The High Court's ruling that Australian contracts do not impose a duty of trust and confidence is a welcome one for employers, but not a green light to ignore their own policies and procedures, an employment law specialist says.
A case in which an HR manager was sacked for sharing her employer's policies and documents raises some questions about investigations and surveillance in the workplace, according to DLA Piper partner Brett Feltham.
Organisations should put more focus on people skills when appointing line managers, and provide training to prevent bullying grievances boiling over into court, according to Fair Work Commission senior deputy president Jonathan Hamberger.
Senior leaders are more positive about their organisations' support for LGBTI inclusion than their staff, according to a survey report that says perceptions of workplace initiatives aren't matching up with people's experiences, and that some employees still believe gay jokes and innuendo are "harmless fun".
Using lawyers to conduct workplace investigations enables employers to protect information under legal privilege, but only if the process is handled correctly, according to Kemp Strang senior associate Ben Urry.
A costly s-xual harassment case reinforces the importance of extending unlawful conduct training to all workplace participants, not just direct employees, according to an employment law specialist.
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.
A purely policy-driven approach to workplace bullying will not change behaviour because it only tackles the issue at a logical level, according to professional speaker and trainer Blythe Rowe.
Carefully drafted employment contracts are an employer's best protection against post-employment disputes in the relatively uncharted legal area of social media ownership, according to lawyer Chloe Conway.
The Federal Government's proposed paid parental leave scheme is a positive move for small businesses, but could force a difficult decision on large employers with generous paid leave initiatives already in place, according to Diversity Council Australia CEO, Lisa Annese.
