On the couch
On the couch
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We have a very comfortable virtual couch at Justitia, which is where we have our best discussions. This is what we’re talking about at the moment.
High Court decision on personal/carer’s leave
The High Court has handed down its decision in Mondelez today, finally settling the question about what “10 days” of personal/carer’s leave means. Employers now have certainty about entitlements. […]
Reminder for employers about wage increases
As we commence the new financial year, we remind employers that some of you may very soon be required to increase wages for your employees. Are you one of those employers? Read on to consider whether this legal obligation affects you. If you are an employer who pays: the minimum wage to your award/agreement free […]
Preparing for Coronavirus in the workplace – key questions for employers
Organisations across Australia are currently preparing for, and dealing with, the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Coronavirus). According to experts, it is a question of when, not if, a pandemic will be declared and the Australian Government has already triggered its emergency response plan. A pandemic, according to the World Health Organisation, is the worldwide spread […]
All in? Updates to rules for annualised wage arrangements
What is an annualised wage arrangement? Some modern awards contain provisions for an annualised wage arrangement. An annualised wage arrangement is a mechanism by which an employer pays an annualised wage to an award employee that is equal or superior to the entitlements required by the modern award. This allows for payment of a higher […]
Wrap up: the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
The Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (APSACC) last week offered a wide programme of speakers and accordingly attracted a large audience. The recent changes to whistleblower laws meant that APSACC was of particular interest this year to those who work on integrity matters in the public and private sectors. Whistleblower protections are attracting great interest […]
Recent ALGWA conference offers little nuggets of gold for employers
Last weekend I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend an exceptional conference; the Australian Local Government Women’s Association Vic Conference 2019. The conference was hosted by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Justitia was one of the sponsors. The theme of the conference was Leadership and Collaboration in government and community. I listened […]
Victoria’s new Labour Hire Licensing Scheme
The new Victorian Labour Hire Licensing Scheme (Scheme) – designed to provide protection to vulnerable labour hire workers – came into force on 29 April 2019. The labour hire industry in Victoria is now regulated by the Labour Hire Licensing Authority, which is responsible for implementing the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic) (Act) and […]
Does an employer have to give a reason when terminating employment during the probationary period?
The Federal Circuit Court, in the recent penalty decision of Pacheco-Hernandez v Duty Free Stores Gold Coast Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2019] FCCA 1295, ordered the employer to pay a penalty of $20,000 after it dismissed a probationary employee for a prohibited reason. The penalty was additional to the approximately $10,000 that was awarded in […]
Performance management and receiving feedback – what does it trigger in you?
A few weeks ago I was invited to speak at a conference on the topic of performance management. My first thought was “great!” – it’s a topic I have spoken on many times before, so I was fairly confident I could revamp something without too much effort. Yet as the conference approached and my enthusiasm […]
Looming election and Labor’s IR Policy Platform
With a Federal Election due to be held by May 2019, industrial relations is already shaping up as a key battleground for the major political parties. The Australian Labor Party (Labor) has announced several policies relating to employment and industrial relations in their 2018 draft National Policy Platform. In the event Labor are elected, the […]
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