Legal

Workplace investigations can be timely and complex. From undertaking initial enquiries to undertaking witness interviews, it is important to ensure that a procedurally fair process is undertaken to maintain the integrity of the investigation and to be able to confidently rely upon its outcomes in taking disciplinary action. To...

As the job market remains competitive and top talent hard to find, organisations are finding it more challenging to fill leadership positions with suitable candidates. Instead of looking to external sources, many employers are investing in developing their current employees' leadership skills. Developing leaders from within has many benefits,...

As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure the health and safety of your employees, not just in terms of physical health, but also in terms of mental health. An area of workplace health and safety legislation that has developed rapidly is how employers are expected to manage...

In conjunction with many other allowances that employees may be entitled to, ‘special clothing’ and laundry allowances can be confusing and often overlooked by businesses. In many instances, employers fall into the trap of believing that employees can simply claim such expenses on their tax returns. However, this common...

Redundancy is a complex process that requires careful consideration and planning. Redundancies can be difficult for both employers and employees, and if not managed properly, can result in negative outcomes such as low morale, decreased productivity, and even legal implications. To avoid common pitfalls of a redundancy, it is important...

Last week many organisations around the country celebrated International Women’s Day, however statistics show that there is still plenty of work to do to achieve true gender parity. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) report that Australia’s current national gender pay gap is 13.3%, meaning on average for every...

Western Australia’s WorkSafe regulator (WorkSafe), the State’s body tasked with enforcing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) (Act), has laid charges under the Act for the first time against a company for failing to produce documents. The recently amended Act, which came into force in March 2022, provides...

The retail and fast food sectors are some of the largest employers of junior employees in Australia. However, additional obligations are imposed on businesses engaging employees under the age of 18. While the regulations on child employment vary in each State and Territory, the applicable pieces of legislation underpinning the...

Following the passage of the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2022 (the Act) in November last year, 1 February 2023 marks the day many employees become entitled to ten days of paid leave for occasions where they need time off work to deal with...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has taken a lead role in creating safer, more respectful workplaces for retail workers with the release of its Sexual Harassment Prevention Guide today. Lindsay Carroll, Interim CEO of the peak industry body, said the Guide to Sexual Harassment Prevention in the Retail and Food Service Environments...

With the passing of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022, a 12-month timer has begun on all ‘zombie’ enterprise agreements. What is a ‘zombie’ agreement? A zombie agreement is a coverall term that refers to agreement-based transitional instruments, such as workplace agreements or workplace determinations made...

With the festive sales season in full swing and school holidays around the corner, it is crucial for businesses to review their child employment obligations and ensure they are compliant when engaging younger workers during the busy holiday season. This is especially true for Victorian employers as the Victorian Wage...

Finding the right staff is critical to maintaining a well-skilled and productive workforce. Skills and labour shortages, wage competition, and a shrinking workforce are all reasons to examine your employment practices to ensure you can find your next worker as early as possible. The Australian retail sector has been...