Judge not: Commission confirms criminal history is no silver bullet for employers

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal For many retail businesses, criminal history checks make a lot of sense....

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal For many retail businesses, criminal history checks make a lot of sense. With responsibilities such as handling cash, dealing with members of the public, and working with young people, retailers are required to place a significant amount of trust and confidence in...

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Reducing casual shifts – what are the risks?

By Sid Sidhu, Workplace Relations Advisor, and Emma Treherne, Principal Workplace Relations Advisor, NRA Legal If my casual employees are...

By Sid Sidhu, Workplace Relations Advisor, and Emma Treherne, Principal Workplace Relations Advisor, NRA Legal If my casual employees are not guaranteed hours, can I reduce their shifts? Often employers believe that they can reduce the hours provided to a casual employee if they are, or have been, causing issues within...

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Retailers to the Senate – “Stop moving the goalposts on penalty rates”

The National Retail Association has demanded the Senate stop moving the goalposts on employment, saying constant threats of disruption...

The National Retail Association has demanded the Senate stop moving the goalposts on employment, saying constant threats of disruption to Fair Work arrangements were a massive disincentive to employment. The Senate is scheduled to vote this week on Labor Party amendments which would knobble the independent umpire Labor set up...

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Message from the CEO: 14 November 2017

That time has arrived once again - we are officially in ‘pre-Christmas trade’! As we all know, that can mean...

That time has arrived once again - we are officially in ‘pre-Christmas trade’! As we all know, that can mean frantic attempts keep clothes on hangers rather than change room floors; clearing tried-on footwear again and again and again; helping indecisive gift-buyers find that special something; and the never-ending carols...

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FWC rejects SDA application for blood donor leave

By Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal In mid-July this year, the Fair Work Commission heard an application by...

By Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal In mid-July this year, the Fair Work Commission heard an application by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association to include provision for paid blood donor leave in the retail, fast food, and hair and beauty awards. NRA, along with other industry groups,...

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Fancy law firms fail to impress Commission

by Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in the 1962...

by Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in the 1962 classic, To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Pictures) As a business, there is a great temptation that when faced with litigation to stick with what you know. Doubtless you will have engaged...

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Union wins adverse action claim

A Western Australia crane hire company was recently fined $25,500 for contravening sections of the Fair Work Act when...

A Western Australia crane hire company was recently fined $25,500 for contravening sections of the Fair Work Act when they terminated a crane operator’s employment for expressing his workplace right of being underpaid for overtime. In May 2014, the mobile crane operator and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union...

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Message from the CEO: 6 June 2016

Let me apologise in advance if this week’s message is a little dour, but I’m sorry to say it’s...

Let me apologise in advance if this week’s message is a little dour, but I’m sorry to say it’s been that kind of a week in the retail world. On Wednesday we received the news that the Fair Work Commission had decided on a 2.4 per cent increase in...

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Enterprise Agreement declined due to inadequate notice

This week we look at a recent case which serves as a timely reminder to employers engaging in enterprise...

This week we look at a recent case which serves as a timely reminder to employers engaging in enterprise bargaining to take note of the time requirements as detailed in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). If you are considering bargaining or if your enterprise agreement is due to...

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