As 2019 begins and we think of our hopes for Australian workplaces, top of our minds is accountability for delivering results according to our values and behavioural standards. 2019 – The Year of Accountability? In the news, there are calls for accountability of the builders of a cracking high rise building in Sydney. Member of […]
Food for Thought from 2018
A tongue-in-cheek look at the menu that 2018 has served up to us! The gravy train The banks and insurance companies get the 2018 Gravy Boat Award. Billing dead customers, selling worthless policies and taking large commissions and bonuses for their efforts. What should we learn? Financial incentive schemes […]
Procedural fairness and treatment: Chase evidential rabbits down burrows (and do offer tea…)
In this week’s blog, we discuss the recent lessons to be learnt from the following successful unfair dismissal application to the Fair Work Commission: Kefeng Deng v Westpac Banking Corporation (U2018/5696). The decision was delivered on 30 November 2018, by Commissioner Riordan. The case: Deng v Westpac The context for the application to the Fair […]
How to manage office gossip during a workplace investigation
Having a light-hearted chat with your colleagues can be one of the best parts of going to work. A positive workplace culture encourages colleagues to interact in a friendly way as this helps with communication and building relationships at work, as well as making work enjoyable for everyone. Why gossip? Gossip, defined as negative speculation around […]
How to manage the risks associated with power imbalances at work
In the investigations of misconduct that we conduct at Worklogic, we often see power being misused in the workplace. People in powerful positions – thanks to their position in the hierarchy, links with the union or the founders, their ‘talent’ as rainmakers or apparently irreplaceable skills -sometimes let the power go to their heads . They […]
Investigations – to outsource or to not outsource that is the question
When an organisation wishes to conduct a procedurally fair investigation to support informed decision-making, it must decide who should conduct the investigation, with the question being should it be internal (this can be HR staff or managers) or external consultants? When making the decision to outsource an investigation (or not to), there are a number […]
How to address unconscious bias in workplace investigations
Like many of us, I believe myself to be fair and largely free of prejudice. I live and work in a diverse city, with people of various cultural backgrounds, and I enjoy experiences that expose me to new things. I consider myself to be largely impartial as I evaluate people and situations. But, as it […]
A Culture of Sexual Harassment at Work
Like many people, I currently open the newspaper with a sense of dread, wondering what new bad things will have happened overnght. Last week, there were media reports that the Former Chair of the ABC Board often referred to women at work as ‘chicks’ or ‘babes’. This week, we have Alan Jones’ shockingly disrespectful and threatening […]
Rose and Grevis talk business with Alan Kohler
Australian finance and business commentator Alan Kohler has a terrific business podcast featuring short, sharp interviews with business leaders. Next time you are flying Qantas, you can also pick up episodes on their inflight Qantas Radio. He recently interviewed Worklogic’s founding directors, Grevis Beard and Rose Bryant-Smith. The interview is informative and entertaining – well worth […]
Who should conduct an external investigation into workplace complaints?
Last week, at the annual conference of the Australasian Association of Workplace Investigators, there were some interesting and robust discussions in relation to the ethics that should be adhered to by independent investigators when they are investigating a complaint in the workplace. The role of an independent investigator There was a firm view that the […]