"Big black b-stard" was not a racial slur: FWC
An employee's dismissal for making a racial comment was unfair because his employer didn't properly consider the context of the remark, the Fair Work Commission has ruled. » more »
Bullying, harassment & misconduct (497 items)
Procedural deficiency didn't undermine misconduct dismissal; Conversion rights extended; and more
An employee's dismissal for misleading clients was fair despite his employer's lack of prior warnings, the Fair Work Commission has found. Also in this article: rulings on complaints management and s-xual harassment; casual conversion rights extended; the most important skill for the future of work; and more. » more »
Harassment complaints should prompt broader culture reviews
Workplace academics have called on HR professionals to take informal harassment complaints more seriously, and assess the extent to which their organisational culture tolerates bad behaviour. » more »
Employer slammed in culture review; In-demand HR skillsets; and more
An employer's HR practices have been scrutinised in a workplace bullying review, revealing inferior grievance management and recruitment processes. Also in this article, why bored managers design boring jobs; HR's expanding role and skillset; and more. » more »
Coles was right to sack manager who became "a pest": FWC
A manager should have recognised that his behaviour towards younger female employees would come across as "odd" and "obsessive", the Fair Work Commission has ruled in rejecting his unfair dismissal claim. » more »
Misconduct resignations can backfire on employers
The offer of resignation from an employee who has engaged in misconduct isn't always the quick fix it appears for employers, a lawyer warns. » more »
Misconduct dismissals: 'Anti-management' behaviour, threats and aggression
An employer acted reasonably in sacking an employee who tried to undermine managers, the Fair Work Commission has ruled. Also in this article, two misconduct-related dismissals upheld despite their procedural defects. » more »
NDA waivers: A "grey area"
Employers considering waiving confidentiality agreements to assist the s-xual harassment inquiry might be best served by weighing the legal and other implications on a case-by-case basis, a workplace lawyer says. » more »
FWC orders reinstatement of 'workplace dinosaur'
A long-serving employee with a history of misconduct has successfully claimed unfair dismissal, despite the Fair Work Commission likening him to a workplace "dinosaur". » more »
"Scientific" fat remark was bullying
An employee who claimed her comments about a supervisor's weight were a "scientific fact" rather than bullying has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission she was unfairly dismissed. » more »
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