When’s the last time you checked award classifications?
It's important to check your employee classifications regularly. To ensure that you're not underpaying your workers and exposing yourself and your business to costly fines & penalties, backpay orders and damage to your reputation through wage theft claims. What is...
When’s the last time you checked penalty rates?
Penalty rates are higher pay rates that your employees need to be paid for working particular hours or days. Employees may be entitled to a penalty rate when working: weekends public holidays overtime late nights shifts or early morning shifts. Calculating penalty...
When’s the last time you checked the rules about trial shifts?
Under Australian employment laws, some trial shifts must be paid. While others can be unpaid. When is an unpaid "trial shift" legal? Employers can only ask a person to do an unpaid trial shift to see whether the person is suitable for the job. This means: the trial...
Fair Work Inspectors target Noosa restaurants for compliance checks
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has Noosa businesses in its sights including farms and food outlets. The FWO is working on intelligence such as anonymous reports and other factors like the vulnerability of visa holder workers. Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the...
Can a worker engaged for “trial” shift make a General Protections claim?
The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a worker who performed a single paid "trial shift" can bring a general protections case against their employer, Coffee Smugglers. Deputy President Michael Easton, found that "if a person is employed, even for one shift, then...
BetterHR helped a telecommunications company defend a bullying claim
BetterHR was contacted by a business over an employee who had made a bullying claim in the Fair Work Commission against the employer and various employees within the business. Bullying happens at work when: a person or group of people repeatedly behave unreasonably...
BetterHR helped a manufacturing business win an unfair dismissal case
A business owner terminated an employee after their position became redundant. The employee claimed his termination was not for reasons of genuine redundancy. THE RISKS In the absence of supportive representation, businesses can feel pressured to settle during...
BetterHR helped a retail and importing business win an unfair dismissal case
BetterHR successfully represented an importing and retail business. Once again the HR and employment law team applied their strong negotiating and advocacy experience to the task at the Fair Work Commission resulting in a mutual settlement, but with no monetary...
10 years in prison & up to $8m fines for wage theft – “Closing Loopholes” legislation
Employers face ten years in prison and maximum fines of $8 million or up to three times the stolen sum if it exceeds the cap, under new criminal sanctions in the Albanese Government's "Closing Loopholes" legislation, to be introduced into Federal Parliament today....
Are you paying the correct wages for aged care workers?
The Fair Work Commission increased the minimum wage for some eligible employees working in aged care by 15% effective from 30 June 2023. The increase applies to direct care employees working in aged care, who work in the caring roles under the Aged Care...
