The Fair Work Act allows for greater union involvement in the workplace, an IR lawyer says, and smart employers are fostering positive relationships with employees and their representatives in an effort to cement long-term growth.
Fair Work Australia's first good faith bargaining order should spur employers to put more thought and preparation into negotiations than was necessary under the old legislation, according to an employment lawyer.
An alternative mediation technique might be more suitable for resolving workplace conflicts than traditional problem-solving approaches, says Livingstones Australia principal consultant, Katy Russell.
Changes to disability discrimination laws and other human rights legislation that take effect next week will make it easier for aggrieved employees to establish they were discriminated against, a workplace relations lawyer warns.
The "adverse action" provisions under the new industrial relations legislation will compel employers to be more cautious when making decisions that affect employees, according to workplace lawyer Alex Manos.
A recent tribunal ruling will come as a comfort to employers targeted by unreasonable unfair dismissal claims, according to Deacons partner Sarah Ralph.
Learning and development, OHS and change management are the HR areas receiving the most recruitment demand from employers this quarter, according to staffing firm Hays.
Paid maternity leave increases the chances that new and expectant mums will remain "attached" to the workforce and quickly return to their pre-birth employers, according to researchers from Deakin University.
A $466,000 damages award is a timely reminder of how devastating the effects of workplace sexual harassment can be on both the victim and the employer if the issue is dealt with poorly, says Harriet Stacey of WISE Workplace Investigations.
