NEW CHANGES TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE OFFERING FLEXIBILITY AND SUPPORTING GENDER EQUALITY.
On Monday 6th March the Senate passed the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvement for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022. The changes to paid parental leave (PPL) will commence from July 2023, allowing working parents a flexible 20-week entitlement, giving more families …
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DIRECTOR JEREMY AND HIS ITHAKA MEDIA GROUP
Last Friday Jeremy hosted us to the opening of the Masters Series for the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra: Music of the Ecstasy at the Perth Concert Hall. It was an inspiring night of classical music featuring the works of Weber, Brahms, Strauss …
COPMPANIES SHOULD HAVE EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENTPOLICIES IN PLACE.
Our recent win in the Fair Work Commission (which appeared in last week’s Workplace Express), underscores the importance for an employer to have a diligent approach to the Fair Work Commission. Our Chief Industrial Advocate Patrick Mullally represented Mr. Ryan Archer for …
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT PROPOSAL LAUNCHED
This week the Australian Human Rights Commission launched a model for a proposed Human Rights Act in Australia. We are one of the only liberal democracies without a Charter of Human Rights. The right to work is one such human right. The …
WORKER FIRED FOR NAPPING ON THE JOB WINS UNFAIR DISMISSAL DUE TO LACK OF PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS
A recent decision by Deputy President Gerard Boyce found an employee’s dismissal to be harsh, unjust and unreasonable even though he also found the employer had a valid reason to dismiss the worker after he was found napping on the job. Last …
Railway Labourer of 39 years reinstated after dismissal.
In December last year Commissioner Simpson found the dismissal of Mr. Trevor Purves to be ‘’harsh” and ordered his employer Queensland Rail Transit Authority to reinstate him as well as pay him 50% of lost pay. Mr. Purves was a loyal employee …
NATIONAL SURVEY STATISTICS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Last year the Australian Human Rights Commission conducted the 5th national survey which addressed sexual harassment in the workplace, investigating forms of sexual harassment, industries, impact and reporting. It was the first survey that asked workers their views on the actions taken …
KEEPING THE WORKPLACE SAFE AND FREE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARDS
On the 24th December 2022 new Work Health and Safety regulations for the control of psychosocial hazards came into effect, making it illegal for employers to ignore risks and not work at minimising them as much as practicable to ensure a healthy …
FWC PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT ON OCCUPATIONAL SEGREGATION AND GENDER UNDERVALUATION
On the 4th of November the Fair Work Commission President Ross released a statement on Occupational Segregation and Gender Undervaluation after the Full Bench handed down a decision in Aged Care Work Value Case. Occupational segregation has remained consistent for the past …
HEAVY FINES FOR SACKING IN CIRCUMSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION
A recent decision by Federal Circuit and Family Court Judge Amanda Tonkin saw justice served for veteran stonemason Timothy John Rutley when his previous employer was ordered to pay another $76,000 in fines for unlawful and discriminatory adverse action. The stone benchtops …