#Employer Obligations
400 businesses in Melbourne and Perth to be audited by FWO
250 businesses in Melbourne’s Dandenong region will be audited by the Fair Work Ombudsman as part of a new campaign to check that employers are paying the correct minimum hourly rates, penalty rates, allowances, loadings and providing appropriate meal breaks. Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the Dandenong region is home to thousands of businesses […]
Former owner of pizza outlet fined for underpaying employees almost $26,000
The Federal Circuit Court has fined a former owner of the Crust pizza outlet in Maroubra $3825 for refusing to reimburse 8 underpaid workers. The 8 delivery drivers and sales employees who worked for the former owner, Sotirios Theocharidis, were underpaid a total of $25,995 in 2013. The underpayments were discovered by the Fair Work […]
Factory workers underpaid $45,000 over eight years due to computer error
25 Factory workers at Nambucca Heads on the NSW North Coast have been underpaid by a total of $45,000 over eight years. An investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman discovered that the wages system had been set up incorrectly resulting in miscalculations of leave accruals, leave loading and superannuation entitlements between 2007 and 2015. The […]
Six tips for avoiding unfair dismissal claims
Under the Fair Work Act, if an employee is dismissed in a “harsh, unjust or unreasonable” manner they may be awarded up to six month’s pay by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
FWC rules pornographic emails not always ‘sackable offence’
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has ruled that sending pornographic material via work email accounts isn’t cause for an automatic dismissal.
A guide to terminations
There are a number of situations where termination can occur, and each situation must be handled carefully to ensure compliance with complex employment laws.
New Workplace Health and Safety Laws – are you compliant?
Important new Workplace Health and Safety Laws commenced around Australia on 1 January 2012, and now almost six months on, businesses should take another look at the legislation and ensure they’re complying or risk fines of up to $3 million.
What you need to know when employing
Brad Callaughan has a checklist for you to tick off when employing your first employee. “Congratulations! Your business has grown to the point where you require your first employee. Apart from finding the ideal employee, you also need to fill out some relevant paperwork and make sure the correct registration and insurances are in place.”
Are you across new sex discrimination legislation?
Many business owners remain unsure of significant amendments made to the Sex Discrimination Act, which include broader implications around breastfeeding at work and that harassment can be committed by new technologies like mobiles and social media.
Employers must understand responsibilities under Fair Work Act
Employment Law experts are advising business owners ensure they understand redundancy requirements under the Fair Work Act, given the new wave of economic uncertainty gripping much of the world.