Workplace and Health & Safety Alert: Answers to Your Urgent Questions
With so many emerging workplace and health & safety risks from COVID-19, don’t miss this chance to hear from workplace law specialists who will guide you through the latest developments. Examine vaccinations and return to the workplace, health and safety risks & guidelines when working from home, and the risks from mental health issues in the hybrid workplace. This session is designed to be interactive, so bring your questions and receive the answers your organisation or your clients need. WEB218N15
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Navigating New & Upcoming Risks in the Workplace: Roundtable Analysis
Facilitator and Chair: Denise O’Reilly, Director, O’Reilly Workplace Law
Examine, analyse and discuss the information and strategies you’ll need to address the latest concerns including:
- Vaccinations and the Return to the Workplace
- When and how can an employer require vaccinations or COVID-19 tests?
- What limitations can an employer put on an employee regarding coming into the office?
- What should be in an employer’s policies on vaccinations, COVID-19 tests, and returning to the workplace?
- The ABCs of Health & Safety Risks of Working from Home
- How far does an employer’s liability go for health and safety risks for an employee working from home?
- Does it matter if the employee is voluntarily working from home?
- What if the employee refuses to put into place recommended measures?
- What sorts of things increase or decrease an employer’s liability in these situations?
- What are some practical policies and procedures to put into place to minimise risk?
- Mental Health in the New Hybrid Landscape
- How should employers monitor and assess employee mental health?
- What should be included in policies and procedures related to mental health?
- How far can an employer go in assessing and managing mental health issues?
- What happens if the employee and employer disagree on a mental health issue?
Panellists:
Michael Byrnes, Partner, Swaab
Danny King, Principal, Danny King Legal; Leading Employment Lawyer (Employee & Trade Union Representation) and Recommended Employment Lawyer (Employer Representation), Doyle’s Guide 2020
Angus Macinnis, Director of Dispute Resolution, StevensVuaran Lawyers
Presenters
Michael Byrnes
Michael Byrnes is a partner of Swaab. He is a workplace relations lawyer with over 20 years' experience in assisting clients navigate employment and work health and safety issues. Michael runs specially tailored training programs and seminars for clients (including at board level). He also drafts and reviews workplace policies and undertakes complex and sensitive workplace investigations. As well as regularly presenting at conferences, Michael is often called upon for expert opinion in the media. He has appeared on numerous radio segments and regularly quoted in publications including The Australian Financial Review and The Age.
Danny King
Danny is the founder and Managing Director of Danny King Legal. Danny King has been recognised in the Doyles Guide consecutively from 2015 - 2020 as a Leading Lawyer in Employment and Industrial Relations. Danny believes that successful businesses are about people. Working with that in mind, she gets better results than those who just fight for the sake of the fight. Danny started her own firm at the tender age of 27 (a decade ago), and understands the thrill of business growth and the complexities involved in managing employment relationships.
Angus Macinnis
Angus Macinnis has a broad commercial practice with a focus on dispute resolution, and in particular, on employment and work health and safety law, and intellectual property law. He advises employers and employees on all aspects of employment law, from drafting contracts and employment policies, to advising on employment related disputes, to dealing with employment and safety regulators. He has a particular interest in the employment law aspects of social media use and has published in this area in publications including the Law Society Journal, The New Lawyer, and the Internet Law Bulletin.
Denise O’Reilly
Denise has nearly 20 years’ experience advising businesses about workplace issues ranging from large corporates during her time with Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills), to smaller sized businesses after first relocating to South East Queensland, and now with a broad range of her own clients from start-ups to listed companies. Denise advises on all aspects of workplace relations, across a broad range in industries including manufacturing, construction, professional service, tourism and hospitality. Denise’s experience has helped her and her team hone their communication skills irrespective of whether they are speaking with people from big or small organisations.