The number of employers cited in the Federal Government's 2010 employer of choice for women list has dropped to 95, down from 111 last year and 99 in 2008.
Problems with difficult employees never resolve themselves and, if left unaddressed, can expose employers to legal risks, says workplace lawyer Brad Petley.
Most employers leave it to their accounts department to determine what does and does not constitute a business expense, but it is line managers who often "sign off" on expenditure, says iHR DirEx director Geoff Churcher.
A recent court case and fines totalling $330,000 show that employers with knowledge of inappropriate behaviour at work "have to do something about it", says Sparke Helmore special counsel, Adam Saunders.
Romantic relationships in the workplace can create a legal "minefield", but policies that are too prescriptive can offend employees, send the wrong message and weaken a company's competitive edge, says HR commentator Kate Southam.
Employers that support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) workers enjoy greater employee commitment, says former High Court Justice Michael Kirby.
Employers should resist giving departing workers references - regardless of their achievements - in favour of a simple "statement of service", says Hicksons workplace relations practice manager Brad Swebeck.
Employers should take advantage of probation periods to actively manage and assess the performance of new employees, says Freehills workplace relations lawyer Shivchand Jhinku.
End-of-year celebrations have always been fraught with risk, but the proliferation of mobile devices adds "e-harassment" to the list of potential risks employers must address, according to lawyer Lisa Berton.
As the job market strengthens and inter-company movement increases, employers will be more likely to pursue litigation to guard their assets, predicts Harmers Workplace Lawyers partner Shana Schreier-Joffe.
General protections claims are the fastest-growing category of applications in the Fair Work Commission, with reforms now underway to stem the tide. This webinar will discuss important developments in both procedural issues and case law.
