Physio’s, Osteopaths and Chiropractor’s Guide to Updating Your Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policy
The ever-changing nature of workplace law requires you to constantly update your workplace policies. Just this week, the Federal Government introduced the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill. This bill means that all allied health practices must update their workplace discrimination and harassment policies.
There is now a positive duty on employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation in the workplace. In light of these new changes, it is a good idea for all physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors to update their workplace policies.
Here are the big 5 components which you should have:
Positive Duty
New legislation means that you must be proactive in preventing and responding to harassment. In allied health work policies, you should state how you will prevent harassment and your procedure to deal with any complaints
The Rights and Responsibilities of Staff
All harassment policies should detail what is expected of staff members and what staff members can expect. Your policy should also detail what additional responsibilities you will take on as manager and physio/osteopath/chiropractor.
What is Unacceptable
You should list what sort of conduct will be seen as unacceptable in the workplace. Having documented definitions will make any future investigation and decision-making much easier as you can refer to this policy.
How Issues will be Resolved
It is important for you to detail what will happen when there is any allegation of harassment in the workplace. If you follow your own policy, it is easy to prove that you acted reasonably and fairly if the matter ends up in the Fair Work Commission or Court.
Support
All employees are to be supported at all times during the investigation procedure. This means that all employees are entitled to a fair investigation, to tell their side of the story and support persons inside of any meetings.
For a review of your current workplace policies, template workplace policies or professionally drafted workplace policies, all physiotherapist, osteopath chiropractor practices should contact us at HR/IR for a consultation.
