October is Mental Health Month and World Mental Health Day is on October 10, a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. This a great opportunity for businesses to get proactive in dealing with a major challenge for Australian society and every business – the impact of mental illness. A recent Pricewaterhouse Coopers […]
On 25 September 2018, a full bench of the Fair Work Commission issued a decision to insert a “Requests for flexible working arrangements” clause in all modern awards. These requests have to date been regulated under National Employment Standards which essentially provide the ability for employees with 12 months continuous service to apply to vary […]
In essence, they are whatever you need them to be. Here are some different elements of better workplaces that we might include in a “Better Workplace Project” depending on client needs, preferences and budget: A Respectful Workplace: implementing a values-based approach to behavioural standards that are to be applied across the business and addressing legal requirements […]
Today is the official RUOK day, that day once a year when the spotlight is shone on mental health and what we can all do to support those doing it tough on the mental health front. Those 4 simple steps can make such a difference: Ask RUOK? Listen Encourage action Check in And please here […]
I have read a number of stories in the media and on social media about sacked employees successfully prosecuting unfair dismissal claims even though the Fair Work Commission found that there was justification for the sacking. This happens a lot (even to large employers) and it is because, according to the law, it is not […]
All modern awards which do not already have a casual conversion clause will have one from 1 October 2018. This means that employees who are engaged as casuals on a regular and systematic basis for 12 months can apply to convert to full-time and part-time employment. An employer can refuse such a request on reasonable […]
A decision by a Federal Circuit Court Judge has thrown the car rental industry into confusion about the award coverage of its workers. For over a decade, the Fair Work Ombudsman and its predecessor government agencies have held that customer service staff are covered by clerical awards and car cleaners are covered by vehicle industry […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman has published a modified version of the Fair Work Information Statement effective from 1 July 2018. Under National Employment Standards, employers must provide any new employee with a copy of the current Fair Work Information Statement. The document provides basic information on employee entitlements and rights and the roles of the […]
In the backwash of the banking royal commission, the investigations into paedophilia in religious institutions, ongoing domestic violence and gender inequality, much publicised cases of underpayment of wages by rogue employers and gig businesses and rorts by members of parliament and government officials, there is a lot of talk about “trust” and Australia having a […]
All modern awards have been varied with effect from 1 August 2018 to provide all employees including casuals with an entitlement of up to 5 days unpaid leave per annum to deal with family and domestic violence.