Under the paid parental leave (PPL) scheme set to start in 2011, employers will be pre-paid employees' entitlements to "avoid cash flow pressures", the federal government revealed in last night's budget announcements.
Employers can expect a sharp increase in requests for alternative working arrangements as new legislation aimed at employees with young kids "formalises" and "normalises" flexibility across the board, according to employment lawyer and consultant, Juliet Bourke.
Managers looking to implement alternative working arrangements in a bid to avoid sacking staff throughout the GFC are at risk of exposing themselves to litigation if they fail to adequately consult, a workplace lawyer warns.
Australian HR departments are struggling to meet the challenges created by recession-driven cost-cutting with fewer resources and less control over decision-making, a new study confirms.
More than half of employees in the Australian finance profession have had to take on extra tasks after staff cuts, but employers are failing to put in place countering work/life balance initiatives, a survey has found.
"New entrant" airlines investing heavily in employee development and resisting the urge to "slash and burn" their workforce during economic slumps are outperforming the industry giants, says a new book on the flight trade.
Employers that underestimate the proficiency of trade unions and neglect to do their homework in the lead up to enterprise-agreement negotiations are unlikely to "exert control" at the bargaining table, says Deacons partner Martin Osborne.
Poor redundancy strategies are leaving employers vulnerable to having their top talent poached by their competitors, according to human capital firm Chandler Macleod Group.
A rigorously applied anti-bullying strategy adhering to the "five pillars" of the risk management process is vital in eliminating workplace harassment and protecting employers from stress-related legal action, according to a HopgoodGanim Lawyers report.
Employers forced to make redundancies after the Fair Work Act comes into force in July must prove they have proactively pursued all redeployment alternatives before letting workers go - and an internal job board won't cut the mustard, says a workplace relations lawyer.
