Mediations
“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 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 MoreUnfair dismissal of brawling hardware worker overruled because of “Year 11” style workplace investigation
The Fair Work Commission has found a major hardware chain employee was unfairly dismissed after a brawl with a co-worker following a bungled workplace investigation. In the Fair Work Commission’s…
Read More“The IP? It’s with me!” Workplace investigation does not stand up to court scrutiny during commercial confidentiality case
The Federal Court has refused to compel three employees to hand over documents to their former employer to help it decide whether to sue them for breaching contract and corporations…
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…
Read MoreThongless Thursday: ACT police porn tweet saga blamed on employee
The dangers of social media were “laid bare” during the Christmas/New Year period when the ACT Policing official Twitter account retweeted a pornographic image and followed the account. The tweet,…
Read More10 year legal battle, 60,000 word judgment – how workplace conflict can get out of control
10 year legal battle, 60,000 word judgment – how workplace conflict can get out of control In organisations of more than one person, work is a team enterprise. The…
Read MoreBully buckers? FWC issues only one anti-bullying order under new regime
The Fair Work Commission has issued just one anti-bullying order, despite over 500 complaints being made under its new anti-bullying jurisdiction up to the end of September 2014. The FWC’s…
Read MoreToo scared to manage: public service sickie plague worsens as managers fear bullying complaints
Too scared to manage: public service sickie plague worsens as managers fear bullying complaints. A sickie epidemic in our nation’s capital is growing out of control as fear of…
Read MoreCompany cops $19,000 penalty for failing to consult on redundancies
Company cops $19,000 penalty for failing to consult on redundancies The CFMEU has persuaded a mining company to wear a major fine by consent for failing to consult with the…
Read MoreSacked mum sues over sexual harassment
A mum who sold lingerie is chasing compensation in court, claiming she was sacked after rejecting her boss’s advances. The woman, who ran a Melbourne outlet store, was at a…
Read MoreBullying 24/7? What constitutes being bullied “at work”?
At first glance, the definition of the “workplace” in the context of bullying seems straightforward. However, with the increased prevalence of electronic communications, including smart phones and social media, this…
Read MoreWorkers lodge first complaint against union under new bullying laws
Workers lodge first complaint against union under new bullying laws. In the first action against a union under the federal workplace bullying laws, three workers have applied for stop bullying…
Read MoreTrickle of bullying cases under new Fair Work regime, but employers must still take care
Trickle of bullying cases under new Fair Work regime, but employers must still take care Despite the small number of cases considered by the Fair Work Commission’s new anti-bullying jurisdiction,…
Read More5 Toxic Workplace Personalities and how to manage them
Every organisation has them – the people with challenging personalities who contribute to on-going conflict in the workplace. Let’s look at the worst of these and how best to manage…
Read MoreWorkplace bullying linked to law enforcement suicide
Allegations have emerged in the news this week that workplace bullying could have contributed to the suicide of a law enforcement agency employee. An inquiry by the Coroner is currently…
Read MoreEmployer not liable for Christmas party punch
An employee who was seriously injured during an altercation at a work Christmas celebration who attempted to sue his employer for breaching its duty of care has lost his case.…
Read MoreThe risks of non-communication in the management ‘cockpit’
Does your organisation have cracks in the fuselage? The aviation industry puts forward the case for communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence in the ‘cockpit’ of organisations. Aviation Safety Regulators…
Read MoreContagious culture – a high risk epidemic?
A significant contributing factor in the cause of complaints within organisations is ‘workplace culture’, a term broadly defined as ‘the way we do things around here’. A recent BRW…
Read MoreIn boss we trust: building confidence in management
What are the risks of workers having low levels of confidence in management and what can employers do about it? In iHR Australia’s May 2014 survey on workplace investigations,…
Read MoreWhy managers ask Google for HR advice
Evidence from two recently released reports shows that many HR teams feel they are struggling to be effective due to being under-resourced, overworked and undervalued. HR team members have…
Read MoreGovernment office says sorry for racial harassment
A government employee who suffered years of racial abuse has received an apology from his former employer. The Melbourne based employee was repeatedly abused by a colleague who made threats…
Read MorePilots’ tiff leads to mid-air drama
Two pilots from a major airline were stood down after an incident on a flight led to unnecessary panic with the cabin crew subsequently offered counselling. The problem occurred on a…
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