All modern awards are now set to contain a "casual conversion" clause but, in a decision welcomed by employers, the Fair Work Commission has rejected that conversion to permanent employment should be automatic after 12 months.
The Federal Government's consideration of a bounty-style reward for whistleblowers could undermine employers' existing processes, according to a workplace lawyer. Meanwhile, workplace law changes start Saturday, FWO action is improving business compliance, and more.
As the modern awards system becomes more complex, employers should ensure they're staying up to date with changes, and keep one eye on whether an enterprise agreement might better suit their needs, a workplace lawyer says.
From today, a new high-income threshold applies, affecting unfair dismissal claims and modern award coverage, while changes to the employee share scheme rules also take effect, and minimum wages and modern award rates go up.
Do your organisation's employment contracts minimise its exposure to unwanted liabilities and protect its interests? Ensure each new contract or variation is legally sound by watching this webcast.
When contracting arrangements aren't clear on paper and are murky in practice, they become like the proverbial "ticking bomb", potentially resulting in massive back-pay orders for wages, superannuation contributions, and other modern award or NES entitlements.
When contracting arrangements aren't clear on paper and are murky in practice, they become like the proverbial "ticking bomb", potentially resulting in massive back-pay orders for wages, superannuation contributions, and other modern award or NES entitlements.
Too many employers put their "heads in the sand" when in doubt about the clarity of their contracting arrangements, but it's far better to "crystallise their liability", says employment lawyer Brad Swebeck.
Fair Work Australia's "landmark" equal remuneration ruling will pave the way for gender-based arguments to increase minimum pay in some modern awards, according to Lander & Rogers lawyers Daniel Proietto and Patrizia Mercuri.
