HR & Workplace Relations
Performance management conduct: the mistaken workplace bully – how you can keep the lines clear
For the first time, new workplace bullying laws enforced under the Fair Work Act 2009 since 1 January 2014 entitles workers to apply to Fair Work Commission for alleged workplace…
Read MoreAn end to bullying cultures: stamping out workplace bullying with a zero tolerance approach
Workplace bullying is a very real and pervasive problem in the Australian workforce cutting across all industries, all professions and all levels of the workforce – it can affect anyone…
Read MoreDismissal of “square peg in round hole” a blunt instrument to manage workplace performance
Dismissal of “square peg in round hole” a blunt instrument to manage workplace performance Effective performance management is crucial to organisational success. This includes fostering leadership behaviours that create a…
Read MoreChildcare worker fails to receive anti-bullying order from Fair Work Commission: prevention is the best cure when it comes to bullying
Employers have an obligation to create a safe workplace for employees. This includes protecting them from workplace hazards. Bullying is one such hazard. Employers who fail to protect employees from…
Read MoreFailed duty of care: management ignored noose placed above employee’s desk
Failed duty of care: management ignored noose placed above employee’s desk Managers, supervisors and employees each have a duty of care in the workplace. This involves taking the amount of…
Read More10 Tips for battling Bullying at work
Workplaces where bullying is a feature generally experience increased absenteeism, increased turnover, loss of productivity and higher frequency of workers’ compensation claims both physical and psychological. So what…
Read MoreFamily restaurant avoids bullying orders by changing workplace culture
A family restaurant that implemented positive measures after a bullying complaint has avoided anti-bullying orders being issued by the Fair Work Commission. A catering attendant made an anti-bullying application to Fair…
Read MoreMillion dollar payout for bullying: iHR Director of Workplace Relations John Boardman highlights why managers should not ignore bullying
A large construction company has learnt the hard way that bullying is not okay after being ordered to pay $1.3 million in damages after admitting it failed to prevent a…
Read MoreWorker loses $180,000 redundancy payout due to fraud – how an employer’s thorough workplace investigation stood up to judicial scrutiny
Worker loses $180,000 redundancy payout due to fraud – how an employer’s thorough workplace investigation stood up to judicial scrutiny Are you confident that your workplace investigation process is fair…
Read MorePerformance Management is not Bullying
Protecting workers from workplace hazards should be a key priority for employers. Workplace bullying is a major workplace hazard. Risks of workplace bullying include litigation, the possibility of psychological harm…
Read MoreYou abuse you lose: employee sacked for online bullying – the importance of responsible social media use
Writer, feminist and respected commentator Clementine Ford is “sick and tired” of the cyber-sexism and abusive trolling she experiences on a regular basis. And since perpetrators commonly act either by…
Read MoreWorkplace bullying in theory and in practice: Can you tell the difference?
Do your employees, managers and leaders have an understanding of what constitutes bullying and harassment at work? Just as importantly, do they know what steps to take if they experience…
Read MoreInformal mediation is not enough when addressing bullying allegations
A recent Fair Work Commission hearing vindicated two real estate employees who claimed they were threatened with violence, abused, belittled and humiliated at work. The employees had taken their…
Read MoreThe $10 billion problem we can’t ignore: effectively addressing mental health in the workplace
The $10 billion problem we can’t ignore: effectively addressing mental health in the workplace Australian organisations are starting to take the mental health of their employees as seriously as their…
Read MoreA case for regular human resource audits: Federal Court awards executive over $3 million due to breach of contract
A case for regular human resource audits: Federal Court awards executive over $3 million due to breach of contract Workplace laws are constantly changing and it is vital that human…
Read MoreClaimant ordered to pay $150,000 to employer: how a well-documented employee code of conduct can minimise business risks
Claimant ordered to pay $150,000 to employer: how a well-documented employee code of conduct can minimise business risks In a Federal Circuit Court ruling in March this year, having a…
Read More‘Clean desk’ policy performance management misconstrued as bullying
Employers need to be vigilant about creating fair and constructive workplace cultures that discourage bullying and discrimination. Ensuring that their leaders avoid certain management styles can reduce the risk of…
Read MoreNew bullying jurisdiction makes first finding, highlighting importance of flexible and rapid training for employees
In the first formal ruling since the inception of its January 2014 anti-bullying jurisdiction, the Fair Work Commission has found that two employees at a small real estate business were…
Read MoreDivisive, racist allegations lead to FWC hearing in the mismanagement of everyday performance
Divisive, racist allegations lead to FWC hearing in the mismanagement of everyday performance Success at work requires a team effort. Productivity can be affected if workplace culture is poor, with…
Read MoreBizarre “bullying” case demonstrates need for better understanding of policies and performance management
Allegations of bullying can have major consequences for both employers and employees in terms of time, cost and impacts on workplace culture. In an unusual case, a clerical support officer…
Read MoreUnion official’s frightening and abusive outburst highlights need for bullying protocols
Union official’s frightening and abusive outburst highlights need for bullying protocols The Federal Court recently found that a union organiser’s verbally abusive reaction to the request that his meetings with…
Read MoreDisabled worker wins $180,000 damages after employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments
Disabled worker wins $180,000 damages after employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments A NSW government agency must pay a former employee more than $180,000, plus interest, for economic loss, pain,…
Read MoreCommission ruling on pharmacy technician’s unfair dismissal highlights the necessity for quality advice for franchise operations
Commission ruling on pharmacy technician’s unfair dismissal highlights the necessity for quality advice for franchise operations The recent dismissal of a pharmacy dispensary technician, for not meeting “front of shop…
Read MoreBanker sacked over workplace affair – major workplace problems caused by poor leadership and perceptions of favouritism
Banker sacked over workplace affair – major workplace problems caused by poor leadership and perceptions of favouritism The notion of a manager conducting affairs with junior staff and favouring their…
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