Feature Articles

Cultural building blocks make strong foundations
This article looks at HR’s responsibility in facilitating and developing a more culturally diverse workforce and the real add-value a mix of culture and experience can give an organisation.

Secrets of successful cultural diversity
In this final part of our cultural diversity in the workplace series, Human Resources examines the notion of cultural diversity in practice using the experience of cultural diversity in Singapore as well as well as revealing how Microsoft in both Singapore and Australia deal with cultural diversity in the workplace

Pregnancy Guidelines
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the federal Discrimination Act) makes discrimination due to pregnancy or potential pregnancy unlawful. However, there are instances where an employer may be unsure how the legal requirements under the Act operate in practice. For this reason, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has developed a set of Pregnancy Guidelines (the guidelines) to assist employers in their understanding of the Act and how they can avoid pregnancy discrimination at work.

Discrimination based on carers' responsibilities
The Anti-Discrimination (Carers' Responsibilities) Act 2000 (the Act) amends the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) to include carers' responsibilities as grounds for discrimination in NSW. For the first time in NSW, it will be unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or job applicant on the grounds of that person's responsibilities as a carer.

Age Discrimination and Inherent Requirements
Discrimination is a pressing issue in modern society. However, as we all age over time, age discrimination is perhaps the only form of discrimination that will potentially affect everyone. Age discrimination can occur in the workplace and in everyday life. Some age discrimination is justified where it exists to protect certain vulnerable age groups against exploitation or abuse. However, when age distinctions are based upon unjustified assumptions of people in particular age groups, this may constitute illegal age discrimination.