GL Insights
Can Performance Improvement Plans be bullying?
Employers or any level of management have the authority to take reasonable management action where an employee is not performing to their expected standard of performance. Despite this, the Fair Work Commission has considered whether performance improvement plans (PIPs), or the repeated application of them, could constitute workplace bullying.
Counteracting Ransomware
Ransomware attacks present an escalating threat to global security, one which threatens a broad range of organisations ranging from government agencies to small businesses. Driven by an increasingly interconnected IoT landscape and the use of outdated or legacy systems, ransomware poses a growing threat to Australia’s critical infrastructure – including the healthcare, financial services, transportation, …
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Are data breaches increasing or are we just hearing about them more?
There are two words every organisation prays they never hear. Words that invoke more fear and panic than the “boogey man”. Those two words? Data breach.
The regulatory privacy journey from 2020 to 2024: What is the current status of the Privacy Act reforms?
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) is the principal piece of legislation governing the handling of personal information by the Australian government and private organisations. The Privacy Act has undergone various tranches of amendments since its inception in 1988, with significant changes on the horizon during 2024.
Using AI recruitment tools
General protections from unlawful discrimination under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) apply to both employees and prospective employees. It is important to ensure that reliance on tools such as AI in recruitment processes do not infringe on the protections from discrimination that are afforded to prospective employees. The list of attributes that are protected …
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Three quick privacy facts for Charities and Not-for-Profits (NFPs)
If the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) applies to your organisation, these three facts should help focus you on your organisation’s compliance. If you are unsure if your organisation is subject to the Privacy Act, please contact us for advice.
Privacy by design: building public trust and confidence
Griffin Legal endorses a ‘privacy-by-design’ approach, where organisations proactively embed good privacy practices into the design and development of a program that involves any collection, use, or disclosure of personal information. Every decision and new process must be approached via a privacy-first mindset, promoting both functionality and privacy protection.
Significant changes around casual employees laws
In other important changes to the Fair Work Act 2001 (Cth), the definition of ‘casual’ and the process of casual conversion have been significantly amended with the changes coming into effect on 26 August 2024.
Practical tips for protecting information and systems
Cyber incidents are increasing in frequency across all sectors including charities and not-for-profits. As a result, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre is encouraging charities and not-for-profit organisations to protect their information and systems. The steps that these organisations can take are the same steps that all types of organisations can take – …
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Climate reporting for government and big business
Draft legislation on mandatory climate related disclosures closed for comment on 1 March 2024. Proposed mandatory climate related disclosure laws are likely to be introduced for large businesses, which will include disclosure obligations around climate related financial risks, opportunities, plans and strategies.