"Clear shortfalls" in an employer's available staffing levels, which were "well in excess of typical absences", provided a reasonable business ground to refuse an employee's flexible work request, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
A debate about how Australia can "future-proof" work relations has seen widespread agreement that reform is needed, but conflicting opinions about how "sweeping" it should be.
The Federal Government's Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill has been introduced to parliament, and proposes to give employees more flexible work rights, while also tackling the gender pay gap, modernising enterprise bargaining, and more.
The Labor Government will introduce legislation for the first of its industrial relations reforms next week, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has announced, and employers are already expressing "deep frustration".
Modern award and enterprise bargaining changes will play a crucial role in improving the current industrial relations system so it is fairer and makes workplaces more productive, the Productivity Commission says.
The Federal Court has restrained a non-legal representative from communicating with three major employers on behalf of unvaccinated workers, finding his emails have become "progressively more aggressive" and threatening.
Employers are becoming increasingly concerned about facing claims in the Fair Work Commission from workers who are represented by people without legal qualifications.
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.
