HR & Workplace Relations
Aggressive railwayman dismissed for breaching company code of conduct: the value of detailed contracts and policies
Aggressive railwayman dismissed for breaching company code of conduct: the value of detailed contracts and policies The long-running case of a railway employee, dismissed for assaulting ticket inspectors after refusing…
Read MoreThe $6 billion issue: how safe is your workplace from the risk of drugs and alcohol misuse?
The $6 billion issue: how safe is your workplace from the risk of drugs and alcohol misuse? Australian organisations are increasingly impacted by drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace,…
Read More“A degree of unfairness”: explosives worker reinstated after Fair Work Commission criticises company’s dismissal procedure
“A degree of unfairness”: explosives worker reinstated after Fair Work Commission criticises company’s dismissal procedure The Fair Work Commission has ordered a major coal miner to reinstate an employee…
Read MoreAnti-bullying order avoided after bosses reform behaviour
The FWC has declined to make an order against a radiology company found to have bullied an employee, saying its recent “careful attention to procedural fairness” made it unlikely its…
Read MoreTeacher stripped of classroom duties after 49 complaints – the importance of the selection and interviewing process in achieving “best fit” employees
Teacher stripped of classroom duties after 49 complaints – the importance of the selection and interviewing process in achieving “best fit” employees A teacher who allegedly let students play knife…
Read More“Pommy bastard” attacks on army officer lead to pension award – how managers can impact workplace cultures
“Pommy bastard” attacks on army officer lead to pension award – how managers can impact workplace cultures A British army major, who was harassed and called a “pommy bastard” by…
Read MoreI will “cut your tongue out”: dismissal of mineworker who raised broken glass to co-worker’s throat upheld
I will “cut your tongue out”: dismissal of mineworker who raised broken glass to co-worker’s throat upheld The Fair Work Commission has rejected a “things are different on a mining…
Read More“A catastrophic fall from grace”: sacking of doping and groping pilot underlines need to protect staff via thorough workplace investigations.
“A catastrophic fall from grace”: sacking of doping and groping pilot underlines need to protect staff via thorough workplace investigations The Fair Work Commission full bench has rejected a sacked…
Read MoreAggro manager uses LinkedIn as a tool of abuse – the importance of selecting employees who are the “right fit”.
Aggro manager uses LinkedIn as a tool of abuse – the importance of selecting employees who are the “right fit” The Fair Work Commission has refused to reverse the dismissal…
Read More“Toxic” husband and wife bully-fest ends in court: the importance of establishing a healthy workplace culture
A court has upheld a management consultancy’s sacking of a senior employee for her role in bullying her colleagues and creating a “toxic” work environment. It also found that they…
Read More“Treated like a slave” – is it bullying or managing?
A senior public servant who alleged his manager treated him like a “slave” has failed to win anti-bullying orders, with the Fair Work Commission finding the management of his performance…
Read MoreFisticuffs, the sack and legal action after homophobic remarks – mediate before it’s too late
Fisticuffs, the sack and legal action after homophobic remarks – mediate before it’s too late An employer has had an expensive and time-consuming trip to the Fair Work Commission after…
Read MoreBullying round the clock: how out-of-hours social media activity can be a risk for employers
A recent Fair Work Commission Full Bench decision has further clarified when out-of-hours social media activity can constitute workplace bullying. Both port operator DP World and the Maritime Union of…
Read More“You will be kicked out”: “low-level anger” and “heavy-handed” treatment of childcare worker not necessarily bullying
The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a Melbourne childcare worker who received “heavy handed” treatment from her boss and intolerance and low-level anger from a colleague was not bullied…
Read MorePeed off: truck driver’s compo win after dismissal for urinating on client’s warehouse underlines need for challenging conversations
Peed off: truck driver’s compo win after dismissal for urinating on client’s warehouse underlines need for challenging conversations The Fair Work Commission has awarded a truck driver $16,128 in unfair…
Read MoreFondling leads to $730,000 payout after employer decides to ignore complaint: how risky management styles can cost your business
Fondling of breasts and buttocks leads to $730,000 payout after employer decides to ignore complaint: how risky management styles can cost your business An employer has discovered the risks associated…
Read MoreMultiple partners: polyamorous church employee’s “discriminatory” dismissal upheld
Multiple partners: polyamorous church employee’s “discriminatory” dismissal upheld A Brisbane family services co-ordinator claimed that she was sacked by a church-run community organisation because she was “polyamorous”. However, a court…
Read MoreBank lawyer “nervous and anxious” after performance management: is it really bullying?
A bank’s management of an under-performing lawyer fell short of “the best human resources practice” and was not “entirely beyond criticism”, but did not constitute bullying under the Fair Work…
Read MoreDismissed fast food employee trashes store in front of customers – how to avoid this by building a high performance culture
Dismissed fast food employee trashes store in front of customers – how to avoid this by building a high performance culture Workplace cultures can range from the sublime to the…
Read MorePunted after forged email scandal: tight contract and professional investigation underpins summary dismissal of bank senior executive
Punted after forged email scandal: tight contract and professional investigation underpins summary dismissal of bank senior executive A tight employment contract and a highly professional forensic investigation have enabled a…
Read More“Men, not angels”: procedural fairness gaps lead to overturned dismissals, despite two investigations
“Men, not angels”: procedural fairness gaps lead to overturned dismissals, despite two investigations A global smelting company had a valid reason to sack two workers for a history of…
Read MoreHard grind: nearly 2 years of negotiations for a 3 year enterprise agreement
Hard grind: nearly 2 years of negotiations for a 3 year enterprise agreement The Fair Work Commission has approved a three-year staff agreement for a rail freight operator that took…
Read MoreName, rank and serial number – grocer caned for “unreasonable” information requests during recruitment of job applicants
Name, rank and serial number – grocer caned for “unreasonable” information requests during recruitment of job applicants A grocery chain discriminated against online job applicants by requiring them to provide…
Read MoreBully boy behaviour on the high seas? Federal Court rules subsequent investigation flawed
Bully boy behaviour on the high seas? Federal Court rules subsequent investigation flawed A shipping company breached an officer’s contract of employment and failed to follow its discrimination policy when…
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