The Right to Disconnect Bill – What does this mean for your Business?
The Right to Disconnect Bill which was passed last week will come into effect in the coming months once Royal Assent has been received.
Impacts of Hot Climate Conditions on Work, Health and Safety in Australia
In Australia, workers in many outdoor industries are frequently exposed to hot ambient conditions, as most parts of the country experience hot summer and frequent heatwaves that can last for a week or longer.
IMPORTANT UPDATES YOU NEED TO KNOW REGARDING THE CLOSING LOOPHOLES BILL
Superannuation is now an entitlement under the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act as of 1 January 2024. As such, please note the following:
Sexual Harassment at Work – A Case Study
In August 2023, a former employee of Highland Pine Products Pty Ltd who worked as an electrician, lodged an unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission.
Importance of Maintaining Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
October has been National Safe Work month with all state regulatory bodies urging employers to focus on various issues relating to safety and wellbeing.
(Just In) Workplace Health and Safety laws Amendments in every Australian jurisdiction.
In the third quarter of 2023, significant amendments were made to workplace health and safety laws in every Australian jurisdiction.
Targeted Fair Work Investigations - next time it could be your industry
Earlier this year, there was a targeted investigation in Melbourne’s inner south and west food precincts by Fair Work investigators who recovered $684,543 in wages for 1,004 underpaid workers.
Annual Wage Review 2023
The Fair Work Commission has just announced its decision regarding the 2023 Annual Wage Review.
Government Funded Paid Parental Leave – Change from 1 July 2023
Currently, the Federal Government offers Paid Parental Leave of 18 weeks to primary carers with a separate two-week paid initiative for partners called ‘Dad and Partner Pay’.
Direction to take annual leave during shutdown
Previously if a business was having a shut down, for example between Christmas and New Year, an employer could direct an employee to use their annual leave for the duration of the shutdown.
Do you have safe work methods in place?
Oricon Group Pty Ltd has been sentenced for breaching the Victorian OHS Act after five workers were injured in a scaffold collapse at a multi-townhouse development in Craigieburn Victoria.
Employee Turnover – the Hidden Costs
Employee turnover has some obvious ‘above the line’ expenditure associated with it, including recruitment, training, and remuneration costs.
Unsafe unloading processes kill two workers in quick succession, Best Benchtop and Stone Pty Ltd and Australian Rong Hua Fu Pty Ltd were heavily fined.
Two businesses have been fined a total of $800,000 over separate but alarmingly similar fatalities involving the handling of heavy materials in confined spaces.
The Port Augusta Steel Centre Pty Ltd has been fined $200k for lack of “active” management
A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has been fined $134,000, and its two directors $33,000 each, for failing to comply with their basic obligations, after a young worker was pinned under 1.2 tonnes of steel sheets.
Managing behaviour at work functions
It is imperative for employers and business leaders to safeguard the business by setting and maintaining behaviour standards whilst role modelling responsible leadership and professional management
Respect@Work Amendment Bill has passed
Parliament has now passed the new legislation which ensures the onus is on employers to take proactive steps to end harassment, violence and discrimination in the workplace.
Workplace Behaviour
In September, the Federal Government introduced the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (Cth) (Bill) which are important reforms to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in response to the 2020 Respect@Work report on workplace sexual harassment.
Working in Heat
Before we know it, summer will have arrived. Working in heat can be hazardous and harmful for workers and Employers have duties under WHS legislation to manage risks to worker health and safety; including those associated with working in heat therefore taking appropriate precautions against the known risks of working in heat and/or air pollution.
Respect @ Work
On Tuesday 27 September, the Federal Government introduced the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (Cth) (Bill) which are important reforms to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in response to the 2020 Respect@Work report on workplace sexual harassment.
Workplace Manslaughter
Industrial manslaughter laws were introduced in most states over the past several years as a result of increased safety risks that resulted in death, primarily in the construction industry.
