Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 10 MARCH 2016

Confronting The Confronting Questions

Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Explore more from Seyfarth Shaw LLP

15 Australian workers have been killed so far in 2016, and based on statistics below, an additional 175 people may die in work related incidents this year.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Paul Cutrone
Paul Cutrone
Jane Hall
Jane Hall
Author LinkedIn connections

15 Australian workers have been killed so far in 2016, and based on statistics below, an additional 175 people may die in work related incidents this year.

Whilst many organisations properly devote vast resources and time to managing health and safety, and have processes in place to respond in a time of crisis, many don't have a plan for managing the people issues during a crisis.

Some confronting questions that can arise are:

  • when is the right time to pack up a colleague's desk or empty out their locker?
  • will the family want to see former colleagues and senior managers at their home and at the funeral service?
  • will a family want to see the scene of the incident?
  • what additional assistance might friends and families need and who should convey offers of assistance to them?

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

New Minimum Wage Rates Gain Effect In Australia Today

The Australian Government has raised the National Minimum Wage and Minimum Award Wages effective July 1, 2026, with weekly rates increasing from $948.00 to $1,004.90 and hourly rates from $24.95 to $26.44. What compliance actions must employers take to avoid penalties for underpayment, and how do these changes affect different worker categories including trainees, apprentices, and entry-level employees?
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited
Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited
Video

National Safe Work Month – For Life – Why WHS Matters (Video)

October is National Safe Work Month, and Cooper Grace Ward's workplace relations and safety team explores why work health and safety matters for every business. Special counsel Gemma Sharp examines the legal duties of PCBUs and officers to protect workers from both physical and psychosocial hazards, emphasizing that safety must be woven into the fabric of business operations rather than treated as an afterthought.
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Cooper Grace Ward
Cooper Grace Ward
Podcast

Employment Relations Podcast – Enterprise Bargaining In The Spotlight: Intractable Deadlock Or Genuine Agreement?

Recent Australian workplace reforms have fundamentally altered enterprise bargaining dynamics, introducing new mechanisms like intractable bargaining determinations and expanded Commission powers to amend agreements. How should employers navigate these changes to develop effective bargaining strategies while managing risks associated with mandatory terms, genuine agreement principles, and the better off overall test?
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Piper Alderman
Piper Alderman
Podcast

Podcast: Inside The Claim With CGW – Flight Risk: Grounded By A Galley Cart

Cooper Grace Ward's Damien Jarrett and Jess Byrne examine Hunter v Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd, a Supreme Court workers' compensation case involving a cabin crew member's back injury from a jammed galley cart. The discussion explores how the case evolved from maintenance and staffing allegations into a training dispute, and examines the court's approach to quantum arguments when the injured worker chose to pursue her own business rather than return to employment.
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Cooper Grace Ward
Cooper Grace Ward
Article

Fair Work Commission Releases New AI Guidance And Warns Against Blind Reliance On AI

The Fair Work Commission has introduced new guidance requiring parties to disclose their use of generative AI in proceedings, following a 70% surge in workload attributed to AI-generated applications. A recent case demonstrates the consequences of blind reliance on AI tools, with one applicant ordered to pay costs after continuing a jurisdictionally flawed claim despite repeated warnings from the Commission.
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich
Article

Reforms To Restraints: What The Competition And Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 Means For Employers

The Albanese Government has released draft legislation that would fundamentally reshape how Australian employers use restrictive covenants and competitive agreements. The proposed Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 seeks to prohibit or strictly regulate no-poach agreements, wage-fixing arrangements, non-compete clauses, and co-worker non-solicitation terms.
AustraliaEmployment and HR
Piper Alderman
Piper Alderman
Article

A New Price Tag On OPT? DHS Proposes Unprecedented Fees For F-1 Practical Training

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed imposing fees of $70,000 for initial OPT recommendations and $30,000 for second-year extensions on educational institutions, potentially reshaping how international students, universities, and employers participate in the Optional Practical Training program. While framed as a fraud prevention measure, the proposal raises critical questions about workforce access, cost allocation...
United StatesImmigration
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Article

California Contractors Get A Much-Needed Break: SB 342 Softens The Harsh Consequences Of Contractor License Lapses

Imagine completing a multimillion-dollar project, performing quality work, paying your subcontractors, and satisfying the owner, only to discover that a temporary contractor license lapse could prevent you from recovering payment for that work or pursuing claims for extra work. For decades, that was the reality under California Business and Professions Code section 7031.
United StatesReal Estate and Construction
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Article

DHS Allows Salvadoran TPS Beneficiaries To Work And Remain, For Now

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Salvadoran Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries remain protected despite the September 9, 2026 expiration date, though no formal announcement has been made regarding the program's future. This development raises critical questions about employer obligations and the potential scenarios that may unfold, including termination with a 60-day notice period or an extension of the designation.
United StatesImmigration
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Article

More Than A Download: Using USCIS’s E-Verify Records Disposal Deadline As A Compliance Checkup

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is permanently disposing of E-Verify records last updated before December 31, 2016, giving employers until January 8, 2027, to download critical compliance documentation. Companies must act now to preserve historical case data needed for audits, government investigations, and Form I-9 system transitions while ensuring their E-Verify account information remains current and accurate.
United StatesImmigration
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP