Blogs

• Article of interest – Overtime or overload? When is working on weekends part of the job? -   by Nick Leon Bartier Perry We all know how precious our weekends are – for well-earned downtime and respite from work, but many of us also spend time on weekends… ...
• Article of interest – Major Changes To IR Laws – What You Need To Know -   by Jan Dransfield , Lucienne Mummé and Claire Seremetis Johnson Winter & Slattery Introduction On 9 December 2020, the Attorney General tabled a new bill (the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting… ...
• Article of interest – Industrial manslaughter charges in Queensland (portent of what is to come?) - by James Mattson Bartier Perry Industrial manslaughter charges, a $3 million dollar fine for the company and suspended prison sentences for directors will send a chill down the backs of businesses… ...
• Article of interest – WorkPac vs Rossato – how employers can prepare for the outcome of the High Court decision - by Paul O'Halloran and Michael Russell Colin Biggers & Paisley Introduction The High Court of Australia has granted labour hire company WorkPac Pty Ltd special leave to appeal the controversial decision… ...
• Article of interest – The new normal: Challenges in a post-pandemic working environment - by Andrew Jose. People + Culture Strategies Introduction With Australia transitioning into a recovery phase, there are new areas of the working relationship which employers will need to adjust to in… ...
• Article of interest: Can firms mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees? - By Jerome Doraisamy Introduction A coronavirus vaccine is expected by March [2021], and as such, law firms may need to consider — if they aren’t already — whether or not… ...
• Café penalised for paying workers in food and drink - Introduction The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $139,800 in penalties in proceedings against the operator of a Brisbane café that partially paid some of its employees in food and drink.… ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman: Disability Services Australia signs Enforceable Undertaking - Introduction Disability Services Australia (DSA) has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman and is back-paying employees more than $1.6 million. The not-for-profit organisation, which provides… ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman: Perth franchisee penalised $230,040 for repeat offending - Introduction The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured its first penalties under the ‘serious contraventions’ provisions of the Protecting Vulnerable Workers laws, after a former Han’s Café franchisee in Perth underpaid… ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman: Medical centre back-pays workers over $15 million - Introduction A major national medical centre operator, Idameneo (No 123) Pty Ltd, has back-paid employees $15.3 million and entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).… ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman: National Library to backpay $250,000 - Introduction The National Library of Australia has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman after underpaying employees almost $250,000 in wages and superannuation. The public Commonwealth… ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman penalises massage parlour operator and its accountants - Introduction The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured total court penalties of $19,100 after a Victorian massage parlour operator admitted it underpaid a Chinese worker $13,522 and provided false records to… ...
• Fair Work Commission: Nightshift nurse dismissed for elder abuse wins reinstatement - Introduction Read the full decision here. The question I ask is: has the Fair Work Commission gone beyond its remit in ruling on an alleged case of elder abuse? The… ...
• Full Bench decision rules on employee/contractor appeal - Introduction Read the full decision here. This is a Full Bench appeal of a decision by a Commissioner who found that the person who claimed an unfair dismissal was an… ...
• Fair Work Commission: Managing Director comes under fire for sacking an employee on sick leave - Introduction Read the full decision here. What happens when two work colleagues have worked harmoniously for almost a decade, suddenly cannot simply work well together. In this case gun licences,… ...
• Fair Work Commission reinforces 21-day time limit for unfair dismissals - Even over the festive season, the FWC continues to operate, advising that the 21-day limit for unfair dismissal/adverse actions will still be enforced. See my FREE resource “Extension of Time… ...
• Fair Work Commission Annual report: Unfair dismissals to costs business $300 billion during 2020-2021 financial year - Unfair dismissal claims set to pass the 300,000 mark. A history on how we got here. ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman penalises for former grocery store operators - Asian grocery store cops fine and back payments to underpaid employees. ...
• Fair Work Ombudsman finds 7-Eleven partnership improves compliance - 7 Eleven pay back $173 million to workers ...
• The Fair Work Ombudsman reports a record $123 million recovered for workers - A big 12 months for the Fair Work Ombudsman. Don't get caught! ...