Employers' imminent obligation to align employees' super and wage payments could significantly add to HR's compliance and communication workload, a specialist says.
Conciliation conferences have become less about hearing both sides of a dispute and much more focused on offers, so amendments designed to reduce the Fair Work Commission's workload should also be positive for employers, a workplace lawyer says.
The Fair Work Commission will be able to resolve disputes about whether an employee has been dismissed without conducting a hearing, under proposed changes to the Fair Work Act.
Proposals to insert "clearer, and in some contexts prioritised, protections based on biological s-x" in discrimination laws would add a further layer of complexity to employers' obligations in this space, according to a workplace lawyer.
The public interest test poses a "very significant threshold" for employers to meet when they're seeking to appeal a Fair Work Commission decision, a lawyer says.
A major review has largely rejected arguments that the Closing Loopholes reforms have had "unintended consequences" for employers, however it recommends that clearer guidance should be developed as a priority, to reduce uncertainty and complexity.
A recent general protections claim demonstrates that race discrimination laws are "intended to be read broadly and generously", a workplace lawyer says.
It's relatively rare for discrimination claims to proceed to a final hearing at the federal level, but some recent decisions provide "really valuable guidance for employers" on how courts are interpreting these laws, a workplace lawyer says.
When an employer receives a complaint or becomes aware of a conduct issue, it's not always appropriate to go down a traditional disciplinary path. This HR Daily Premium Q&A will discuss alternative options and how to determine which is best in various circumstances.
Recent constructive dismissal claims highlight the risks involved in accepting a resignation from an employee who is experiencing mental health issues. Watch this Q&A to understand the rulings' implications for all employers.
