Recent decisions show the Fair Work Commission doesn't shy away from ordering reinstatement after employees have breached workplace D&A policies, and there's a high bar for appealing these rulings, a lawyer says.
Referring to an employee's "body proportions" when directing her to comply with a uniform policy was unacceptable, but it didn't force her to resign, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
"Knowingly and repeatedly" flouting directions not to catch up on work after hours amounted to serious misconduct, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in rejecting an employee's unfair dismissal claim.
Despite an employee's "extensive" disciplinary history, a Fair Work Commission appeal bench has rejected arguments that his behaviour indicated he was unwilling to comply with workplace policies, and ordered his reinstatement.
An HR business partner's "minimal understanding" of the policy relied on to sack an employee "significantly" undermined the fairness of the dismissal, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
A viral 'kiss cam' incident has captured the world's attention as an example of "executive enforcers getting their comeuppance", a workplace lawyer says, but it also raises some important considerations for HR practitioners.
A reinstatement order for a long-serving employee who was sacked for breaching a workplace D&A policy has been upheld, after a Fair Work Commission full bench found the decision wasn't "unreasonable or plainly unjust".
Many organisations could tighten up their processes for recruiting and managing employees who work with vulnerable people, but according to a compliance expert, there's also a major opportunity to overhaul accreditation and background-checking at a national level.
A Fair Work Commission full bench has denied an employer permission to appeal against reinstating a sacked worker, ruling there were no errors in a previous finding that the dismissal was valid, but unreasonable.
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.
