Employers are making decisions about adapting the way their workforces operate in the context of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. These are plainly circumstances without parallel or precedent, and so many businesses are relying on fundamental principles of risk management and business continuity planning, and attempting to apply them in this rapidly developing situation. The purpose … Read more
On 5 March 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) released its long-awaited report on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, “Respect@Work”. The report is the culmination of an 18-month inquiry, led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. It is comprehensive and data-driven, and concludes (amongst other things) that the current legal framework is, in … Read more
The Fair Work Commission has issued its decision setting out a schedule of draft variation determinations outlining the amendments that will be made to the annualised wage provisions for various modern awards including the Banking, Finance and Insurance Award 2010, Clerks – Private Sector Award 2010, Horticulture Award 2010, Legal Services Award 2010, Manufacturing and … Read more
Following the outbreak of novel coronavirus, we recommend that businesses take steps to ensure that they manage associated risks to the health and safety of workers, both at home and abroad. Workplace Health and Safety laws in Australia generally require that persons conducting a business or undertaking (‘PCBUs’) eliminate, or if that’s not reasonably practicable, … Read more
The Mineral and Energy Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (Bill) was introduced to Queensland Parliament on 4 February 2020 . The policy objective of the Bill relates to the Queensland Government’s priority to strengthen the safety culture in the resources sector through the introduction of industrial manslaughter offence provisions and requiring that persons … Read more
Our latest podcast focuses on the key issues we expect to see in employment and industrial relations as we look ahead to 2020. Melbourne Partners Anthony Wood and Natalie Gaspar share their trends and predictions covering areas such as underpayment compliance, the proposed changes to annualised salary provisions and key legislative changes. It’s essential listening … Read more
Partners Anthony Longland and Natalie Gaspar from our Employment, Industrial Relation and Safety team, discuss some of the results from a global survey presented in our report the ‘Future of Work: Adapting to the democratised workplace’ which warns of an unprecedented rise in workforce activism ahead and what the findings might mean for the union … Read more
Further to our previous updates, there have been a number of recent developments to licensing schemes in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. Most notably: Victoria: The Victorian Labour Hire Authority has announced that where a completed application is submitted to the Authority before midnight on 31 December 2019 and there is no evidence of non-compliance, … Read more
