Inquiry by a prospective employee not “protected” under Fair Work Act

By Andrew Piper and Alex Millman In a fascinating case before the Federal Court of Australia, Justice Steward considered whether...

By Andrew Piper and Alex Millman In a fascinating case before the Federal Court of Australia, Justice Steward considered whether a prospective employee has a workplace right to make inquiries about their prospective employment. Such a question obviously has significant ramifications for how an employer conducts itself when negotiating contract terms...

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Victorian Wage Theft Bill 2020 passes, introduces criminal offences for employers

In the middle of a pandemic that has left the nation in economic turmoil and prompted Australia’s first recession...

In the middle of a pandemic that has left the nation in economic turmoil and prompted Australia’s first recession since 1991, the Victorian Government has passed the Wage Theft Bill 2020 (Vic) which puts employers around Victoria at risk of criminal prosecution. The Bill creates new criminal offences in Victoria...

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Retail industry expertise will be crucial for Morrison Government’s Award Simplification Working Group

The National Retail Association will bring crucial inside knowledge of the workings of the retail sector with its appointment...

The National Retail Association will bring crucial inside knowledge of the workings of the retail sector with its appointment as a primary member of the Morrison Government’s Award Simplification Working Group. NRA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Lamb said the high number of prominent payroll failures in the sector in recent...

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Retailers back review of Modern Awards system

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today backed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will review the nation’s Modern...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today backed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will review the nation’s Modern Awards in 2020. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that current workplace arrangements are complex, confusing and outdated. “Retailers across the country welcome today’s announcement from Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter to review...

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How to work out which modern awards apply in your business

Part 1 of our Modern Award Series – How to work out which modern awards apply in your business By...

Part 1 of our Modern Award Series – How to work out which modern awards apply in your business By Alex Millman and Emma Treherne, NRA Legal With 122 modern awards covering most industries, it can sometimes be a mind-boggling exercise to work out which one applies to your business. The...

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“Loaded rates” of pay scrutinised

Fair Work Commission to scrutinise “loaded rates” of pay within Enterprise Agreements By Sid Sidhu, NRA Legal Following the recent win...

Fair Work Commission to scrutinise “loaded rates” of pay within Enterprise Agreements By Sid Sidhu, NRA Legal Following the recent win for retailers and the Federal Court’s decision to uphold the penalty rate cuts across five Modern Awards, the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has invited peak union...

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Fair Work Inspectors conduct surprise on-site audits in Melbourne

NRA Legal Once again, the Fair Work Ombudsman (‘FWO’) has demonstrated its broad powers to conduct on-site audits, this time...

NRA Legal Once again, the Fair Work Ombudsman (‘FWO’) has demonstrated its broad powers to conduct on-site audits, this time in Melbourne’s entertainment hot spots including Carlton, Brunswick and Fitzroy North. In a reprise of similar events in Sydney’s South-West and Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley earlier this year, the FWO has sent...

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Modern Awards Update

Following the 4 yearly review of the Modern Awards by the Fair Work Commission, a number of changes have...

Following the 4 yearly review of the Modern Awards by the Fair Work Commission, a number of changes have been introduced to ensure consistency around annual leave provisions. Under the updated Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2010: EFT: An employee paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) may be paid in...

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MEMBER ONLY ARTICLE – Annual Leave Common Issue Decision

On 23 May 2016, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down a decision as part of their four-yearly review...

On 23 May 2016, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down a decision as part of their four-yearly review of the modern awards. Last year the FWC determined model clauses regarding ‘cashing out of annual leave’; ‘excessive annual leave’; ‘electronic funds transfer and paid annual leave;’ and ‘granting leave...

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