Workplace conditions, health and safety

The working conditions of many jobs are governed by modern awards and the National Employment Standards, which set out minimum employment standards.

Before accepting a job, you should first check the working conditions, including:

Other conditions you can discuss with your employer include access to training, regular performance reviews, and flexible working arrangements.

Health and safety at work

Work health and safety aims to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers at work, and other people affected by the work (e.g. visitors, the general public). Work health and safety covers topics like:

manual or repetitive tasks
safety while working with machinery, or working at heights
working with hazardous substances; and
occupational stress.

Check the WorkSafe website for information from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) about work health and safety laws and useful safety guides. Find out more by:

asking WHSQ a question
phoning the WHSQ Infoline on 1300 362 128.

The Safety leadership at work program is designed to develop safety leadership capacity, improve safety culture and contribute to reducing work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities in Queensland workplaces.

COVID-19

Visit Safe Work Australia to learn about workplace risk management. Choose your industry and find advice on:

vaccinations and testing
working from home and transitioning back to workplaces
emergency planning
physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning
mental health.

Work-related bullying

Workplace bullying is defined as repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers, that creates a risk to health and safety.

Repeated behaviour refers to the persistent nature of the behaviour and can involve a range of behaviours over time.

Unreasonable behaviour means behaviour that a reasonable person, having considered the circumstances, would see as unreasonable, including behaviour that is victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening.

Examples of bullying behaviour—whether intentional or unintentional—include:

language or comments that are:

abusive
insulting
offensive

unjustified criticism or complaints
deliberately excluding someone from workplace activities
not sharing important information that a person needs to work effectively
setting unreasonable timelines or constantly changing deadlines
setting tasks that are unreasonably below or beyond a person's skill level
spreading misinformation or malicious rumours
changing rosters or leave to deliberately inconvenience someone.

Examples of what isn't bullying behaviour include:

a single incident of unreasonable behaviour
unreasonable behaviour that involves violence
reasonable management action that:

is in connection with a worker's employment
is carried out in a lawful and reasonable way
takes the particular circumstances into account

acts of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment
workplace conflict (e.g. differences of opinion).

Single incidents of unreasonable behaviour shouldn't be ignored as they may be repeated or escalate.

If you are experiencing or witnessing any behaviour that involves violence (e.g. physical assault or the threat of physical assault) you should report it to the police.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual attention. You can be sexually harassed by anyone. Sexual harassment does not have to be repeated or ongoing to be against the law.

According to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, sexual harassment includes:

unwelcome physical touching
sexual or suggestive comments, jokes or taunts
unwelcome requests for sex
the display of sexual material (e.g. photos or pictures)
sexual reading matter (e.g. emails, faxes or letters).

Visit the Respect@Work website to find support, resources and good practice guides relating to workplace sexual harassment

Discrimination

According to the Queensland Human Rights Commission, you can be discriminated against across a number of matters including but not limited to:

your age
your gender
an impairment
pregnancy and breastfeeding
your race
your religion
your sexuality.

Advice and support

The Workplace Advice Service is a free independent legal assistance program for small businesses and employees. The program, offered by the Fair Work Commission, provides advice on topics including:

dismissal
general protections
workplace bullying.

Read more about the Workplace Advice Service, including eligibility and how to request a consultation.

Returning to work

Find out what to do when re-entering the workforce if you haven't worked for an extended period of time.

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