May 2020 | NRA Legal

2019 Federal Election | Coalition holds on to government – outlines changes to Fair Work Act

A close up image of someone stamping a document with a large metal stamp.

The Coalition has managed to form a majority government in a fiercely contested election last Saturday. While Labor had spent much of its election campaign outlining a near-overhaul to the industrial relations landscape, the Morrison Government’s IR platform was more aligned with the status quo. Here is everything we know about the LNP’s plans to change…

Qantas wins right to not pay sick leave to stood down workers

By Rebecca Goulter

A photo of a Qantas plane in mid-flight on a clear blue sky.

In something of a speed record for the Australian judicial system, less than three weeks after final submissions were made the Federal Court of Australia yesterday ruled that Qantas workers who have been stood down are not entitled to paid personal (sick) leave or compassionate leave. This case may have significant ramifications for employers nationwide…

How to safely bring your employees back to the workplace after hibernation

By Rebecca Goulter

a photo of someone walking to work with a coffee in one hand and a magazine in the other.

Due to the speed with which the COVID-19 pandemic spread and required social distancing to ‘flatten the curve’, many companies were forced to either stand down their workforces or organise and implement alternative working arrangements (including work from home arrangements) with little opportunity to reflect on the challenges associated with either course of action, including…

Immediate changes to JobKeeper Rules

By Lindsay Carroll

An image of a pure white puzzle with one piece removed to reveal a part of the Australian $100 note,

Late Friday evening, the Treasurer tabled the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 2) 2020 (the Amendments), which amends the rules of the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program. The Amendments give effect to changes announced by the Treasurer on Friday 24 April 2020, including important clarifications to the “one in, all in” aspect of…

Casuals and Jobkeeper: casual absenteeism and disciplinary processes

By Lindsay Carroll

A photo of three empty white chairs with silver legs in a row

Although reasonably new (and still changing), the JobKeeper program has, so far, had a mixed effect on businesses. Whilst some employers have embraced it wholeheartedly others, especially those with a workforce comprised largely of casual employees usually earning less than $1,500 a fortnight, have been more hesitant to undertake the significant cost increase to meet…