Reducing a casual employee's shifts amounted to a dismissal, and denying her an opportunity to respond to the decision rendered it harsh, unjust and unreasonable, the Fair Work Commission has found.
What defines a contingent worker remains "as clear as mud", according to a lawyer, who says employers must nonetheless step up their compliance efforts in line with increasing regulator activity.
An employer unfairly dismissed a casual employee when it informed her by text message that further shifts were "on hold" shortly after she announced she was pregnant, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in ordering her reinstatement.
Disputes so far about the application of fixed-term contract limits haven't yet resolved all the grey areas in the legislation, a workplace lawyer says.
The importance of complying with a direction didn't justify the "obstinate rejection" of an employee's explanations for not doing so, the Fair Work Commission has found in ordering her reinstatement.
A labour hire worker has been blocked from pursuing a general protections claim against two purported employers, with the Fair Work Commission accepting that neither terminated his employment.
Fixed-term contract restrictions have been a challenging reform to manage, but employers can take some comfort from the decisions handed down in disputes lodged so far, a workplace lawyer says in our latest Q&A.
When an employer receives a complaint or becomes aware of a conduct issue, it's not always appropriate to go down a traditional disciplinary path. This HR Daily Premium Q&A will discuss alternative options and how to determine which is best in various circumstances.
Recent constructive dismissal claims highlight the risks involved in accepting a resignation from an employee who is experiencing mental health issues. Watch this Q&A to understand the rulings' implications for all employers.
