Anti-discrimination and bullying page 18 of 20

The Victorian Government has accepted recommendations to seek to shift the destructive "us and them" workplace culture in its metropolitan firefighting service to one based on "trust and respect".

The FWC has upheld the dismissal of an employee for a relentless six-week email campaign in which he made a "deliberate and concerted effort" to discredit IR and ER employees after his demotion for "racial bullying" of an Indian-origin colleague he claimed was "smelly".

The Government is increasing its target for female representation on federal government boards from 40% to 50%, according to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.

New academic analysis released today by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency says there is a strong connection between gender balance in the make-up of boards and the reduction of gender-based gaps in the pay of their employees.

The FWC has refused to issue an anti-bullying order, finding there was no longer any risk because the alleged perpetrators had since resigned.

A tribunal has warned employers that they must not only have anti-discrimination policies in place but must also ensure they are "communicated effectively", after finding an Aboriginal economic development company vicariously liable for race discrimination.

Prior employee misconduct that did not result in dismissal but demonstrates a "pattern of unacceptable behaviour" must be considered when determining unfair dismissal cases, a Fair Work Commission full bench has ruled.

Bullying complaints by NSW public sector employees appear to be falling from an "unacceptably high" level, along with associated compensation claims, while the government is in the final stages of developing an anti-bullying "dashboard", according to a new report from the state's Public Service Commission.

Unfair to sack supervisor for remark made in jest; FWC grants legal representation for case to be heard on "less emotive" basis; Employer's appeal against domestic violence sacking rejected by full bench; High-earning BHPB "number two" not protected from unfair dismissal; HR business partner's $138,000 salary exceeds high income threshold; Tribunal rejects sacked worker's bid for reimbursement of counselling costs; Ranger dismissed because contract ran out, not whistleblowing; and FWC "draws the line" on "meandering" unfair dismissal claim.

A real estate agency's last-minute implementation of a new anti-bullying policy wasn't enough to stop the FWC from ordering it to cease bullying a property consultant that its sales administrator deleted as a Facebook friend after likening her to a "naughty little schoolgirl running to the teacher".