Message from the CEO: 30 June 2020

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is currently considering an application by the SDA to reverse the final reduction to...

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is currently considering an application by the SDA to reverse the final reduction to Sunday penalty rates in the General Retail Industry Award 2010, due to take effect from 1 July 2020 (tomorrow). In addition to making a formal submission to the FWC opposing any...

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Message from the CEO: 23 June 2020

Last Friday the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down its Annual Wage Review. Due to the unprecedented economic pressure...

Last Friday the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down its Annual Wage Review. Due to the unprecedented economic pressure imposed on the business community, along with the fact that retail was struggling pre-COVID, the NRA argued strongly that the current rate should be maintained. It was disappointing to see that...

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Union moves to block final penalty rate cut

Members will be aware that Sunday penalty rates under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 have been reducing in...

Members will be aware that Sunday penalty rates under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 have been reducing in small increments since 1 July 2017, with the final reduction due to take effect from 1 July 2020. This reduction was hard-won by the NRA and other employer groups over three...

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Retailers concerned over QLD Christmas Eve public holiday announcement

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today voiced concern over moves to make Christmas Eve a part-day Public Holiday...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has today voiced concern over moves to make Christmas Eve a part-day Public Holiday in Queensland. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the announcement is in contrast to a recommendation in the Mickel Report into trading hours and would come with a raft of unintended consequences. “This...

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NEWSFLASH – Australia Day 2019 Public Holiday

In response to questions from retailers, the public holiday to be observed in respect of Australia Day this year...

In response to questions from retailers, the public holiday to be observed in respect of Australia Day this year falls on Monday, 28 January 2019 across all States and Territories. Public holiday penalty rates are not required to be paid for Saturday, 26 January 2019 but must be paid for...

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Fair Work Commission resolves ambiguity around casual penalty rates

You will recall at the beginning of this month the NRA had reported on the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC)...

You will recall at the beginning of this month the NRA had reported on the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) decision to introduce additional penalties for casual employees under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 (the Retail Award). Last week, the National Retail Association (NRA) intervened in the matter and filed...

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The nightmare before Christmas – new penalty rates from 1 November 2018

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal From 1 November 2018, retailers will be required to pay a new...

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal From 1 November 2018, retailers will be required to pay a new evening penalty rate to casual employees for work performed after 6:00pm Monday – Friday. In a decision issued 27 September 2018, the Fair Work Commission (Commission) determined that the new penalty...

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Retailers slam Saturday penalty rate slug ahead of Christmas

The National Retail Association (NRA) has slammed the decision to slug Australia’s embattled retailers with a penalty rate rise...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has slammed the decision to slug Australia’s embattled retailers with a penalty rate rise on the eve of the Christmas trade period. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has ruled to increase penalty rates by 25% for 350,000 casual retail employees who work on Saturday and...

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Legislative update: What you need to know from 1 July 2018

Legislative update: What you need to know from 1 July 2018 By Victoria Hansen and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal Penalty rate...

Legislative update: What you need to know from 1 July 2018 By Victoria Hansen and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal Penalty rate cuts Following a Fair Work Commission decision handed down last year, Sunday penalty rates for employees covered by the General Retail Industry Award, the Fast Food Industry Award, the Hospitality Industry...

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Message from the CEO – 3 July 2018

Politicking over penalty rates again; plastic bag bans attracting the ire of ill-prepared supermarket shoppers across the nation; and...

Politicking over penalty rates again; plastic bag bans attracting the ire of ill-prepared supermarket shoppers across the nation; and Godfrey’s co-founder re-taking the reins at a sprightly 100 years old – it’s certainly been an interesting week in the retail sector! The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten this week made a...

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Fair Work Ombudsman’s Workplace Basics Campaign

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has recently consulted with the NRA regarding the first phase of the Workplace Basics...

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has recently consulted with the NRA regarding the first phase of the Workplace Basics Campaign, a national campaign focusing on small business employers and their compliance with fundamental workplace obligations. As part of this first phase, Fair Work Inspectors will be contacting around a thousand...

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Message from the CEO, Dominique Lamb: 9 January 2018

Retailers naturally love a bustling store environment, but following 2017’s frenetic pre-Christmas rush and Boxing Day madness, on the...

Retailers naturally love a bustling store environment, but following 2017’s frenetic pre-Christmas rush and Boxing Day madness, on the back of what seemed like an entire year of uncertainty, it may be time for a little rest and reboot! 2017 certainly threw us a few curveballs - from the absurd...

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Message from the CEO: 5 December 2017

After what seems like an eternity, the penalty rates issue flared again this week, after the Senate passed measures...

After what seems like an eternity, the penalty rates issue flared again this week, after the Senate passed measures to reverse the decision of the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to reduce Sunday and public holiday rates. Labor teamed up with the Greens and some crossbenchers to pass...

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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: 17 October 2017

The reporting over the past week on the penalty rates case has been fascinating to say the least. In...

The reporting over the past week on the penalty rates case has been fascinating to say the least. In many ways, it has illustrated how deeply Australian’s misconceptions have been about the issue, but more importantly, how easy it has been for those with a vested interest to heighten...

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Union challenge to penalty rates quashed

Retailers praise Federal Court for preserving independent umpire’s integrity, after union challenge to penalty rates quashed The National Retail Association...

Retailers praise Federal Court for preserving independent umpire’s integrity, after union challenge to penalty rates quashed The National Retail Association (NRA) has this morning praised the Federal Court for rejecting the unions’ attempts to have the penalty rates ruling of the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), overruled. The Court...

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