoming more willing to uphold drug and alcohol related dismissals - provided employers have a clear policy and workers are aware of its content, says lawyer Tony Wood.
There are more toxic employees in the workplaces than ever before, warns an employment law barrister, who urges HR professionals not to delay acting when they spot them.
In many work environments a regime for impairment testing will help employers meet their safety obligations, but before introducing or amending such a program they must take into account a range of practical and industrial relations considerations. Watch this webcast to understand your obligations.
Criminal charges that prevented a religious education employee from working with children did not 'frustrate' his employment contract, the Fair Work Commission has ruled, in allowing him to proceed with an unfair dismissal claim.
Paying close attention to five employment-contract "grey areas" can help HR professionals reduce their organisation's exposure to legal risks, says employment lawyer Fay Calderone.
Do your organisation's employment contracts minimise its exposure to unwanted liabilities and protect its interests? Ensure each new contract or variation is legally sound by watching this webcast.
In a webinar on 28 May, employment law specialists Tony Wood and Steve Bell will assist you to manage the practical and legal aspects of introducing or amending a drug and alcohol policy, and devise the most effective and defensible testing regime for your organisation.
Premium members should click through for more details and to request a pass, while free subscribers can upgrade their membership level here for access.
Employers that engage on-hire workers without understanding the parameters of the arrangement are exposing themselves to an under-the-radar legal minefield, warns a lawyer.
Simple clauses added to existing workplace contracts and policies, rather than dedicated documents, will help employers manage risks posed by workers' out-of-hours conduct, says Hynes Legal associate director Kristin Duff.
An employer that followed a clause in its enterprise agreement "in form rather than substance" when investigating alleged misconduct took an approach that could "only be described as procedurally unfair", the FWC has ruled.
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.
