Mental illness costs the Australian economy billions of dollars every year, due to a combination of presenteeism, absenteeism and workers’ compensation claims. In this video, Senior Associate and Employment Lawyer, Kate Simpson looks at ways to improve psychological safety in the workplace. Managing an employee who is suffering from a mental illness can be incredibly […]
This month we will look at a recent decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘Tribunal’), where an employer who failed to prevent the sexual harassment and assault of a female employee was ordered to pay $150,000 in general damages. Background The 27-year-old Beauty Therapist (‘employee’) commenced part-time employment at the salon, Man Oh […]
Aitken Legal often assists employers to defend general protections applications involving dismissal. In this video, Senior Associate and Employment Lawyer gives you an overview of what to expect when you first receive a general protections application involving dismissal. Typically, these claims involve an employee alleging that they have been dismissed because they made a complaint […]
The Queensland Public Service Act requires the application of best practice human resource management, in relation to its workforce. This includes the use of performance management principles, as set out in the Act. In this video, Kate Simpson from Aitken legal and this video shares a summary on the key performance management principals. Public sector […]
Aitken Legal regularly assists employers with contesting workers’ compensation claims involving alleged psychological injuries. In this video, Hamish Procter from Aitken Legal gives Queensland employers some insight as to the immediate steps that need to be taken if they receive a workers’ compensation claim involving an alleged psychological injury. Typically, an employer will first be […]
Employees will, at different stages of their working life, take time off work to deal with illnesses or injuries that are not work-related. Employees who are “temporarily” absent due to injury or illness are protected against dismissal where the dismissal is related to their absence. The question of a “temporary” absence is often vexed. In […]
The Fair Work Commission (‘Commission’) has recently found that a “mature” employee who “deliberately” failed to follow her employer’s lawful and reasonable direction to turn her personal mobile phone off while at work, and not attend to her private business matters during work time, was not unfairly dismissed. Background In December 2020, the employee was […]
Sunshine Coast Lawyer, Harry McDonald has joined Employment Law firm, Aitken Legal, to focus on becoming a specialist Employment Lawyer. Harry, who was born on the Sunshine Coast and was recently recognised by the Sunshine Coast Daily as a Top 12 young SC Lawyer will work closely with the firm’s senior lawyers to deliver employment law […]
Aitken Legal often assists employers to defend unfair dismissal claims from former employees who have either been dismissed or where they consider they have been forced to resign. In this video, Hamish Procter from Aitken Legal, gives you an overview of what to expect when you first receive an unfair dismissal claim. Typically, an employer […]
Two Senior Associates from specialist employment law firm, Aitken Legal, have been recognised as Rising Stars for 2022 by the Australasian Lawyer. Senior Associates Hamish Procter and Kate Simpson both demonstrated leadership and significant achievements in relation to employment law and industrial relations advice they provided to clients across all industries during 2021. Australasian Lawyers […]
