27th HR Law Masterclass Conference
18 March 2027 · Sydney · Melbourne

Workshop B: Psychosocial Risk, Performance and Medical Capacity: The Grey Areas

Managing employee performance becomes more challenging when medical conditions, psychosocial risks and workplace complaints arise. This advanced workshop explores complex situations where HR professionals must balance performance expectations, employee wellbeing, medical capacity and legal obligations while making fair and defensible decisions.

Through practical case studies, delegates will learn how to manage these overlapping issues, assess medical evidence, navigate absence and psychological injury claims, and document decisions that can withstand scrutiny.

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Key learning outcomes

  • Distinguish between performance management issues and psychosocial risks while managing both appropriately
  • Determine when to pause, adjust or continue a performance process when medical certificates, stress claims or bullying complaints arise
  • Assess medical evidence, fitness for work, reasonable adjustments and an employee's capacity to perform inherent job requirements
  • Manage complex absence scenarios, including prolonged leave, excessive sick leave and refusal to attend independent medical assessments
  • Understand workers' compensation obligations and respond to psychological injury claims arising from performance management
  • Build clear, defensible records to support HR decisions when challenged by the Fair Work Commission or workplace regulators

Format

  • Advanced, scenario-based case studies exploring complex performance, medical capacity and psychosocial risk situations
  • Practical decision-making frameworks for managing performance concerns alongside workplace health and safety obligations
  • Interactive exercises on medical certificates, independent medical assessments, reasonable adjustments and fitness-for-work decisions
  • Practical guidance on managing prolonged absences, psychological injury claims and workers' compensation processes
  • Documenting and assessing complex HR decisions through practical templates, checklists and defensible case-file examples

Workshop facilitators

Melbourne

Sydney