An employer has failed in its bid to conceal a client list in its new enterprise agreement, after the Fair Work Commission found this could potentially lead to breaches of pay secrecy prohibitions.
Suncorp has backpaid almost $32 million to underpaid workers and entered an enforceable undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman, after inconsistently applying a clause in its enterprise agreements.
Employers' obligations regarding flexible work, unpaid parental leave and enterprise bargaining change today, while more industrial relations reforms are coming into effect soon.
The Federal Court has ordered the reinstatement of an employee sacked for making "deliberately provocative" social media posts, but declined to order damages for distress, finding he didn't appear to be "an individual whose feelings might easily be hurt".
Imminent changes to the better-off-overall test will make it easier for employers to enter into new enterprise agreements, while giving the Fair Work Commission power to reassess and change terms post-agreement, according to a workplace lawyer.
Employers are now playing an increasingly active role in bargaining, with lawyers suggesting many are "getting ahead" of the multi-employer arrangements starting in June.
The Labor Government has introduced its second tranche of promised workplace relations reforms, aiming to close the "loopholes that some businesses use to undercut workers' pay, security and flexibility".
The Productivity Commission has proposed changing how the Fair Work Commission approaches modern awards, and suggests employers should be able to choose from "menus" regarding how they comply.
Support is mounting for employees to have a 'right to disconnect' from work, and employers that don't act quickly to take the lead on this issue risk being forced into measures that don't suit them, an employment law barrister warns.
General protections claims are the fastest-growing category of applications in the Fair Work Commission, with reforms now underway to stem the tide. This webinar will discuss important developments in both procedural issues and case law.
