AIER calls for better workplace culture

By Jessica Stanic on Thursday, 20 August 2009

The Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER) is today launching a
workplace ‘how-to guide’ for Australian employers, following its submission
to Federal Government this week calling for national best-practice guidelines
for workplace culture and employment rights to be established.

The Australian Standard of Employment Rights publication has been created
to provide all employees with the knowledge and steps to improve workplace
culture and to address workplace issues including OH&S, unfair dismissal,
good faith performance and workplace democracy.

Lisa Heap, executive director for the AIER, said while many employers
understand the principles behind good workplace culture, the majority still
do not know how to actually put them into practice and go about changing
workplace culture.

“In our work with employers, invariably the first question they ask is what
steps they need to take in order to achieve a better workplace. To be better
employers they need practical guidance and tools to help them,” she said.
According to Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade
Unions (ACTU), the cost of poor workplace culture in Australia is too high and
workers are being injured as a result.

“Business too is paying a cost as poor workplace culture does not produce
productivity. Tools such as the AIER’s Australian Standard of Employment
Rights provide a valuable framework to assist organisations to address this
significant issue,” she said.

Ref: Dynamic Business