Are you afraid to joke with your female colleagues? Do you feel unsure as to where the banter stops and the offence starts? We are in a new era of transparency around sexual harassment, and women of all ages, in all walks of life, are now calling it out. #Me Too exposed the extent to which women had previously …
Handling Thorny Issues – Dealing with Mental Health Problems in the Workplace
Mental health problems and the threat of suicide are complex issues that can be difficult to manage in the workplace. As one in four people will be affected by mental health issues at some point in their lives, it is important that employers clearly understand the importance of their role in helping an employee with mental health problems. Often employers …
When Love Breaks Down In The Workplace: A Guide for Irish Employers
Relationships – we all have them. We all have familial relationships – and most of us also have romantic/sexual relationships. And, for better or for worse, these relationships occur in the workplace. It could be a small business run by a husband and wife team. Or a business where offspring are employed by parents. Or where romance blossoms between 2 colleagues. Or a relationship develops between a subordinate and a superior – whether that superior is married or not. The possibilities are endless – just like in life outside the workplace
The Cost of Workplace Stress: A Guide for Irish Employers
Stress. It seems pervasive. It has gotten to the point now where we are taken aback when we encounter someone who doesn’t seem to have any. But what is it? And, in particular, what is it in the workplace? The Irish Health and Safety Authority defines work-related stress as “stress caused or made worse by work. It simply refers to when …
Be very careful when moving to dismiss!
An employer had an employee about whom a colleague has made a complaint. The nature of the complaint? The employee was “preaching religion to his work colleagues and to members of the public”. The employee did not deny this. The employer gave him a verbal warning and told him that it was unacceptable for him to preach to colleagues or members …
The Role of the HR Function in Fraud Prevention and Detection
This post is the 2nd in a series on workplace fraud. The first post outlined how a company should deal with a fraud that they believe has been perpetrated against them by one of their own employees. This article will examine how the HR function can play a pivotal role in helping to prevent or at least significantly reduce the risk …
The Enemy Within: How Should a Company Handle a Case of Suspected Fraud?
The economic downturn in Ireland has increased the financial pressure on people. PwC partner Bob Semple said in 2009 that “No organisation or industry is immune from the threat of fraud….In these tough times, the temptation to take part in a fraud may overcome ethical values.” Or as Andrew Brown from Deloitte put it, “think of the current pressures that …
Workplace Stress: Can Your Business Afford a Personal Injury Claim?
Mental health conditions include stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. In extreme cases there is also the risk of suicide. Employers have a duty towards their employees – to protect them from injury and to provide them with a safe environment in which to work. These are not un-related. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act of 2005 …
‘Tis the season to be jolly’ but what if the Christmas party goes wrong?
In light of recent allegations involving the former artistic director of the Gate Theatre and a worldwide examination of inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment and abuse of power by executives within the entertainment world, sexual harassment in the workplace is once again center stage for Irish employers. So what exactly is sexual harassment? It is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical …
Caught Red-Handed? Employers Must Take Stock Before Reacting.
Employee theft is a challenging area for employers at any time – but perhaps exacerbated at this time of year. A lot of people are currently in economic difficulty – not just those without jobs but also those in employment. Christmas is also approaching – a time of year that brings with it its own additional financial pressures. Employee …
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