We all have those mornings. The rain is bucketing down outside, it’s warm and cosy inside, and the motivation to go to work is utterly absent.

Having just passed the middle of the year, there is opportunity for workplaces to organise “mid-winter Christmases” or similar events to celebrate workers surviving the trials and tribulations of six months at the coalface. The responsibilities of employers around alcohol consumption at work parties have come into focus since the Australian Fair Work Commission ruled that an employee who drunkenly abused his bosses and co-workers was unfairly dismissed.

In a world where social media has an ever-increasing influence on business, employers need to thoroughly consider their stance on the intersection of the two. Employers and employees alike grapple with the changing world of technology. There are some key areas that everyone should have some understanding of.

Two recent health and safety cases highlight important lessons for employers to learn from.