The use of ‘permanent casual’ employees has always carried an element of risk for employers. Last week’s decision of WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2020] serves as a follow up to the initial warning provided by the Full Federal Court in WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene (2018) regarding the perils of classifying an employment relationship as ‘casual’ […]
With 2020 well underway, it might be time for employers to undertake a ‘HR health check’. Undertaking a HR health check will help to minimise workplace risks and set your business up for a great year ahead. In this update we look at some practical tips that employers can focus on now to avoid costly […]
On 27 November 2019 the Palaszczuk State Government passed legislation to amend the Holidays Act 1983, with the key takeaway for employers being that hours worked after 6.00pm on Christmas Eve will now be a part-day public holiday. The change follows similar changes in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Specifically, following the change, the […]
In this alert we touch on some of the important upcoming changes that you need to be aware of in relation to: Annualised Salaries in Awards Mandatory Whistleblower Policies due 1 January 2020 Award changes Annualised Salaries in Awards – changes coming The Fair Work Commission recently decided that changes will be made to the annualised salary […]
The importance of having well-written employment contracts and workplace policies cannot be underestimated as they can set a very clear framework in which the relationship between the parties will be regulated. They also provide significant assistance when resolving workplace disputes. Why have employment contracts? Failure to enter into a written contract of employment with employees […]
Independent contractor arrangements – while they have their place, they can be risky and it looks like the risks are about to increase considerably. It is vitally important for businesses to correctly identify the persons performing work for them as either an employee or a contractor. By this we mean a true employee or a […]
The Federal Election has come and gone with a surprise win for Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition. In this alert we look at what a re-elected Coalition will mean for employers. Crack down on underpaying Employees ‘Wage theft’ is a hot topic and a big focus for the Government and the Fair Work […]
The Government has passed changes to the Fair Work Act providing employees with 5 days’ unpaid family and domestic violence leave each year. The new leave entitlement commenced on 12 December 2018 and has been added to the National Employment Standards (NES) of the Fair Work Act. The new NES leave entitlement is almost identical […]
There have been plenty of changes in relation to casual employment over the past few months with more changes just recently announced by the Federal Government. Firstly, the Government has amended the Fair Work Regulations to provide assistance to employers against ‘double-dipping’ claims made by casual employees who are paid a casual loading and then […]
This month we look at a recent Full Federal Court decision which found that an employee engaged as a casual and paid a casual loading was in fact a permanent employee and entitled to paid annual leave. The employee was placed at a mine-site through a labour hire company – the employer (WorkPac). The employer […]