Our week at work, October 18-24
By Josephine Asher
This week has seen the effects of one of Australia’s most high-profile sexual harassment cases after it was extinguished last week with $850,000.
The out-of-court settlement between former publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk, 27 and former David Jones CEO Mark McInnes reached an agreement a week ago.
Despite only receiving a fraction of the $37million she was asking for, the public saw her smile for the first time since her “difficult journey” began in April.
“The case has lead to real debate taking place which I am confident will lead to change,” she said in a statement.
But many aren’t so sure.
She put herself up as a champion for women in the workplace but Kristy Fraser-Kirk may have instead scared away victims of office sexual harassment, News Ltd journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans wrote.
Fraser-Kirk has also been left without a job, an estimated legal bill of at least $300,000 and will have to foot the bill for her psychological treatment and trip overseas to escape the pressure of the case.
The excessive publicity from her “unrealistic” $37m claim would discourage other women, according to workplace law expert Gerard Phillips.
“People who are quadriplegic, blinded and brain-damaged at work don’t get half that amount,” he said.
“I think she’s ruined her employment prospects.”
Bennett and Philp lawyer Mark O’Connor also said companies may rethink traditional boozy staff office parties out of fear of potential sexual harassment cases.
“Sexual harassment in the workplace is inexcusable but the unspoken fear now is that opportunistic claims may be made by young staff egged on by a precedent-setting payout beyond their wildest dreams,” Mr O’Connor said.
Also in the legal spotlight this week, shocking new research has revealed one in three lawyers will suffer depression to the point of debilitation during the course of their career.
The illness has become so serious in the profession that five of Australia’s top law firms – Freehills, Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Allens Arthur Robinson, Clayton Utz, Blake Dawson and the College of Law – have joined forces to tackle the alarming rate.
In much happier news, CareerOne this week met the trio behind animation comedy Beached Az and learned how they turned their $16 YouTube video into a merchandise and advertising business goldmine.
Two years ago Anthony MacFarlane, Jarod Green and Nick Boshier created the first episode of the series about a whale who meets a curious sea gull, a nudist sea slug and a break dancing crab after becoming stranded on a beach in New Zealand.
That first episode attracted more than six million hits on YouTube. The three Sydney friends, all 29, went onto to create more than 20 episodes, a clothing range, an iPhone app and game as well as land a television distribution deal.
Not everyone will have the chance to make a living out of a fun cartoon, but technology is helping us spend more time outside the office.
The poll of 2034 working Australians, conducted for Telstra, showed almost half spend more time working outside the workplace than they did just five years ago. Men are twice as likely to spend more than 10 hours doing so.
But whether you work from home or not, don’t mangle your phone calls or phone messages, advises CareerOne editor Kate Southam.
When people think of you do they think “efficient”, “respectful of the time of others” or “demanding”, “poorly prepared”, “irritating”?
Leaving excellent phone messages is all part of your work personality or “personal brand”, Ms Southam says. Read her top tips below.
Kate Southam also reveals she has a debilitating condition called meeting phobia.
“My meeting nemesis is the over talker, the side tracker, the power point word-for-word slide reader (I can read it myself people) and those that bring their breakfast/lunch when it is not a “working” breakfast/lunch,” she says.
“I also had a boss who appeared oblivious to his rancid breath and the fact he was always checking his underarm odour as if none of us could see him. Why don’t people’s family help them with this?”
READ MORE: Do you have meeting phobia? Or any advice on running meetings? Share your thoughts here
More articles:
Our week at work, October 11-17
Our week at work, October 4-10
Our week at work, September 27 – October 3
Our week at work, September 20-26
Our week at work, September 13-19
Our week at work, September 6-12
Our week at work, August 30-September 5
Our week at work, August 16-22
Our week at work, August 9-15