Two state governments today introduced domestic and family violence leave for public sector employees, while Labor has vowed to make such leave a "universal workplace right" if it wins the next Federal election.
In the lead up to White Ribbon Day this week, new research has shown employers can provide workers with paid domestic violence leave at minimal cost, while White Ribbon Australia has accredited 14 employers for amending their workplace policies to tackle domestic violence.
A coalition of business leaders has released a new guide explaining how employers can significantly reduce the prevalence and impact of domestic violence through a three-level model. Also in this article, the Fair Work Commission has rejected an appeal against a domestic-violence-related ruling.
A worker's dismissal for fighting was harsh given his employer's history of tolerating "foul language" from both managers and employees, the Fair Work Commission has found.
The Fair Work Commission has outlined what not to do when dealing with workplace conflict, in finding an employer had a valid reason to sack a worker for "quickly and unnecessarily" escalating an altercation.
The Federal Court has rejected a national employer's claim that the High Court's motel s-x decision established a new test that applies to all worker injuries, rather than just injuries sustained during an interval in an overall period of work.
A host employer breached the Victorian manual handling regulations by allowing psychiatric patients to have access to a jug of water, which could be used as a weapon and force workers to become involved in a "physical intervention", the County Court has found.
The Queensland Government has promised to introduce domestic violence leave, tackle workplace bullying, and adopt all recommendations of an independent review of sexual harassment and bullying among firefighters.
A worker's actions in repeatedly phoning a colleague after work hours constituted dismissible harassment, but his HR manager's "heavy handed" response to the incident, as well as her fabricated evidence, rendered the sacking unfair, the Fair Work Commission has found.
