Editorial:

Welcome to the Winter 2006 Edition of Work InSights.

In this edition of Work InSights, we bring you the first of a two-part look at mental illness in the workplace. With an estimated one in five Australians suffering mental health problems during their lifetime, it will be a rare employer that is not touched in some way by this issue. This first part looks at an employer’s responsibility for the mental health of those that work for him or her. Next edition’s article will focus on appropriate strategies to respond and preventative measures an employer can take.

As this edition goes to press, industrial relations continues to be a very live political issue, so it is timely that our other articles continue our “Work Choices” theme. One article deals with the factors that are relevant to a decision to use one of the Work Choices forms of agreement—very timely in light of the Federal Opposition’s threat to abolish Australian Workplace Agreements if it gained power. We also look at Protected Action Ballots, (necessary before there can be legitimate industrial action) and examine the “100 employees” rule which exempts some employers from some forms of unfair dismissal action.

We trust that you will find these articles both informative and practical.