A national review has recommended stronger laws to prevent discrimination against pregnant employees and parents, while also highlighting some leading practices by employers in relation to parental leave and pregnancy.
Prioritising shared values ahead of technical skills when recruiting staff is one of the keys to high engagement levels at Swinburne Online, according to its head of HR.
The challenges of managing work from home and employee flexibility aren't a new phenomenon brought about by the internet - new research shows many aspects of the discussion around 'telework' haven't changed in 40 years.
New federal government incentives for employing older workers are an improvement on past initiatives, but organisations need to work on their own retention and recruitment processes to take full advantage of the scheme, according to experts.
Flexible work arrangements might be on the rise in most industries, but in some the traditions of long work hours and hard-nosed ambition still get in the way. Here is how one HR team made it work in a conservative culture.
Engaging independent contractors used to be "relatively easy", but the contract clauses that previously protected organisations from contractor claims are not as defensible as they once were, according to Ashurst senior associate, Taboka Finn.
From 1 April, organisations with more than 100 employees will need to report on the gender composition of their workforce and boards, along with their gender pay equity strategies, and more.
Many organisations will find themselves without a pipeline of professional female talent if they don't take steps soon to mainstream flexibility, according to a panel of diversity experts.
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.
Allowing employees to work from home as well as the office can increase productivity and engagement, but instead of adopting a whole-of-company approach to introducing and managing telework, many employers are allowing it on an ad hoc basis, says expert Nina Sochon.
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.
