Vaccines and staff a legal mess in the workplace Peter Strong

A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Nancy, France. Picture: AFP 12:00AM January 14, 2021 46 Comments The rollout of the COVID vaccines is an important process. The sooner the population is vaccinated the sooner we can get the economy back to some sort of normality. However, the vaccine creates serious issues for employers and …

IR bill is a train wreck for small business – and a vote loser

Graeme Haycroft Contributor Financial Review, Dec 20, 2020 I fear the Morrison government’s new omnibus industrial relations bill is going to be a train wreck for small business and a vote loser for the Coalition that may cost Scott Morrison the next election.The Prime Minister and his Minister for Industrial Relations, Christian Porter, might not realise that the bill will …

Australian Workers’ Union calls for minimum wage for fruit pickers

AWU national secretary Daniel Walton. Picture: Grant WellsThe Australian, December 15, 2020 Farms would be required to pay workers a minimum $24.80 an hour under changes being sought by the Australian Workers’ Union following revelations that backpackers were being paid as little as $3 an hour to pick fruit. The AWU will apply on Wednesday to the Fair Work Commission …

Changes to small claims in IR bill could reduce legal costs for SMEs

SmartCompany, December 14, 2020 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell. The Coalition tabled its industrial relations omnibus bill last week, and amid the debate over casual employment and enterprise agreements, changes to small claims, which could reduce legal costs for SMEs, have been overlooked. The bill proposes to increase the cap on employment-related small claims from $20,000 …

SMEs face 50% higher wage theft penalties under IR reform bill

SmartCompany, December 8, 2020 Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter. Source: AAP/Lukas Coch. Small businesses that underpay workers could be hit with 50% higher civil penalties, under the federal government’s industrial relations reform bill set to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday. Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations Christian Porter said in a statement the legislation will seek …

Two-year IR exemptions for hardest-hit sectors

Financial Review, Dec 7, 2020 Employers in 12 award areas hit hardest by the pandemic will be granted exemptions under the Fair Work Act for two years, enabling them to alter the terms of employment of their workers. As well, the better off overall test (BOOT), the safety net that underpins the enterprise bargaining system, will not just be diluted …

WA businesses face $4.7 billion ‘double pay’ bill for casuals without IR reform

The West Australian, 7 December 2020 Attorney-General Christian Porter said the proposed legislation would extend the right to convert to permanent work across all sectors. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE West Australian businesses could be on the hook for up to $4.7 billion in potential “double dipping” claims for casual workers without significant reform to industrial relations laws, according to industry leaders. …

SMEs broadly support IR changes, but “grey areas” remain

SmartCompany, December 7, 2020 Source: Unsplash/Kyle Ryan. Cafe owners are not fazed by the Morrison government’s plan to require employers to offer their long-term casual staff full- or part-time contracts. But, they want to see a simplification of the award system. “I’m all for rewarding people who want to stay on after 12 months,” Lucky Penny cafe owner Matt Lanigan …

Government unveils IR reform package — here’s what it means for SMEs

SmartCompany, December 7, 2020 Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter. Source: AAP. The Morrison government is set to unveil its industrial relations omnibus bill this week, proposing a suite of changes — including to casual employment — intended to boost employment following the COVID-19 pandemic. The reform package will overhaul five main areas of industrial relations legislation, after Minister for Industrial …