The Fair Work Commission has rejected that an employee should be classified as part-time and eligible for JobKeeper because her employer intended to offer her a permanent role. Also in this article: an employer won't be able to make an employee's role redundant despite COVID-19 until after her discrimination claim is decided; whistleblower compliance risks falling by the wayside during the pandemic; and why more start-ups are engaging HR professionals.
Phasing out the JobKeeper scheme, rather than suddenly ending it, is one of several suggested measures to ensure a smooth labour market recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
The Fair Work Commission has already received 120 applications to deal with JobKeeper-related disputes, and has published a new benchbook for employers. Also in this article: updates on the JobKeeper scheme; a roundup of COVID-19 and other rulings; and more.
New research suggests the employment impacts of COVID-19 will be higher than previously estimated. Also in this article: a framework for long-term remote success; how grads will be "scarred" by their labour market entry; employees "confused" about JobKeeper; and more.
Employees might be unlikely to dispute stand-down directions at the moment, but a large number of claims and legal challenges are set to emerge when the market recovers, a lawyer warns.
The rules that will determine how the national JobKeeper scheme operates have been released. Also in this article, unemployment is set to hit 10%; employees are reporting higher stress levels, but are generally positive about their employers' COVID-19 responses; and more.
This webcast explains how employers can stay compliant with the Fair Work Act while directing stand downs, varying employees' hours or pay, or making roles redundant. It also provides a detailed overview of the new JobKeeper wage subsidy arrangements.
Fair Work Act amendments to allow the Federal Government's $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper scheme to proceed have been passed by parliament. Meanwhile the FWC has added pandemic leave to close to 100 modern awards.
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.
