The Fair Work Commission has rejected a bid by unions to include paid pandemic leave in more modern awards. Meanwhile, an employee has won compensation after falsely being sacked due a lack of work.
An employer's "very difficult financial position" has not convinced the Fair Work Commission an employee should be denied redundancy pay. Also in this article, Uber Eats' settlement leaves gig work in a "grey zone" as more legal challenges loom.
An employee has won maximum compensation for unfair dismissal after the Fair Work Commission found an HR "cowboy" failed to genuinely consult her during a redundancy process.
Unfair dismissal rulings from 2020 hold many lessons for employers for the year ahead, not least among which is the importance of shoring up genuine redundancy defences, lawyers say.
The High Court has refused to hear an employer's redundancy-exception appeal, while unions are calling for the "loophole" to be closed. Also in this article, government guides for mentally healthier workplaces; new research on underpayments; and more.
HR's challenges around remote and flexible working will continue to develop in 2021, while compliance is an area that "will come back with a vengeance", an employment lawyer says.
A recruitment company used a stand-down direction to force a state manager to resign, so it could avoid paying her contractual entitlement to three months' notice, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
An employer has failed to argue it "broadly complied" with redundancy consultation obligations, with the Fair Work Commission saying the steps it took could "never constitute meaningful consultation".
A redeployment offer that added nearly two hours to an employee's daily commute was reasonable, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in reducing his redundancy pay. Also in this article: a roundup of recent dismissal cases; and other compliance developments.
The way employers handle redundancies and restructures now will have a lasting impact on whether their "survivors" continue to be engaged and productive, a specialist says.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.
After years of legislative and regulatory changes, employers' key compliance challenges continue to shift and evolve. Attend this webinar to catch up on recent developments and their HR implications, preparing you and your organisation for what lies ahead.
