We Not Me
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Episode 95 - Legislating for a safe workplace - can it work?
Show Notes
How much responsibility do leaders have for the psychological safety of their teams? Aren’t psychological hazards an HR issue?
Recent changes in Australian law require employers to take steps to ensure not only the physical but also the psychological safety of their employees. This includes identifying and mitigating psychosocial hazards in the workplace, which can have a profound impact on employees' mental health. But what is “reasonable”?
This week's guest is Ian Bennett, a legal expert specialising in employment and safety law. He lends his expertise to discussions on workplace safety, specifically focusing on psychological safety and psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Three reasons to listen
- Understand new legislation that necessitates employers to ensure the physical and psychological safety of their employees, currently in place in Australia, but likely to spread
- Learn about the implications of these laws for team leaders and what lessons can be drawn from this approach globally
- Discover how to create healthy, productive workplaces where everyone still strives to do their best work
Episode highlights
- [00:08:18] Expectations on employers to provide psychological safety
- [00:13:40] How is new legislation being implemented?
- [00:16:52] The Australian public's reaction
- [00:20:29] What leaders should bear in mind
- [00:24:57] What employees are entitled to
- [00:27:06] Psychological safety in performance management
- [00:30:15] The downsides of remote work and "always being on"
- [00:32:14] What can leaders do today?
- [00:34:43] Ian's media recommendations
- [00:37:46] Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Links
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Meet the guests
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Ian is a lawyer with 13+ years Post Admission Experience (PAE) and commenced employment with Sparke Helmore Lawyers in the graduate program after completing my tertiary studies. During the graduate program, he completed rotations in the Insurance (CTP and public liability - major claims), Commercial (Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution) and Workplace (Employment & Safety) Practice Groups. Upon completing the graduate program, Ian joined the Workplace Practice Group as a permanent team member where he continue to specialise in all matters involving: - Employment and Industrial Relations
- Work, Health and Safety (WHS), and
- Coronial Inquests and Inquiries. Ian regularly assists and advises on a range of industries and sectors including government, statutory corporations and authorities, labour-hire, retail, manufacturing, wholesale, telecommunications, property development, mining and resources, transport and hospitality. Ian also has advocacy experience in many courts and tribunals (including NSW and WA Industrial Courts, Local Courts, District Courts, Supreme Courts, Coroner's Courts, Federal Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court, Australian Human Rights Commission and the Fair Work Commission).
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