The JobKeeper program will be reviewed next month to adjust for anomalies, misuse, and potential adjustment of its finish date, the Prime Minister has confirmed. Also in this article, the FWO slams big businesses' non-compliance with the FW Act; further changes to EA regulations; and more.
The Fair Work Commission has ruled it does have jurisdiction to deal with JobKeeper underpayment disputes, in rejecting an attempt by Qantas to throw out an employee's claim.
It was unreasonable for an employee to require a formal plan to understand how she could meet her employer's performance expectations, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in rejecting her unfair dismissal claim.
With the Federal Government urging a return to business as usual by July, employers have to consider some important questions about how they'll approach the transition, a workplace lawyer says.
The Fair Work Commission has rejected that an employee should be classified as part-time and eligible for JobKeeper because her employer intended to offer her a permanent role. Also in this article: an employer won't be able to make an employee's role redundant despite COVID-19 until after her discrimination claim is decided; whistleblower compliance risks falling by the wayside during the pandemic; and why more start-ups are engaging HR professionals.
An industrial relations specialist has been ordered to pay an employer's costs of defending an unfair dismissal claim, with the Fair Work Commission describing its actions as "reckless", costly and "highly prejudicial".
Qantas is facing a claim from a former employee over discrimination and harassment going back 30 years, and has failed in its attempt to block media access to the allegations.
Many employers have hit pause on disciplinary processes in light of disruptions caused by COVID-19, and procedural fairness will be critical as these recommence, says a workplace lawyer.
Phasing out the JobKeeper scheme, rather than suddenly ending it, is one of several suggested measures to ensure a smooth labour market recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Reduced face-to-face interaction and hasty email communication – coupled with job insecurity, isolation and stress – could see COVID-19 distancing measures heighten the risk of bullying claims, a workplace lawyer says.
Costly legal disputes continue to highlight the many risks employers face when managing, disciplining, or dismissing employees while they are absent, injured or incapacitated. Attend this webinar for an up-to-date review of the legal framework applying to workplace absenteeism, injury and incapacity, and lessons from recent case law.