Employers should consider excluding preferred hours clauses from enterprise agreements until Fair Work Australia clarifies whether they can pass the "better off overall" test, lawyers warn.
Employers convinced that mature-aged workers are reconsidering their retirement plans in the wake of the GFC need to think again, says ageing workforce expert and SageCo director, Alison Monroe.
More than 50 per cent of SMEs have a poor understanding of the National Employment Standards, which came into effect on 1 January 2010, a survey of 350 employers has found.
The links between employee engagement and profitability are well established, but there's been a lack of focus on the long-term impact on employees who have a high level of commitment to their employer, says Alice Streatfeild of research firm, ORC.
Managers must drive a healthy working hours culture in their workplaces, as more than half of employees are performing unpaid overtime on a typical workday, say the authors of a new report.
Employers that fail to measure and reward success holistically could be damaging their company's long-term health, says Mercer human capital principal Martin Turner.
As an increasing number of baby boomers find themselves caring not only for children and parents but grandchildren as well, the NSW Equal Employment Practitioners Association (NEEOPA) is urging employers to reassess how they manage and support their caregivers.
Employers that don't adequately prepare for employees' imminent right to request flexible working arrangements could see the morale of their workforce eroded and face public scrutiny over their handling of requests, says workplace lawyer Brad Petley.
The GFC has caused many baby boomers to rethink their retirement plans, creating opportunities for employers to benefit from their unique knowledge and experience for longer - if they can keep them engaged - says Nola Charkos, corporate consultant for ipac consulting.
