​It’s getting cold out there and the natural desire is to don the warmest clothes you have before stepping out the front door and heading off to work.  But what do these clothes look like and what do they say about you as a business leader?  How do they position your business and you as an industry leader?  If you are the best in your field, what difference does it make how you dress?

Well actually, it can make a massive difference and it’s all decided within two seconds!

Most workforces are comprised of adults and as such, we should be able to assume that they will conduct themselves in a manner befitting grown-ups.  Right?  Nope, not right.  Unfortunately, you will always find that there are those who are willing and able to push boundaries, behave inappropriately and potentially endanger themselves or their colleagues.  Sometimes it’s deliberate and damaging and sometimes it is a lack of understanding or naivete that causes the problems.  

As a business leader, you need to be on the front foot with protecting your employees and your business from unacceptable behaviour.  But how?

We usually discuss adverse action cases whereby an employer has wronged, or been accused of wronging, an employee.  But a recent case lodged by the Australian Building and Construction Commission demonstrates how prospective employees are also protected by the same laws and the penalties for offending employers can be pretty steep!


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To state the obvious, discrimination within the workplace is unlawful – the Fair Work Act is where this law is enshrined.  But what is included and what constitutes an adverse action in relation to discrimination?.  

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​As a business owner or leader, I bet you are constantly thinking of and planning ways to continuously improve your business?  Well of course, that’s what a great business thinker should be doing but it doesn’t always have to involve grand, long term plans that involve huge capital expenditure.  Improving your business can be as easy as finding small improvements every day.