COVID-19

September 12, 2022

ALERT!
Major changes to mandatory vaccination rules in healthcare settings

The Queensland Chief Health Officer has revoked the Workers in a Healthcare Setting public health direction, one of the last-standing COVID-19 public health directions, with the revocation taking effect from 6pm on 2 September 2022. In announcing the revocation, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said vaccination requirements for healthcare workers are now left to each employers’ […]

January 31, 2022

EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
An employee’s defiance of a public health order was a valid reason for dismissal

COVID-19, Termination of Employment, Unfair Dismissal

In a recent unfair dismissal decision, the Fair Work Commission (‘FWC’) confirmed that a crane company had a valid reason to dismiss a mobile crane operator (‘employee’), who attended an illegal protest in contravention of a Victorian Government public health stay-at-home order (‘PHO’). Significantly, the FWC rejected the employee’s claim that although he had attended […]

December 22, 2021

EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
2021 – A Year in Review

Awards and Employee Entitlements, COVID-19, Employment Contracts, Independent Contractor Agreements

2021 has been a challenging one for employers. Not only have we seen many of our clients grapple with the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the legal challenges that have come with it, but also do their best to keep up-to-date with many other employment law related developments throughout the year. In this Employment Update […]

December 8, 2021

ALERT!
Public Health Direction behind 17 December 2021 restrictions finally released

COVID-19, Employment Contracts, Policies and Procedures

Yesterday, the Queensland Government released the ‘Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status Direction’ (‘Direction’) which will be effective from 5am (AEST) Friday, 17 December 2021. This is the direction that underpins the Queensland Government’s announcement of restrictions for unvaccinated persons on 9 November 2021. A link to the Direction can be found […]

December 21, 2020

EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Modern Award Round Up for 2020

Awards and Employee Entitlements, COVID-19

This year has seen a significant number of award changes as the Fair Work Commission (‘FWC’) draws near completion of its 4-yearly review. Award changes have also resulted from the insertion of various schedules into awards to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Award Flexibility Schedules On 8 April 2020 the Full Bench of the FWC […]

September 30, 2020

EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Jobkeeper 2.0 kicks off with new Legacy Employer Provisions

Awards and Employee Entitlements, COVID-19

JobKeeper 2.0 takes effect from 28 September 2020 The Australian Government announced the introduction of the JobKeeper scheme in March 2020 to assist employers and employees significantly affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 (JobKeeper 1.0). Due to renewed concern regarding the economic impacts and the spread of the Coronavirus, the Government announced in July […]

September 18, 2020

ALERT!
One more week until JobKeeper 2.0 takes effect – are you ready?

COVID-19

The current JobKeeper Payment of $1,500 per fortnight will cease on 27 September 2020 and from 28 September 2020, for those eligible employees and employers, the JobKeeper Payment will be reduced in two stages, and will move to a ‘two-tiered system’. The first reduction will take effect from 28 September 2020, and the second reduction […]

August 28, 2020

EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Failed consultation renders redundancy termination unfair; Loss of Jobkeeper factored into compensation

COVID-19, Redundancies, Restructuring, Unfair Dismissal

This month we look at a very topical case involving an employer who terminated an employee for redundancy reasons as a result of COVID-19 impacts to the business, and failed in its defence of the subsequent unfair dismissal claim. On 18 March 2020, the employer, a business advisory and accounting business, met with its employees […]

Changes to JobKeeper Payment & Coronavirus supplement for JobSeeker (1)

August 10, 2020

ALERT!
Easing of JobKeeper Wage Subsidy Program

Awards and Employee Entitlements, COVID-19

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced on Friday 7 August 2020 that the easing of what had been advised, changed eligibility thresholds for businesses and employees to qualify for the JobKeeper wage subsidy program. The Treasurer’s announcement comes as the significant second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria shuts down major parts of Victoria’s economy. The Government has […]

August 6, 2020

ALERT!
Temporary Award Flexibility Schedule Inserted into the Real Estate Award

Awards and Employee Entitlements, COVID-19

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has varied the Real Estate Award in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by adding a new Schedule I to apply from an employee’s first full pay period commencing on or after 6 August 2020. The Schedule applies to employees who were employed as a commission-only salesperson as […]

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