Penalties and remedies page 1 of 5

48 articles are classified in All Articles > Discrimination and equity > Penalties and remedies


Judge behind "watershed" harassment case retires

The judge credited with blowing the lid off the way compensation is assessed in workplace harassment and discrimination cases has retired after more than a quarter of a century on the bench.

Chest infection a temporary disability: Court

A court has ordered a cafe to pay a teenage worker $7300 compensation, including $6000 for hurt and humiliation, after it took unlawful adverse action because of his temporary disability when it dismissed him for calling in sick due to a chest infection.

Upwards path for discrimination, harassment damages: Bornstein

Maurice Blackburn's head of employment and industrial law, Josh Bornstein, says damages for discrimination and harassment "remain persistently low" but he expects an upwards trajectory as their impact has been "laid bare" and expectations are now clearer.

$44K payout after reasonable adjustments failure

A heavy vehicle diesel mechanic who suffered a non-work-related wrist injury has won $44,000 in damages after his employer failed to offer reasonable adjustments and made "clumsy" and "ill-informed" attempts to re-engage him while awaiting "full clearance".

Compensation cap rises to $83,750 on Saturday

The income and compensation caps for unfair dismissal claims are set to increase on Saturday, along with filing fees for a range of other applications.


Damages payout boosted for previously "vibrant" accountant

A court has upped from $20,000 to $90,000 the general damages payout for a veteran chief accountant subjected to age discrimination and is considering billing his former employer a further $142,000 for economic loss, after hearing he is "no longer the same man" and is unable to work.

Report finds mining companies failing to report harassment

Unions have welcomed recommendations in a government-commissioned review of safety regulations addressing s-xual assault and harassment in WA's mining industry, but have expressed dismay at evidence that employers are deliberately failing to report incidents to regulators.

Progress on harassment, but results lagging: Jenkins

The Human Rights Commission's latest survey of workplace sexual harassment shows little change in incidence over the past four years, while only two-thirds of workers reported their employer had anti-harassment policies and just one third had received training, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins told the National Press Club yesterday in a speech that also marked the first anniversary of her "Set the Standard" report on federal parliamentary workplaces.

Unremorseful employer fined for sacking sick mason

A stone benchtops company ordered to pay $163,000 in compensation and damages to a veteran stonemason dismissed because of his work-related silicosis must now pay him a further $76,000 in fines for unlawful and discriminatory adverse action.