Policies and Procedures are all too often the subject of “Set and Forget. “

Every week decisions in the corporate world are reported on that reflect upon the health of corporate Australia, and many see this as a sign of underlying concern.

With humour to the side, even “Mother England” is not well, as recent court decisions have demonstrated.       

Australia has a very clear definition of Sham Contracting in the Fair Work Act. A most recent decision of the Supreme Court in the UK demonstrates the corporate views that our laws were framed to eliminate.

Recently the blog commented on “know the rules and play by them.”

In the case concerned Company policy towards matters of employment was well considered and practised by management.

It is equally clear that this policy was designed to achieve specific outcomes i.e. denial of statutory entitlements.

And at the same time, the Company would be seeking to propagate the view in the wider community that utilising their services is a positive, as the Company prides itself as being a good corporate citizen.

The kindest view of the matter would be the “Set and Forget “syndrome whereby the best of intentions for Policy and Procedures are stated in documents but day by day arbitrary decision making, based on profit margins increasing, have eroded the corporate ethic.