Anyone who has been following the news recently will be aware that scandalous sexual relationships in the workplace have become something of a common theme. The stories of Seven West Chief Executive, Tim Worner and his former executive assistant (a relationship which ended in legal action), the forced resignations of senior AFL executives over […]
DetailsA suite of robust policies and procedures is an essential element of good governance in any organisation. Often employers discover that their policies and procedures are inadequate, only once their actions are reviewed by a tribunal or court. Adequate workplace policies are key mechanisms for outlining exactly what the standards of conduct are in […]
DetailsMaintaining workplace harmony should be a key focus of every organisation. Conflict in the workplace can lead to behaviours such as bullying, harassment and discrimination. Staff can lack motivation, fail to work as a team and be generally unhappy. So how can employers and staff deal with conflict, and encourage staff to work together […]
DetailsTo any outsider, the job of investigative interviewing seems fairly straightforward – questions are asked and then answers are provided. Yet as we know, the job of interviewing parties in the course of a workplace investigation can be anything but simple. For example, the investigative interviewer must ensure procedural fairness at every step along […]
DetailsMost employers and employees are likely have at least some contact with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) during their working lives. This might be as simple as obtaining information about award conditions and employee rights, or as contentious as appearing before the FWC in a workplace dispute or unfair dismissal matter. So how does […]
DetailsFor an employee who is on the receiving end of disciplinary action, performance management or a workplace investigation, it is an upsetting, and even a potentially traumatic experience. Every employee involved in such a process is entitled to have a support person present during any meetings or interviews. A failure to afford an employee […]
DetailsOrganisations are no doubt aware of the need to comply with anti-discrimination legislation, but actively encouraging cultural diversity in the workplace is becoming increasingly important – it can offer potential benefits far beyond simple compliance with the law. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits, and how organisations can manage cultural diversity. […]
DetailsMost employers are aware of the importance of conducting workplace investigations to deal with complaints or allegations. But what happens after the investigation is over? There may be a sense of disconnectedness, embarrassment, awkwardness or even anger amongst staff, particularly if disciplinary action has been taken or an employee has left the organisation. Although […]
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