Court rulings show how important it is to draft contracts clearly, and to include simple clauses that can protect organisations from expensive litigation, but many employers still haven't learned the lessons, says Hynes Legal associate director, Kristin Duff.
Employers are only beginning to realise the potential impact of LinkedIn on their ability to retain business contacts, enforce post-employment restraints, and avoid costly claims, according to DLA Piper Australia senior associate Elizabeth Ticehurst.
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.
It is acceptable for an employer to require a medical certificate to cover certain absences and not others, but not to place an "arbitrary" limit on the number of times it will accept an alternative, according to the Fair Work Commission.
In this 15-minute podcast, lawyer Malcolm Burrows answers 11 big questions about the role of HR in monitoring and managing employees' social media activity.
HR professionals who limit their messages about strategies and initiatives to facts will struggle to convince people of their merit, according to communication specialists Gabrielle Dolan and Yamini Naidu.
Drug and alcohol testing policies that follow industry and Australian standards are more likely to be considered reasonable - and therefore enforceable - than those that depart from standard practice, according to employment lawyer Erin Rice.
Do your organisation's policies focus on what employees shouldn't do? Embedding positive language in all HR processes improves productivity, engagement and employee health, according to a psychologist.
