
WHS Regulation updates: mandatory prevention plans for sexual and gender-based harassment
Under latest changes to the WHS Regulation, employers must prepare a written prevention plan addressing the risk of sexual and sex or gender-based harassment.

Under latest changes to the WHS Regulation, employers must prepare a written prevention plan addressing the risk of sexual and sex or gender-based harassment.

A recent decision involving a long-serving teacher provides a timely reminder for employers about the importance of procedural fairness and the value of appointing external investigators when investigating misconduct.

The Supreme Court recently held that an employee with 10 years of continuous service in another jurisdiction and just 18 days of service in Queensland satisfied the requirements for long service leave under Queensland’s Industrial Relations Act.

With more employees requesting flexible working arrangements, employers need to be aware of their obligations when responding to these requests.

The Federal Court recently ordered that an employer pay $350,000 compensation and $60,000 penalties for unlawfully terminating a nurse’s employment due to her race and exercise of workplace rights.

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its annual wage review decision for 2025. From 1 July 2025, the national minimum wage will increase to $948.00 per week, or $24.95 per hour.

In a recent case, the Fair Work Commission has found that an employer’s requirement for an employee to work a 40-hour week was unreasonable and a contravention of the Fair Work Act.

A labour hire company has been ordered to pay over $20,000 in compensation following the unfair dismissal of an employee some 24 hours after a failed drug test and safety indiscretion.

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has upheld the dismissal of an employee, agreeing that the seriousness of a positive test result for methamphetamine outweighed the employer’s failure to follow policies and procedures.

The High Court has awarded an employee damages for psychiatric injury as part of a breach of contract claim following an employer’s failure to follow its disciplinary procedure.

A recent Fair Work Commission decision has clarified that anti-bullying protections are not available to employees who are absent on workers’ compensation leave.

Cooper Grace Ward’s workplace relations and safety practice has been recognised in the latest Doyles Guide rankings for both Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) and Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation).