Employers are taking steps to have new enterprise agreements approved as soon as possible to avoid the uncertainty that is likely to surround the better off overall test, or BOOT, when it comes into effect in January next year.
The Federal Government's proposed changes to employee share scheme rules could cause the schemes to come to a halt and will have a negative impact on both workers and employers, lawyers say.
Under the paid parental leave (PPL) scheme set to start in 2011, employers will be pre-paid employees' entitlements to "avoid cash flow pressures", the federal government revealed in last night's budget announcements.
Employers can expect a sharp increase in requests for alternative working arrangements as new legislation aimed at employees with young kids "formalises" and "normalises" flexibility across the board, according to employment lawyer and consultant, Juliet Bourke.
Managers looking to implement alternative working arrangements in a bid to avoid sacking staff throughout the GFC are at risk of exposing themselves to litigation if they fail to adequately consult, a workplace lawyer warns.
Employers that fail to take adequate measures to prevent the spread of disease should a swine flu pandemic take hold could find themselves in breach of OHS laws, says Deacons partner Michael Tooma.
Employers forced to make redundancies after the Fair Work Act comes into force in July must prove they have proactively pursued all redeployment alternatives before letting workers go - and an internal job board won't cut the mustard, says a workplace relations lawyer.
Employers must ensure they understand the modern award system before it comes into effect in just nine months, according to workplace lawyer Shana Schreier-Joffe, who warns that the new Fair Work Australia regulator is likely to be vigilant in pursuing employers for non-compliance.
General protections claims are the fastest-growing category of applications in the Fair Work Commission, with reforms now underway to stem the tide. This webinar will discuss important developments in both procedural issues and case law.
