Browsing: Coronavirus, COVID-19 | Page 12

Under WHS laws, no risk assessment was necessary and workers were not required to be consulted prior to the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a commission has found in a decision directly affecting 24 sacked workers.

An unvaccinated risk and compliance manager who failed to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate has had her unfair dismissal case rejected for the second time, with a Fair Work Commission full bench dismissing her claims around privacy laws and remote arrangements.

A Qantas flight attendant who claimed she couldn't wear a face mask for medical reasons has been refused permission to have her unfair dismissal case heard by a Fair Work Commission full bench.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a rapid public health response that included work-from-home orders, disrupting traditional working patterns and leading to many companies adopting a flexible approach on a permanent basis. But remote work comes with the risk of multisite musculoskeletal pain, and employers must look beyond workstation set-ups to prevent it, Australian researchers have found.

The dismissal of an unvaccinated Northern Territory teacher has been found to be harsh and unfair, with the Fair Work Commission ruling that "no employee should be terminated for following their doctors' advice" to obtain a specialist's opinion on COVID-19 vaccines.

A worker sacked for smoking cannabis the night before his shift has lost his bid for an unfair dismissal remedy, with a commission rejecting his claim that the seriousness of his breach was mitigated by pandemic-induced stress and the fact he performed a clerical role.

If there is one silver lining from dealing with COVID-19, floods and fires over the past few years, it's that workers and others are now more willing to accept that their mental health can be affected and reach out for help, National Mental Health Commission CEO, Christine Morgan, has told the Comcare National Conference.

The dismissal of a paramedic with an otherwise unblemished work history for refusing a flu injection has been upheld by a commission, which rejected the worker's opinions on vaccinations and reiterated that it must "apply that law as it stands".

In a study that sends a warning to all employers with remote-work arrangements, Canadian researchers have found teachers involved in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced less predictable workflow and less support from supervisors and colleagues than teachers in classrooms, increasing their risk of burnout.

New workers, especially younger employees, can benefit from special training to improve "hardiness" and coping skills, according to researchers, who warn occupational burnout risks have increased with the COVID-19 pandemic.