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Changes to Workplace Gender Equality Agency reporting for 2023
Last week many organisations around the country celebrated International Women’s Day, however statistics show that there is still plenty of work to do to achieve true gender parity. The Workplace Gender Equality ...
Read more Hand them over: First charges under WA Work Health and Safety Act may result in fines of $1.87m
Western Australia’s WorkSafe regulator (WorkSafe), the State’s body tasked with enforcing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) (Act), has laid charges under the Act for the first time against a ...
Read more Engaging Junior Employees – What You Need To Know
The retail and fast food sectors are some of the largest employers of junior employees in Australia. However, additional obligations are imposed on businesses engaging employees under the age of 18. While ...
Read more New Family and Domestic Violence Leave entitlements begin February 1
Following the passage of the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2022 (the Act) in November last year, 1 February 2023 marks the day many employees become entitled ...
Read more ‘Zombie’ enterprise agreements set to expire
With the passing of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022, a 12-month timer has begun on all ‘zombie’ enterprise agreements. What is a ‘zombie’ agreement? A zombie ...
Read more Changes to annualised wage arrangements under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 and the Restaurant Industry Award 2020
As of 1 September 2022, the annualised wage arrangement provisions under the Restaurant Award 2020 (Restaurant Award) and the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (Hospitality Award) (collectively, the Awards) have been tightened, ...
Read more Sexual harassment in the spotlight
Since our November article here on the Fair Work Commission’s new ‘Stop Sexual Harassment’ jurisdiction, the Federal and some State governments have announced that they will be taking steps to act on ...
Read more Amendments to the Fast Food Industry Award to take effect from 28 July 2022
Upon commencement of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act), the Fair Work Commission (Commission) was directed to undertake a 4-yearly review of all modern awards to ensure that they were meeting ...
Read more Sushi restaurant penalised for ‘serious contraventions’ of workplace laws
In the recent decision of Fair Work Ombudsman v Delishesco Pty Ltd,[1] the Federal Circuit and Family Court has handed a Brisbane restaurant over $355,000 in penalties for ‘serious contraventions’ of the ...
Read more When disaster strikes: What entitlements do my employees have during the floods?
When disaster strikes and business is suspended or employees can’t get to work, multiple employment entitlements are impacted. In this article, we wrap up some of the most frequently asked questions and ...
Read more Franchisor responsibility under the Fair Work Act: When can you be liable for your franchisee’s non-compliance?
In certain circumstances, franchisors can be held legally responsible for conduct of their franchisees that breaches workplace laws under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Fair Work Act). Not every franchise arrangement ...
Read more Industrial relations changes under the new Labor government: What can employers expect?
Following the recent Federal election, the new Labor government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to introduce a raft of changes to workplace laws in Australia. Going into the election, Labor’s ...
Read more Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave provisionally endorsed by Fair Work Commission
Unpaid family and domestic violence leave has been a feature of the National Employment Standards since 2018. Arising from the Fair Work Commission’s 4-yearly review of modern awards, the Australian Council of ...
Read more No Compensation for Unfairly Dismissed Anti-Vaxxer
In the current climate surrounding Covid-19, employers have sought to comply with ever changing health directions, and to safeguard their workplaces, by enacting vaccination policies and requirements. Where some employees have failed ...
Read more Ramadan in the workplace: Best practice guide for employers
This evening, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan will commence, to end on the evening of 1 May 2022. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims will abstain from food or drink, including water, from ...
Read more Employer who told 61-year-old employee they were “too old” for the job ordered to pay compensation
In March 2021, a construction company was ordered to pay $3,000 to a construction worker for discriminating against him on the basis of his age. As most employers are aware, it is ...
Read more Fair Work Commission agrees that ‘green tick’ was unworkable as vaccination evidence under workplace policy
In the recent case of CFMEU v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2022] FWC 81, a senior member of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) has decided that employers can require workers to provide ...
Read more Fair Work Commission declines to make stop sexual harassment order
In a recent decision, the Fair Work Commission has declined the opportunity to exercise its powers under the new anti-sexual-harassment jurisdiction. Commencing on 11 November 2021 the Commission may make any order ...
Read more Mental health and performance management: Achieving the right balance
Heath authorities have warned, and it is fast becoming clear, that the anxiety and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will have drastic consequences for the mental health of Australians. With the ...
Read more To mask or not to mask? Employer succeeds in defending mandatory mask requirement
In a recent case before the Fair Work Commission, a flight attendant’s employment came to an end due to her refusal to wear a face mask. The case of Watson v National ...
Read more “Beware the work Christmas party!” – motherly advice that both employers and employees do well to heed
As the holiday season approaches, businesses and their employees are looking forward to relaxing together at work Christmas parties and celebrating the end of another challenging COVID-19 impacted year. However, the festive ...
Read more Are you a Company Director? How and when to apply for your Director Identification Number
As of November, company directors in Australia have been given deadlines to apply for Director Identification Numbers. Following recent amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act), the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) is now responsible for requiring every director of an Australian company or ...
Read more Introducing the Fair Work Commission’s new powers: Stop Sexual Harassment Orders
Australian workforces have certainly not been immune to the impacts of global movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp. In fact, a 2018 national inquiry (National Inquiry) undertaken into sexual harassment led by ...
Read more Paid leave for parents who experience miscarriage
The ‘Respect@Work’ provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) have been well publicised and have made the news for their establishment of a new, stop sexual harassment jurisdiction in ...
Read more Fair Work Ombudsman ramps up use of compliance notices as wage theft continues to dominate headlines
The Fair Work Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has more than doubled its use of compliance notices over the last 12 months. The watchdog reported that in the financial year of 2020 to 2021, it ...
Read more Safety poster becomes costly reminder that horseplay can still amount to sexual harassment
Independent contractor and workplace consultant, Vitality Works Australia Pty Ltd (Vitality Works), and NSW government-owned corporation Sydney Water (Sydney Water), have each been held jointly liable for sexual harassment after displaying a ...
Read more Compliance deadline approaching for casual conversion
The key compliance date of 27 September 2021 for employers to meet new ‘casual conversion’ requirements is fast approaching. This is the deadline for compliance with the latest changes to the Fair ...
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