A major review has largely rejected arguments that the Closing Loopholes reforms have had "unintended consequences" for employers, however it recommends that clearer guidance should be developed as a priority, to reduce uncertainty and complexity.
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.
The Fair Work Commission has rejected arguments that it wasn't appropriate or fair to make 'same job, same pay' orders for more than 2,000 workers, in a major ruling on the provisions that will add about $66 million to the affected employers' wages bills.
The 'same job, same pay' test case ruling handed down by a full bench of the Fair Work Commission suggests the provisions extend beyond their intended scope, according to industry leaders.
'Same job, same pay' claims have been driving wage gains at a level far greater than government forecasts, according to a new report, but a labour hire authority questions the merit of its "broad conclusions".
The new 'unfair contracts' jurisdiction cannot deal with disputes about the conduct of parties to a contract, the Fair Work Commission has clarified in dismissing a home-care contractor's claim.
Workplace bullying complaints continue to pose significant challenges for employers, including where the behaviour doesn't meet the legal definition of bullying or the threshold to make a claim. Watch this HR Daily Premium webcast to understand key lessons from cases where bullying complaints interact with other claims and issues.
What constitutes "best practice" when managing neurodiversity at work is evolving all the time. Watch this HR Daily Premium webcast to learn how to embed neuroinclusive practices into HR programs and every stage of the employment lifecycle.
