Employment Law

Changes to the Fair Work Act – Advice to Business Owners:

Changes to the Fair Work Act – Advice to Business Owners:

Employment law in Australia is one of those areas of law that is constantly changing and evolving and right now we’re seeing some of the most drastic changes in recent years, as the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 (“the Bill”) goes before the Senate. This Bill is expected to pass before the end of the year and bring with it the first major changes to employment law of the Abbott government.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – An Increase in Damages:

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – An Increase in Damages:

A recent decision of the Full Federal Court has highlighted the issue of sexual harassment and set a new precedent in the awarding of damages to employees who are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting:

What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting:

As an employer you have certain legal obligations to meet when it comes to employees who are expecting a child. The law surrounding this area has been hotly debated in recent years and is constantly evolving, with the Abbott Government’s paid parental leave scheme yet to come into effect. 

The Rights of Employees – Flexible Working Arrangements:

The Rights of Employees – Flexible Working Arrangements:

As a business owner you have certain legal obligations to your employees and sometimes it can be difficult to navigate the needs of your business with the needs of your employees, however it is important that you are aware of your basic legal obligations as governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 (“the Act”).

Tips for Terminating an Employee:

Tips for Terminating an Employee:

Running a business and managing employees is not an easy task and ensuring you have the correct policies and procedures in place to discipline employees, when necessary, is vital. If the correct procedure is not followed when terminating the employment of an employee the Fair Work Commission has the power to uphold an unfair dismissal claim against you, even if the reason for the dismissal is valid.

Changes to Award Wages from 1 July 2014:

Changes to Award Wages from 1 July 2014:

We get a lot of questions from employers about what award their staff should be paid under and what entitlements they must pay to their staff. We’re always happy to help in this area, as we know it can be a confusing and time consuming process for a small business owner to research these things.

Bullying in the Workplace:

Bullying in the Workplace:

It’s extremely important for employers to have strong policies and procedures in place to combat workplace bullying. Having these in place will put a business in a much better position to proactively respond to any incidents that occur in the workplace, or any complaints made by employees.