Harmers dedicated its Summer 2005 edition of Work InSights to the Work Choices legislation - outlining who it will effect and why; what happens to current arrangements; what form awards and agreements will take; and the effect on "unfair" and "unlawful" termination of employment. We also set out some strategic implications for employers, together with some steps that employers may wish to consider taking in order to prepare for the introduction of this new legislation. 

To access of a copy of the Summer 2005 edition of Work InSights, please contact Jane Kewin via email, or contact directly on Tel: 02 9993 8537.

________________________________________________________________

"Employees behaving badly" could be the theme of the Spring 2005 edition of Work InSights—taking confidential information, workplace bullying, misbehaviour after hours and disobeying workplace policies are all covered!

Click here to access the Spring 2005 edition of Work InSights.

Our first article provides some practical ideas on how to identify and then protect an employer’s confidential information. In other articles, we report on some recent decisions: one which reminds everyone of the importance of taking workplace bullying seriously; another that dealt with whether an employer is prevented from enforcing a workplace policy against an employee who had previously been given permission to ignore it; and a series of decisions which examined when the behaviour of employees outside the "9 to 5" regime will be relevant to the employment relationship, for example, making an employer liable for what an employee does, or allowing an employer to discipline an employee for that conduct.

Finally, on a different note altogether, we look at recent changes to the regulation of industrial relations in the Building Industry. These reforms provide an interesting insight into the proposed changes to the industrial relations system generally. 

We trust you will find this issue both interesting and practical.

1 Confidential information—what it is and how to protect it
5 Bullying: a very expensive lesson
7 In the course of employment: when is an employee’s conduct the business of the employer?
10 "But it was OK last time": enforcing workplace policies although breaches have previously been allowed
13 Building Industry reforms: the effect of the changes