While accepting an employer was entitled to issue a return-to-office directive, the Fair Work Commission has nonetheless ordered it to grant an exemption to an employee who requested to keep working remotely.
"Expedition and informality" are desirable in industrial relations litigation, but when it comes to termination settlements, "there can be no substitute for clearly recorded written terms of agreement", a commission has highlighted.
After his unreasonable actions caused an employer to spend $29k defending an unfair dismissal case, a paid agent has unsuccessfully argued for a stay of a costs order pending the outcome of his appeal.
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.
Poor perceptions of an HR function sometimes have no foundation in its performance, so the solution lies in reframing its achievements, according to an advisor.
Workplaces would be better if both leaders and employees paid more attention to how others are feeling, however certain types of empathy come with psychosocial risks, a leadership specialist and a neuroscientist warn.
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.
Complex workplace matters often involve "intense emotions", and it's important for HR not to overlook these in the parties, and themselves, when striving for resolution, according to a workplace relations specialist.
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.
An unexplained absence from work constituted abandonment of employment even though the employee was experiencing "extreme" mental health issues, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
