Employer Took "Protectionist" Approach to Alleged Harasser's Wellbeing
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) found Metro Trains Melbourne prioritized the accused harasser over the complainant in a sexual harassment dispute. The Commission highlighted that two HR professionals could not confirm whether the employer had a formal policy or procedure for handling such allegations. The Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (RTBU) argued the employer breached clause 2.30 of its enterprise agreement by failing to respond appropriately. Commissioner Julia Fox described the employer’s handling as "troubling" and protectionist.
Audit the Acts that "Accumulate Into Trust" To Boost Psychosocial Safety
HR consultant Sophie Bretag argues that genuine psychological safety stems from countless intentional micro‑behaviors rather than large‑scale programs. In her book *The Kind Way*, she highlights actions like crediting team members, inviting diverse input, and interrupting bias as trust‑building moments....
Employee Attributed "Malign Motivation" To Casual Conversion Refusal
The Federal Circuit Court dismissed a 72‑year‑old utilities management technician’s general‑protections claim that his employer unlawfully refused to convert his casual role to a permanent position. The judge concluded the employer acted for sound operational reasons, not because of the...
FWC Full Bench Overturns Dismissal of S-Xual Harassment Dispute
A full bench of the Fair Work Commission overturned a member’s dismissal of a sexual‑harassment dispute, ruling the claim was valid even though some alleged incidents occurred before the Respect@Work reforms. The employee, who said her manager harassed her from...
"Rest Deficit" Is Compromising Energy, Productivity and Wellbeing
Penelope Barr, a veteran transformation leader, argues that sleep is a high‑impact productivity tool. After years of embracing a "hero" mindset of sleepless hustle, she adopted intentional rest and authored *Win the Night to Win the Day*. The book details...
Employee with "Potential" Was Unfairly Sacked for Poor Performance
The Fair Work Commission ruled that Flynn Corporate unfairly dismissed a real‑estate associate after 18 months, finding the employer did not give her a fair chance to improve performance. The employee had been warned in a December 2025 review to...
FWC Rejects Host Employer's Objection to Non-Employee's GP Claim
The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a general protections dismissal claim can proceed against a host entity even when the worker is not directly employed by that entity. The claimant, engaged by Valuable Consulting and placed with Team Downer...
EA Amendments Don't Require Employer's Consent Before Approval: FWC Full Bench
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled that it does not need an employer’s consent to amend an enterprise agreement that fails the better‑off‑overall test (BOOT). The full bench affirmed that while the Commission must seek parties’ views, no party can...
"Bizarre" Bullying Claims Rejected in Psych Injury Dispute
An NSW Personal Injury Commission tribunal rejected a nursing assistant’s claim for psychological injury, finding her bullying allegations were not supported by objective evidence. The employee, who worked for Opal Healthcare, alleged that 80‑90% of coworkers harassed her with name‑calling,...
Fair Work Act Amendments Target Dismissal Disputes
The Australian government introduced the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026, which would amend the Fair Work Act to let the Fair Work Commission resolve dismissal disputes without a formal hearing. The bill empowers the Commission to...
Creating Time for AI Experimentation Key to ROI
Atlassian’s recent internal research shows only 24% of AI projects target team outcomes, even though knowledge workers spend about 80% of their time collaborating. The company’s HR vice‑president Alicia Lenart argues that a culture of experimentation is essential to capture...
"Experiment Mindset", Not Goal-Setting, Helps Leaders Achieve Personal Growth
Leadership coach Tamsin Simounds argues that traditional tools such as SMART goals, five‑year plans, KPIs and performance reviews keep executives fixated on a finish line but rarely drive genuine personal growth. In her new book, *The Experiment Mindset*, she proposes...
Leaders' Performance Evaluations Affected by "Gender Criteria Gap"
A new study of discretionary payment decisions reveals a "gender criteria gap" in performance evaluations. Women must achieve markedly higher outcomes than men to secure bonuses, while men often receive bonuses even with modest results if they are well‑regarded. The...
Projecting Too Much Confidence Comes at a Price for Leaders
Leadership advisor Patricia Malay warns that managers who feign confidence often alienate their teams, making employees less likely to speak openly. Drawing on two decades of work with Asia‑Pacific executives, she notes the phenomenon is especially prevalent among high‑performing leaders...
Consecutive PIPs Were "Challenging", But Didn't Force Employee to Quit
The Fair Work Commission ruled that placing an employee on a second performance improvement plan (PIP) does not amount to constructive dismissal. Commissioner Sarah McKinnon found ING Bank continued to support the worker, showing no intention to end the employment relationship....