Sep 21, 2022
Transdev Melbourne Pty Ltd was sentenced, without conviction, in the Melbourne County Court after being found guilty of a charge under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for discrimination against an employee for raising health and safety issues.
The court found that Transdev issued a written warning to a bus driver in September 2018 after he reported a bus safety issue to WorkSafe. The driver had reported that the bus was unroadworthy because a door safety module was missing; he was instructed to drive it anyway, but he refused. A few days later, after reporting a different safety issue on another bus, the driver was informed that by contacting WorkSafe he had violated company policy, and his actions amount to misconduct.
The court found there was an established pattern of the driver pursuing minor matters to a degree which was, in the view of a number of WorkSafe inspectors, unnecessary, and that could have been dealt with internally by following Transdev’s established Issue Resolution Procedure. However, the court found that Transdev had issued the warning for no other reason than because the driver had raised an issue or concern about health and safety.
The judge ruled that because of the low level of Transdev’s offending and as a single incident in otherwise unblemished conduct by a corporate entity, a financial penalty without conviction was the appropriate disposition.
After the sentencing, WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety, Narelle Beer, said workers who reported safety concerns were protected from discrimination under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. “Every Victorian worker has the right to a safe workplace and that includes the right to report health and safety concerns to WorkSafe, their employer, or to their workplace Health and Safety Representative or committee member,” Dr Beer commented. “It’s not always easy to speak out about safety issues at work, but it’s vital that workers feel empowered to raise safety concerns without fear of discrimination or unfair repercussions.”
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Amelie is our Marketing Lead and currently studying for a B.A. in Business and Visual Arts. She brings her visual arts skills and eye for colour and detail to our graphics and design for the business.
Amelie uses her skills as a digital native in our Marketing team and works across our social media channels. Amelie provides administrative support and assists the recruitment team in finding great candidates.
Sarah joins the team at Total HRM following her time in a regional real estate company, most recently in HR. She brings a solid understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges within small and medium-sized businesses.
Prior to real estate, Sarah worked in the airline industry, providing her with excellent skills in customer service and how to remain calm in a crisis.
Known for her positive energy, Sarah approaches her role with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to support and uplift those she works with. With her experience in HR and recruitment, Sarah is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, professional growth, and employee well-being. Her ability to connect with people and create a positive work atmosphere contributes to the overall success of teams and the business as a whole.
Ashly is one of our most experienced HR Business Partners with over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and hospitality, both local and overseas, ranging from large multinational companies to small family-owned operations. Throughout his career, Ashly regularly led teams with over 30 employees while continually growing the business and aligning business strategies with employee capabilities.
Ashly has qualifications in Applied Management and Human Resources and a strong leadership and people management background. Ashly combines his experience with his qualifications to develop great workplace cultures while delivering practical support.
As our Business Services Manager, David keeps everything that is Total HRM ticking along – from overseeing administration and finance functions, liaising with clients and suppliers, to IT troubleshooting and keeping everyone on track to deliver effective customer service to all our clients.
In a business landscape of ‘information overload’, Kim’s pragmatic approach simplifies the ever-changing HR trends and legislation to obtain meaningful and maximum benefits for her clients.
Kim is well known for her ability to understand the ‘real’ issues within businesses and to provide solutions for sustained business growth.
Kim has over 20 years of experience in human resources and 15 years of business consulting experience, and she holds post-graduate Business and Human Resource qualifications.
She has vast and varied experience in senior consulting roles across varying disciplines and HR management positions within retail, manufacturing and professional service sectors.
Linda is the Managing Director of Total HRM and has worked for over twenty five years in business and consulting, including executive and senior management roles. She has worked here and overseas in numerous industries, including mining, energy and government. Her experience in areas such as production, strategic planning, finance, OHS/WHS, and lecturing in Human Resources Management at La Trobe University provides her with a unique blend of business and HR capability.
Linda has led comprehensive organisational restructures and implemented programs to improve the effectiveness of businesses with clear alignment between individuals’ contributions and organisational outcomes. She works with various local boards and executive teams in the region. She is a Certified Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.