For 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 […]
Most 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 […]
Employers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of a positive workplace culture. A workplace culture which helps foster happy employees can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and have a positive flow-on effect to customers. But just how can senior management get staff, particularly junior staff, to open up about how they feel? One excellent […]
There are many different skills which are required for an effective leader – such as excellent communication skills, perseverance, the ability to inspire and motivate staff, clarity of thought, and efficiency. But one detrimental trait that many leaders may possess is aggression. Although it is often accepted that a domineering personality seems to go […]
The Christmas tree is up, the fairy lights are lit, the bonbons are set on the table, the trifle is in the fridge – and you are sifting through your phone, replying to just one more email, tweaking just one more slide on the Powerpoint, making just one more phone call to a prospective […]
Mental Illness is highly prevalent in our society – 45% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives, and 20% will suffer from mental health issues during any given year. Given these statistics, employers will likely deal with at least a few employees who […]
When we think of bullying, the clichés of schoolyard taunts might spring to mind. Yet as we learn more about the wide-ranging techniques of bullying, it is clear that this deeply complex phenomenon can be hard to pin down. For example, being ignored, or made an outcast in any situation – ‘sent to […]
A disproportionately high number of allegations of bullying in emergency services and other high stress environments have led to a referral to the NSW parliament for an inquiry in May 2017, looking at the policy response to bullying, harassment, and discrimination in certain emergency services. A review is also being conducted by the Victorian […]
Where a complaint has been made by one staff member against another, and a workplace investigation takes place, all kinds of emotions can be running high. People participating in a workplace investigation, whether as complainants, respondents or even witnesses, can suffer symptoms of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as emotional […]
In conducting workplace investigations, both the alleged victim and perpetrator and potentially even witnesses may have an intensely personal reaction to the accusations. But what happens if one of the people involved in a workplace investigation has a mental illness or otherwise suffers from poor mental health? In this situation, a workplace investigation can be […]