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Depression is not a sackable offence
Depression affects around one in six Australians at some stage in their lives. In any given year, more than 1 million Australian adults experience the symptoms of depression, meaning this…
Heads Up: good mental health is good for bottom line
Australian mental health association beyondblue, in conjunction with the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, has recently launched a landmark campaign aimed towards improving mental health outcomes in Australian businesses. The nationwide…
Workplace investigators, watch your mouths
Placing emphasis on a word, adopting a positive tone or expressing empathy during an interview do not typically lead to trouble but, when undertaking a workplace investigation, interviewers must be…
“Borderline” behaviour not bullying under FW Act
When an individual is subject to unreasonable and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, it can be easy to assume this automatically constitutes bullying or harassment. However, a recent decision from the…
Does it matter if your colleagues like you?
We cannot like everyone we work with but how serious is it if colleagues do not get on and what can employers do to address a hostile environment? Unfortunately,…
What is unlawful discrimination?
Under Federal and State legislation, Unlawful Discrimination occurs when someone, or a group of people, is treated less favourably than another person or group because of their race, colour, national…
Religious minorities face workplace discrimination
Alongside the current debate in Australia regarding the proposed changes to the Race Discrimination Act, news from our neighbours shows that discrimination concerns are not without basis. According to…
4 alternatives to the sack
When an employee’s performance is less than shining, it can be tempting for employers to begin seeking ways to exit the employee from the organisation. The decision to let someone go…
Defamation danger: a workplace investigation risk?
The decision to conduct a workplace investigation most often arises from an employee complaint. Such a complaint will often contain accusations that may harm a person’s reputation, leading to a…
Is Australia ready for the increased pension age?
As the population continues to age, the budget released earlier this week sees Australian officials proposing to raise the official retirement age to 70, but are businesses ready to hire…
Badmouthing the boss: Stress release or something more serious?
Employees expressing angst on social media may be undesirable for employers but how far can an organisation go into workers’ personal lives? Traditionally, venting frustrations about work meant coming home…
Do all complaints need workplace investigations?
When an employee makes an informal or seemingly trivial complaint about a colleague’s behaviour, is it always necessary to conduct a full workplace investigation? Employers often have to make tough…
