Industrial Relations Archives - SmartCompany

What the right to disconnect means for Australian businesses and employees

John Hopkins — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:07:10 +0000

The main driver for introducing “right to disconnect” laws has been to protect the health and wellbeing of workers in an increasingly hyper-connected world. But what exactly will the new laws mean for Australian businesses, managers and employees?

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The Fair Work Commission is rethinking part-time and WFH award rules. Here’s what to know

David Adams — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 01:13:30 +0000

The Australian Retailers Association has welcomed the Fair Work Commission's plan to undertake a "fundamental review" of how part-time provisions are written into the awards system, which could alter the way businesses manage working arrangements with their staff.

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Right to disconnect: New draft gives clearest picture yet of what businesses should expect

David Adams — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 02:06:01 +0000

The Fair Work Commission has revealed its draft 'right to disconnect' clause for modern awards, suggesting the term will reflect changes to the Fair Work Act without additions proposed by the union movement.

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Government-backed AI chatbot to explain changing IR rules

David Adams — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:00:02 +0000

A new, government-backed information hub promises to assist small businesses navigating the complex industrial relations landscape -- while offering an artificial intelligence chatbot to handle business queries.

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Unchanged since 1974: Is it time to give Aussie workers five weeks of annual leave?

Jeff Borland — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 23:45:09 +0000

With the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association pushing for an extra week of annual leave, five weeks of annual leave is an idea whose time may have come.

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Fair Work Ombudsman levels $90,000 in fines over dodgy job ads

David Adams — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:41:45 +0000

The Fair Work Ombudsman has fined businesses nearly $90,000 over dodgy job ads, with the workplace watchdog urging employers not to advertise wages under minimum rates.

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EOFY: 11 things small businesses should know before July 1

David Adams — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:59:56 +0000

The turn of the financial year will bring some notable changes for the nation's small business sector, spanning from tax updates to apprentice hiring incentives and increased financial penalties.

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Right to disconnect: Unions argue workers should not have to provide personal details for OOO contact

David Adams — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 01:57:47 +0000

Australian workers could refuse to provide personal contact details to their employer for the purposes of out-of-hours communication, according to a 'right to disconnect' proposal put before the FWC.

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Unions and employers at loggerheads over abolition of junior pay rates

William Ton — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:43:18 +0000

More than half a million young workers could get a pay bump under a union plan to abolish junior pay rates, sparking warnings of job losses and claims of union overreach by industry groups.

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NSW employers to face “significant maximum penalties” for industrial manslaughter

Melissa Coade — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:21:56 +0000

Law reforms to create an offence of industrial manslaughter in NSW will bring the state into line with other jurisdictions and see individual and corporate employers face up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $20 million for worker deaths.

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