When Performance Management Becomes a Psychosocial Risk

Wednesday, 19 August 2026, 12.30PM - 2.00PM, Perth CBD

NEW EVENT


We are pleased to invite you to an interactive discussion exploring what happens when performance management, workplace complaints, investigations and psychosocial risk collide.

📅 When: Wednesday, 19 August 2026
⏰ Time: 12.30PM - 2.00PM
📍 Venue: Dexus Place, Level 16, 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth
🥗 Light lunch provided

Managing underperformance is a necessary part of leading a team, but when the process is handled poorly, employers can unintentionally create psychosocial hazards, escalate workplace conflict and increase their exposure to employment, workers’ compensation and work health and safety claims.

Designed for HR, WHS and business leaders, this highly practical session will examine how employers can manage difficult workplace matters fairly and confidently without creating further legal risk.

The discussion will explore how to:

• Manage underperformance using a fair and supportive framework.
• Understand the distinction between reasonable management action and potentially harmful conduct.
• Respond when an employee raises psychosocial hazards during performance management.
• Handle grievances and misconduct allegations without prejudging the outcome.
• Protect complainants, respondents, witnesses and managers during investigations.
• Document decisions and understand when to seek legal advice.
• Decide when HR, legal, WHS or an external investigator should become involved.
• Reduce the risk of unfair dismissal, general protections, workers’ compensation and WHS claims arising from performance management processes.


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Sarah McLeod

Sarah founded Modern Legal, a specialised employment law firm, in 2016. She has more than 20 years’ experience in employment law and litigation, gained through roles with state and federal industrial regulators, international law firms, and boutique practices in Perth and London.

Sarah is an experienced workplace investigator known for conducting investigations independently, fairly and sensitively. She developed her expertise in complex investigations as a Senior Lawyer at the Fair Work Ombudsman and, since founding Modern Legal, has been involved in conducting more than 100 independent investigations into alleged inappropriate workplace behaviour. For the past five years, Sarah and the Modern Legal team have been recognised in Doyle’s Legal Guide as recommended employment law practitioners, with Modern Legal most recently recognised nationally as a recommended employment law firm.