Does an Investigation into Out of Hours Conduct need to be Delayed Until Criminal Proceedings Complete?

When misconduct happens outside of work hours, employers are often faced with a difficult question: should a workplace investigation pause while criminal proceedings are underway? In this week’s Friday Workplace Briefing, Kim McLagan and Monnette Samo unpack the legal boundaries of investigating e…

When is a Workplace Right not a Workplace Right? When a Complaint is not Made in Good Faith and For an Ulterior Purpose

When is a workplace right not really a workplace right? It’s a question more organisations are facing as complaints increase - particularly when they may not be raised in good faith. Can you recognise when a workplace right complaint is legitimate, and not made for an ulterior purpose? Understand…

When directors rely upon others, They are still Liable for Harm

We’re pleased to share our latest podcast episode, where Andrew Douglas and Kim McLagan explore how reliance by directors on others can create a false sense of security. However, reliance does not remove responsibility. Directors remain ultimately accountable, and where things go wrong, they may st…

Media, Employees and Direction to not Use Employers’ Infrastructure What is a Lawful and Reasonable Direction in Respect of Media Comment

We’re excited to share our latest podcast episode, where we examine the much-vexed issue of our employee communications with the media - both mainstream and social media. In this episode, Andrew Douglas and Jim Babalis explore what this means in practice, by looking at the risks, responsibilities,…

Safety Regulator Attack Misconduct Investigations

In our latest video, Andrew Douglas and a special guest cover an important and often misunderstood topic: Safety Regulator misconduct investigations. Another case demonstrates safety regulators’ march into general workplace people management—this time focusing on the psychological hazards of inves…

Rise in Penalty Award for Serious Injuries in Safety

There has been a rise in penalty awards for serious workplace safety injuries, bringing increased attention to how organisations manage risk, compliance, and accountability. For many businesses, this shift carries significant financial and reputational implications, making it more important than ev…

Double Jeopardy in Safety and Criminal Law: Charged, Convicted, Fined—Then Jailed Again?

In this discussion, Andrew Douglas and Monnette Samo examine the complex legal issue of double jeopardy in the context of workplace safety and criminal law. While the principle of double jeopardy is intended to prevent a person from being tried or punished twice for the same offence, serious workpl…

Labor’s Work from Home What is it, will it Catch on and What Impact will it Have on Employers?

Work-from-home is back in the spotlight, with the Labor government signalling stronger support for flexible work arrangements. Join us this week as Andrew Douglas and Kim McLagan discuss what this actually means for employers. Recent workplace law discussions give employees greater ability to requ…

Who are We at Work? Respect or Liked and the Risks of Personal Disclosure

Join us this week as Andrew Douglas and Kim McLagan lead an engaging discussion on the topic “Who Are We at Work?” In this session, they’ll explore the balance between being respected and being liked in the workplace, and examine the potential risks that can come with personal disclosure in profess…

FWC Full Bench Makes its Stance Clear That Racism has "no Place in Any Workplace.

Andrew Douglas and Tom Daly explore one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing Australian workplaces today: overseas workers, racism, and safety. As public debate continues to be shaped by anti-immigration rhetoric, it is critical for organisations to focus on the facts. Australia’s ec…