HR professionals who encounter suspicious medical certificates are entitled to question them, but "you should be very sure of your facts before putting allegations to employees", according to Workplace Law managing director Athena Koelmeyer.
What are your options when an employee is sick after exhausting all leave entitlements? Have you ever been given a medical certificate that seems less than legit? Watch this webcast to understand how to manage personal leave in a legally sound way.
A recent court case sends a timely reminder that whenever HR professionals communicate something negative about an employee to anyone other than that person, they should beware of defamation risks, says Lander and Rogers partner Neil Napper.
Employers of people who work alone, are geographically isolated, or have the potential to be alone when working late or travelling on the job, must take reasonable steps to minimise associated risks - even if that means doubling their staffing, says Kemp Strang partner Lisa Berton.
Recent changes to the Fair Work Act provide further motivation for employers to ensure their staff know what bullying is - and what it's not, according to Workplace Solutions director Fay Calderone.
The Fair Work Act's bullying amendments will make it more difficult for employers to address performance issues at work, according to Maddocks partner, Ross Jackson.
It is now far easier for the government to prosecute employers whose staff breach their visa requirements - and ignorance will provide no defence, according to migration law specialist Enza Iannella.
Anti-bullying amendments to the Fair Work Act, due to take effect in January next year, could lead to a spate of psychological injury claims that will be extremely difficult to defend, warns employment lawyer Brad Swebeck.
Initial concerns about the impact on employers of the Fair Work Act's adverse action provisions have proven to be unfounded, but employers should expect to face more claims now that case law has clarified the way it operates, says employment lawyer Amanda Harvey.
Rulings handed down since the commencement of the Fair Work Act's adverse action provisions have clarified some of the mystery around their operation and contain important lessons for employers.
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.
