BHR – Apprentice Work
BHR – Law Changes
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Tasmania’s largest aged care operator underpaid staff nearly $6.9 million
Tasmania’s largest aged care operator, Southern Cross Care (Tasmania) is back-paying 1,708 current and former employees a total of $6.87 million, including $5,806,756 in wages and entitlements, plus $313,591 in superannuation and $754,181 in interest. After...
Starbucks underpaid thousands of employees between 2014 and 2020
Starbucks Coffee Australia Pty Ltd (Starbucks) has back-paid staff in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast more than $4.5 million. The amount includes more than $4.34 million in wages and entitlements, more than $180,000 in interest and more than $40,000 in...
Amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009
As per our earlier post, below is an update on the Fair Work Act 2009 amendments. Some changes have already come into effect, while others become effective later this year or next year. Changes to Unpaid Parental Leave From 1 July 2023, the Fair Work Act includes...
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...