Don’t be deceived. It’s not about football and certainly not about a footballer with a gambling problem. It’s about conflict of interests, insider trading, judicious decision making, ethical behaviour, organisational culture and consequences. The Heath Shaw betting scandal incident is as relevant to corporate Australia as an annual report. Sport is not immune to employee responsibility and common sense and … Read More
Slutwalk does not equal slack
If only big corporates could master the clarity of message that the Sydney ‘slut walkers’ were able to achieve yesterday. Whether the women themselves were dressed demurely, provocatively or not dressed much at all, their message was the same. Hemlines are not guidelines and the difference between sex and rape is consent; which should not be at all difficult to … Read More
Something Magical about Majak
When the AFL started getting serious in the late 90’s about racial vilification, I was more than a tad cynical. I was sure the powers that be were authentic in wanting to create a more hospitable culture for aboriginal players (the prominent minority at the time) but I believed the zeal was probably borne out of the desire to choose … Read More
Fair Work fine for texting a termination sends a clear message
Fair Work Australia Commissioner Cambridge has ruled that a boutique owner who texted a “Don’t Come Monday” message to a two-year employee behaved in a “pretty appalling” way and that her termination via SMS was deemed unfair. The boutique owner was fined almost $10,000 in back pay. The Fair Work Australia ruling found that there had not been any valid … Read More
Sexual harassment has been very prominent in the media this past year notwithstanding increased public, media and corporate focus on bullying. From time to time I am struck by the narrow stereotypes some people hold about sexual harassment presuming it to be about men ‘hitting on’ women at work. Both genders regrettably harass both genders. The Tasmanian Anti Discrimination Tribunal … Read More
No goal, no golf and no glory
Well, it nearly didn’t happen. If we hadn’t gone away for the weekend with self confessed golf tragics who got up at 5am to watch the US Masters I wouldn’t have ‘got it’. While I have often joked about my love of elite sport as the ‘best athlete never to play the game’, I didn’t know a game of golf; … Read More
Ethics vs. Morality – Not the Same Thing But They Both Matter
Well, it seems to me the lunatics have officially taken over the asylum! A young woman, possibly unwell, admitted to wanting to bring the St Kilda Football Club undone by improperly obtaining photos that should never have been taken by a fellow player and kept in the first place. The high profile player manager paid to protect the reputation and interests of … Read More
Backbiting and bundled out (unlawfully!)
The media was in a frenzy today about a young childcare worker who was dismissed last year for breaching the organisational policy on ‘backbiting’. Fair Work Australia found she had been unfairly dismissed and today awarded her just under $10K in damages. You can’t outlaw human nature but you can make it clear to people that they potentially threaten their … Read More
Even though we lost, we won.
I have to admit that seeing Australia go down to Japan this week in the dying minutes of the final of the Asian Cup was gut wrenching. As a romantic, a fiercely patriotic Aussie and a football fan – I’m the best athlete never to play the game – I was convinced we would pull off the win, and I … Read More
Perception is 9/10ths of the law
Fundamentally I think we want to believe in government and that its highest officers govern with integrity and transparency. And yes, at times we can be disappointed. The recent furore involving the Directorate of Public Prosecutions is a timely reminder about the demanding importance of doing and appearing to do the right thing, in every instance. I do not profess … Read More