Mandatory drug and alcohol testing in construction and other dangerous industries is a "common sense" move that would make it easier for employers to meet their safety obligations, according to employment lawyer Tony Wood.
The Fair Work Commission has delivered an important decision on the rights of employers faced with uninformative medical certificates covering sick leave.
When can employers reject an application for voluntary redundancy? Can employers include 'organisational fit' in their redundancy selection criteria? And how can employers prove workplace conflict issues didn't influence their redundancy decisions?
A lot of recent litigation following redundancies has hinged on whether redeployment was a viable option, and HR professionals must consider a growing number of factors in deciding whether or not redeployment is a "reasonable" substitute, according to employment lawyer Murray Procter.
Employers that have permitted a culture of inappropriate emails and other poor behaviour can't simply pick and choose when they will discipline workers for misconduct, a Fair Work Commissioner has ruled.
Whether making one role redundant or hundreds, HR professionals have a crucial part to play in ensuring organisations meet their extensive legal obligations and avoid claims from current and ex-employees.
Watch this webcast to:
ensure redundancies are 'genuine' under the Fair Work Act;
understand employees' entitlements if positions are made redundant;
develop sound redundancy criteria that minimise legal risks;
fulfil consultation and redeployment obligations;
manage a safe internal 'paper trail' about decision-making;
handle interactions with unions; and
add real value to the C-suite by informing decision-makers about their obligations.
Businesses that use labour hire workers can reduce legal risks if they heed the lessons of a recent Fair Work Commission decision, which clarifies when a host will - and will not - be considered an employer, according to workplace lawyer Fiona Austin.
A small but important change to the Fair Work Act places extra hurdles around roster changes, and will affect most Australian employers, says Warwick Ryan of Swaab Attorneys.
An employer was right to sack a worker for making racist comments on a public two-way radio, despite the fact he had worked at the company for more than three decades and was under personal duress at the time, the Fair Work Commission has found.
Employers should view the Fair Work Commission's new anti-bullying laws as an opportunity, not a threat, according to lawyer Lesley Maclou, who says much of the publicity surrounding them is based on myths and misconceptions.
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.
