Keep informed of the latest in HR and Workplace Relations. Subscribe to receive these article in your inbox.
Sacked 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…
Bullying 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…
Tattoo you! Do employers have the right to ban body piercing and visible tattoos?
Back in the day, tattoos were the province of sailors, prisoners, truck drivers and goths. Nowadays it seems like every twenty-something has one. But does one have the right to…
Company should have called in HR: pay cut refusal leads to unfair dismissal
A competent retail store manager sacked after refusing a substantial pay cut after a role change has won her unfair dismissal case – and this could have been avoided if…
Is flexible work fair to all? Sound policies and procedures the key
Flexible work is largely seen as a “good thing” – the greater inclusion of categories of workers such as parents and carers, the retention of talented staff, reduced commuting, better…
What reasonable steps should my organisation take?
Organisations are obligated to take ‘Reasonable Steps’ to protect employees from harassment, bullying and discrimination. ‘Reasonable steps’, is not defined in the Australian Legislation as what is ‘reasonable’ for large…
The six pillars of a mentally healthy workplace
Approximately 20% of your workforce are likely to be experiencing a mental health issue at any one time, with this percentage likely to increase steadily over the next twenty years.…
Seven Factors: Contributions to On-Going Conflict
Why some conflict is resolved easily while other situations continue? 1. Unwillingness to Resolve If someone has a grudge they might prefer to maintain the conflict just to annoy…
Stress city! Workplace culture crucial as WorkCover psychological claims soar
Workcover stress claims have overtaken wound claims for first time in Victoria, underlining the need for a constructive, safe and lawful workplace culture. Victoria’s two biggest worker compensation categories…
5 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…
Do employers choose beauty over brains?
Research shows that recruiters are more likely to hire good looking narcissists than those who are modest or whose appearance is average, so what does this mean for interviewers? …
Discipline or dismiss? Robust process needed says FWC
A case in which two workers were granted reinstatement shows the importance of procedural fairness in managing employees’ performance and conduct. The two workers had originally complained of bullying by their…
