Employment

Article from The Advertiser, Wednesday, June 11 2008. Page 5.

In a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parenting Leave, South Australian Equal Opportunity Commissioner Linda Matthews said she often receives enquiries from women who find their employment hours have been reduced upon telling their employer that they are pregnant, or are unable to return to their position after they have taken maternity leave Ms Matthews indicated her support for a paid maternity leave scheme.

She said,

With the Equal Opportunity Bill still in Parliament, Equal Opportunity Commissioner Linda Matthews said she was pleased to see the Final Report of the Select Committee into Balancing Work and Life Responsibilities, tabled in Parliament on 9 April 2008.

The Bill recommends legislation to protect male and female employees from discrimination based on their family and caring responsibilities, and noted that many witnesses strongly supported the changes to the Equal Opportunity Act that would secure this.

On 27 February 2008, Equal Opportunity Commissioner Linda Matthews was quoted by The Advertiser in an article about sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Later that day she was interviewed about sexual harassment in the workplace on the Alexander and Nicky Downer Afternoon Show on Adelaide radio station 5AA.

A test case before the South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission on the rights of employees with injuries sustained outside of work ended without a decision on 6 February 2008. The State Government offered a private settlement to a Glenside Hospital Nurse.

In 2003, Hilary Burnett fell at home, and injured her arms. Her injury meant she was unable to lift heavy patients, but could still work on most wards. However, her employer refused to have her back at work until she was cleared for all duties, and refused to make accommodations for her injury.

On 21 January 2008, the Equal Opportunity Tribunal granted BAE Systems an exemption from the South Australia Equal Opportunity Act 1984 to allow it to discriminate against current and future staff members on the basis of nationality, when considering who should work on projects involving controlled defence material from the United States of America.