Legal
For organisations, big or small, accusations of sexual harassment are alarming. With the current press surrounding the allegations of sexual harassment made against Harvey Weinstein, businesses world-wide should reflect on their own internal policies and how they would deal with allegations of this nature. In Australia, we have an abundance of laws protecting employees from […]
A 7-Eleven Franchisee in Brisbane is facing court for allegedly dismissing a worker by removing him from the roster after he refused his employer’s request to repay an amount he had been paid. Balaji Australia Pty Ltd and current director and shareholder Madhav Ponnada will also face the Federal Circuit Court on allegations that false […]
You may have been told once before that it is not polite to discuss religion or politics at the dinner table, but what about at work? The political landscape is somewhat of a mine field with vast political opinions on all matters of social issues and policy, and most likely your opinion won’t necessarily match […]
The Victorian Small Business Commissioner, Judy O’Connell, provided Dynamic Business with insights into the state’s small business sector, including barriers to growth and the need for owners to prioritise mental health, ahead of her appearance at the Vodafone National Small Business Summit on Friday (25 August). DB: What will you be speaking on at the summit? O’Connell: […]
In today’s ever increasing online world, domain names have become one of the most important business assets for sales to consumers, contact with and promotion of businesses; however, many businesses do not turn their mind to the protection of their domain names, leaving themselves exposed to cyber-squatters or tactical competitors and loss of potential business […]
When small businesses engage with large enterprises, standard form contracts often leave them with no room to negotiate. Small businesses are left with the choice of either accepting terms heavily weighted against them, or terminating a deal that would be valuable for their business. To protect small businesses from backing into a corner, the unfair […]
As the 2016-2017 financial year comes to an end, businesses are hastily tying up loose ends in preparation for the new financial year. Often employers can put themselves at risk when pressuring their employees to work extensive overtime to finalise projects, meet deadlines and finish annual reports before the end of the financial year. Employers […]
After the Federal Budget was announced on Tuesday, 9 May, small business owners will be trying to work out what matters most to them. Here are three main things we have been reviewing that may impact how small business do business – and it is mostly for the better. 1. Less red tape It is […]
Every business owner has a responsibility to stay on top of – and comply with – changes to the law in their business operations. The Australian authorities don’t respond well to pleadings of ignorance, especially when it comes to businesses. So, are you aware of the latest changes to data breach notification laws? Do you know […]
No business operates in complete isolation. Agreements must be made between your business and its customers, as well as with other businesses such as suppliers and distributors. So how do businesses enforce their agreements? The answer is through the formation of legally binding contracts. Unfortunately, many businesses get caught out with unenforceable contracts and, in turn, […]
Competition reforms tabled in Federal Parliament this week backs small businesses to grow, innovate and create more jobs, according to Small Business Minister Michael McCormack. He said the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Competition Policy Review) Bill 2017 implements a number of recommendations from a landmark review of Australian competition policy to help small businesses to compete […]
Deutsche Bank of Germany recently decided to cut bonuses for local employees as it struggles to turn a profit in the wake of a large litigation bill. The litigation issue stems from the mortgage market collapse in the lead up to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, resulting in a $7.2 billion-dollar settlement with the US […]
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking legal action against an online business directory provider, alleging unconscionable conduct that resulted in numerous small businesses paying significant amounts of money for unwanted advertising. ABG Pages Pty Ltd and an individual will face the Federal Court, accused of “misleading or deceptive conduct, false or misleading […]
Most people dread having to make a call to their health insurance provider or their car insurance agent. For small business owners, navigating the realm of business insurance can be even more daunting–but it doesn’t have to be. Armed with some basic information, you can confidently make the best insurance choices for your small business. […]
South Australia has recently changed the law for minor civil claims reducing the limit from $25,000 to $12,000. The reduction in the monetary limit for minor civil claims will come into effect on 1 August 2016 however proceedings already underway in the Magistrates Court as of this date will be unaffected. Prior to 2013, the […]
If you have ever signed up to a service that doesn’t end or you can’t seem to get out off, you’ve probably just met an evergreen clause. Evergreen clauses, also known as renewal clauses, are those tricky little statements within a contract that extend its duration automatically – unless one of the parties remembers to […]
Although workplace health and safety initiatives have seen the average Australian workplace become safer in recent years, injuries on the job still cost the economy $60 billion each year. That figure alone may be astounding, but for employees injured in their line of work the toll is much greater than financial, potentially affecting them emotionally […]
Over the past few years, a strong entrepreneurial spirit has developed in Australia, leading to a record number of startup businesses. While this is fantastic, a great idea needs to be properly thought through from a legal perspective so it doesn’t hit a road block when it comes time to get it off the ground. […]
For small business owners, the intrigue of taking their products and services off shore can be too exciting to ignore. But among all the hype that international business can bring, there are still numerous risks to assess and manage if you decide international trade is right for you. Perhaps the most important area to consider […]
Intellectual property, such as patents and copyrights can represent a significant portion of a company’s assets – particularly for highly innovative start-ups. Currently, intangible assets are subject to a legislative “effective life” period which is used to calculate their rate of depreciation. However, these existing provisions which mandate their life span are inflexible and often […]
