Emerging issues with COVID in the workplace

Presented by Robert Guthrie, this seminar addresses a range of workplace issues, with a focus on employer and employee rights in relation to vaccination, workers compensation and return to work, consequent upon the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 in Australia since 2020. It will briefly address some changes to the workplace generally and then consider the sometimes-complex issues arising from injury and stress related claims which have resulted in some changed behaviours in claims and injury management. It concludes the theme emerging from decided cases (concerning vaccination and return to work) to date is employers, insurers and rehabilitation providers must adopt a reasonable approach to the consultation and implementation of workplace changes which affect injured workers subject to return to work programs.

Dr Rob Guthrie is Adjunct Professor of Workers Compensation and Workplace Law at John Curtin Institute of Public Police Curtin University. He was admitted to practice as Barrister and Solicitor in 1982 and practiced in the area of workers compensation and workplace law for approximately 10 years before turning to academic research and teaching into the area. He was the author of reports to the WA Government on workers compensation in 1991, 1999 and 2001. He was part of the WA WorkCover Review in 2009. In 2011-12 he was on the National Committee to advise the Federal Minister for Employment in relation to Asbestos removal in Australia. He has been a consultant to WorkCover WA and various Ministers responsible for workers compensation legislation. He holds B Juris, LLB LLM MCom and PhD. He is the author of LexisNexis Workers Compensation Western Australia and has published over 100 articles in peer-referred journals. He was sworn in as Magistrate/Assessor of Criminal Injuries Compensation in 2010.

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