On occasion, police will become involved and/or need to be involved in the allegations from a workplace matter. In this situation, it’s important for employers to know what their obligations are, and to be aware of some of the challenges that can arise. So, let’s take a look at when police are or may need […]
When a workplace investigation is required, there may occasionally be good reason to seek legal professional privilege regarding the findings. This is particularly the case in matters that may require criminal investigation, such as fraud, theft or sexual harassment. So, is it sufficient to engage a law firm when undertaking workplace investigation if you wish […]
Sexual abuse of people with a disability is a crime that unfortunately is often misunderstood, undetected and ultimately overlooked by organisations. Individuals with a disability are often uniquely vulnerable to sexual and other forms of abuse and deserve both strong protection and swift action in relation to any such allegations. Organisations responsible for the […]
The recent media attention on sexual misconduct in Hollywood is a turning point; what may have been considered ‘innocent flirting’ in the 70s and 80s is increasingly being called what it is – unwanted harassment. The public condemnation of film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s conduct has emboldened people to come forward with allegations of sexual […]
No employer likes to think that one of their staff members might deal inappropriately with a client, or even could possibly commit a criminal act. But all employers need to be aware of the potential for professional boundaries to be crossed in these ways. This is particularly important for organisations that work directly with […]
Should the outcome of a workplace investigation be taken on review, the integrity of the evidence, amongst other aspects, will come under scrutiny. In cases where documentary evidence is relevant, it can be valuable to present expert evidence or obtain an opinion from a document examiner. But as a recent NSW case involving document […]
A wrap-up of the Children, Justice and Communication Conference at Portsmouth University, May 2017. Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Children, Justice and Communication Conference at Portsmouth in the UK. The conference is hosted by some of the world’s leading academics and practitioners working in the areas of child sexual exploitation, […]
It is a great tragedy that the most vulnerable people in society – children, the elderly and the disabled – often fall victim to the most heinous types of abuse in care settings. In some cases, the abuse can be obvious, such as when there is physical assault that results in visible injuries. At other […]
It is quite clear that employers in aged, disability and other care environments do their best to keep staff and clients safe, yet one dark phenomenon that can raise its ugly head in care contexts is abuse by carers. For many complex reasons, vulnerable people such as the aged, children, and disability clients, can […]
When vulnerable individuals in our society are subjected to abuse by their carers, our response as a community is understandably one of outrage. It seems beyond belief that this could happen. But the sad reality is that some individuals within aged care facilities, disability care contexts, at home or in childcare centres can face abuse […]