We’ve come to the end of another year that’s had more twists and turns than we expected. Life has been just as tumultuous as the HR and employment relations world – 2021 presented many significant changes in case law and legislation, all of which have changed the way employers manage their businesses, people, and responsibilities well into the future.
Whether you’re taking a break over the holidays, or your business is working right through, we hope you have a chance to take some time out. If you need some light reading material over the Summer, we’ve compiled articles that our workplace experts say are the must-reads of the year.
So, get settled and start reading…
1. Casual conversion transition scramble
Casual conversion was one of the biggest legislation changes that happened this year and now that the transitional period has ended, employers need to be aware of what their obligations are. In this article, our experts dive into casual conversion, how it impacts contracts for new casual employees, and what it all means for employers going forward.
2. The role supportive workplaces play in suicide prevention
Positive and supportive work environments don’t just appear overnight, they take work and employers play a vital role in creating healthy working environments for their employees. In this article, our experts discuss how important an employer’s role is in building safe and healthy working environments.
3. Remote or not, WHS doesn’t stop
The transition in how we perceive working from home from a luxury to the new normal for desk-based jobs happened quickly and has meant employers have had to extend their Work Health and Safety (WHS) obligations to remote workspaces. In this article, our experts explain the WHS risks of working remotely and who is responsible for ensuring that employees are working safely at home.
4. Ending employment during parental leave
Increasing uncertainty is ironically, something we’ve become accustomed to over the past two years. Businesses have been faced with some difficult decisions to ensure their survival including redundancy. In this article, we discuss how redundancy may be necessary, but employers must make sure it’s genuine, appropriate, and reasonable steps have been taken to affect it.
5. Outsourcing isn’t a dirty word: 5 tips when searching for your HR provider
Outsourcing isn’t something to run away from; if embraced properly a business can go from good to great in a short amount of time. In this article, we discuss the challenge of saving time and money without compromising quality and service and how you can achieve it.
6. Managing domestic violence in the workplace when working from home
The onset of this pandemic has shone a light on some issues and hidden others that were already behind closed doors. Employers must maintain a safe work environment for their staff and this obligation didn’t stop just because workforces became distributed. This article discusses how the implications of COVID-19 and working from home have exacerbated issues relating to domestic violence.
7. Understanding psychological safety in the workplace
Working from home was once a perk that was hard to come by with many workplaces resisting this type of flexibility. However, the onset of the pandemic meant that this option become the new norm. This article answers three questions to help you better understand psychological safety and its important role in the modern workplace.
8. Consultation: the bedrock to an effective mandatory vaccination
Consultation is the key to effective mandatory vaccination policies. This article looks at the facts, the case, and the lesson from a recent decision handed down by the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission regarding mandatory vaccination policies in the workplace.
9. Do employees have a right to take leave for their pets?
Pets are a huge part of lives no matter if they’re furry, feathered, or scaly, they all hold a special place in families. We’ve all spent more time at home than ever before bonding with our pets, but do employees have the right to take leave when pets get sick?
10. 4 reasons why positive workplace culture and success go hand in hand?
It shouldn’t come as a shock that having a negative workplace culture can have a massive impact on the success of a business. This article shares four reasons why positive workplace culture and success go hand in hand. When you invest in your company culture, success and achievement aren’t too far behind.
If you’re an HR Assured client and have questions about any of the topics raised in this article or what they may mean for you, please contact our 24/7 Telephone Advisory Service.
