The recent media attention on sexual misconduct in Hollywood is a turning point; what may have been considered ‘innocent flirting’ in the 70s and 80s is increasingly being called what it is – unwanted harassment. The public condemnation of film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s conduct has emboldened people to come forward with allegations of sexual […]
At a time when workers increasingly work remotely, communicate online or use hot desks, the annual staff Christmas party is a valuable opportunity to get everyone interacting face to face. A Christmas party is also a good way of getting staff who rarely see one another during the working week to meet, to reward […]
Sexual harassment and predatory behaviour can happen to anybody. When most people think about this type of conduct, it is generally in the context of male-to-female harassment or, perhaps more rarely, female-to-male harassment. However, this is simply not the case – sexual harassment can be perpetrated by anybody towards anybody. A recent decision of […]
When claims of abuse in care come to light, strong emotions can arise for all concerned. It is not surprising that when an unexplained injury is uncovered, family members, care staff, and employers will want immediate answers. However, it is vital that employers maintain clear thinking and remain objective when investigating allegations of abuse […]
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 […]
No employer likes to think that one of their staff members might deal inappropriately with a client, or even could possibly commit a criminal act. But all employers need to be aware of the potential for professional boundaries to be crossed in these ways. This is particularly important for organisations that work directly with […]
Maintaining professional distance in the workplace can be challenging at the best of times. There is a very fine line between managing interpersonal relationships, ensuring that colleagues and co-workers get along with each other, and developing such close relationships that potential conflicts of interest or social problems arise. This juggle has become even more […]
A Code of Conduct sets out the ‘golden rules’ or guidelines in which employers and industry bodies codify acceptable standards of behaviour in the workplace. Individual businesses can develop their own Codes of Conduct applicable to their specific interests. Many professional bodies also implement standardised Codes of Conduct covering behaviour which is perceived as […]
During the seventies and eighties, organisations started to realise that the improper use of power and authority and undeclared and/or ineffectively managed conflicts of interest, posed a significant risk to their integrity and public trust. The requirement for ethical business dealings focuses the spotlight on conflicts of interests and the factors involved in creating […]
Should the outcome of a workplace investigation be taken on review, the integrity of the evidence, amongst other aspects, will come under scrutiny. In cases where documentary evidence is relevant, it can be valuable to present expert evidence or obtain an opinion from a document examiner. But as a recent NSW case involving document […]