What should you do when an employee wants to complain about bullying "off the record"? What is the role of a support person during investigations? Should you re-open an investigation when an employee provides fresh evidence? Lawyer Brad Petley answers these questions and more.
A Victorian employee who was sacked without notice for breaching her employer's "backbiting policy" was unfairly dismissed, Fair Work Australia has ruled, describing the policy as "an extremely blunt instrument".
Employers that fail to properly investigate workplace issues and complaints before taking action risk falling foul of the Fair Work Act's procedural fairness requirements, says workplace lawyer Brad Petley.
Sexual harassment is "incredibly widespread" in the Australian workforce - but the majority of cases are preventable, says Learning Seat general manager Tim Legge.
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.
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.
