Legislation & regulation | Page 61 (704 items)

A Sydney worker who defied an instruction from his supervisor has failed to convince Fair Work Australia his conduct did not warrant dismissal because of his supervisor's rude, bullying tone.

A Commonwealth Bank manager who so dreaded reporting his branch's poor customer service results to his peers that he attempted suicide has been awarded compensation by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Cascading restraint-of-trade clauses have traditionally been difficult to enforce, but a recent judgment clarifies the circumstances in which employers can rely on them to protect their interests, says Lander & Rogers lawyers Mark Sullivan and Aaron Goonrey.

A Westpac manager who crossed the line between assisting an employee with personal and performance issues entered "dangerous territory", a South Australian Court has found.

With expectant parents already able to file claims with the Family Assistance Office, employers need to know how to answer employees' questions about the imminent paid parental scheme, say Lander and Rogers employment lawyers.

A Queensland employee who was sexually assaulted by a customer has been awarded almost $500,000 in damages after a court found her employer failed to address risks associated with working alone.

Intellectual property (IP) theft and fraud are rampant in the workplace, and can cost businesses millions of dollars in lost customers and eroded confidence, KordaMentha partner (forensic) Nigel Carson told a Kemp Strang briefing in Sydney last week.

Scheduling regular, systematic shifts for long-serving casuals will "enliven" their unfair dismissal rights, says Kemp Strang partner Lisa Berton.

Providing independent contractors with extra benefits carries with it an "obvious" risk, says Kemp Strang senior associate, Nick Noonan.

Employers who are wary of unfair dismissal claims should consider paying off poor performers - provided the pay-off remains confidential, says Freehills lawyer Natalie Spark.