Is management aware of workplace policies? A case where important guidelines were not followed
A glass manufacturer terminated an employee with an alcohol dependency problem who had previously considered suicide after he was found to have consumed alcohol at work.
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.
The Protecting Worker Entitlements Act 2023
Recently the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Act 2023 was passed which altered five key areas of employment law, two of which were effective 1 July 2023
Privacy Reminder and COVID-19 VIC Update
Victorian employers that collected ‘vaccination information’ in accordance with the state Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (COVID-19 Vaccination Information) Regulations 2022 must now destroy that information within the next 14 days, as the Amendment Regulations have now been revoked.
Industrial Manslaughter – What’s New?
Every state but Tasmania recognises industrial manslaughter as a crime with varying but substantial financial penalties for businesses and prison time for individuals.
Annual Wage Review 2023
The Fair Work Commission has just announced its decision regarding the 2023 Annual Wage Review.
Safety failure – Fines for not addressing key workplace hazard
Boral Resources (Vic) Pty Ltd was charged with six breaches of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, relating to workers' exposure to respirable crystalline silica at its Montrose quarry.
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’.
Workcover Premiums – Recoup your Overpayments (noting premiums are increasing 1 July 2023)
Workcover Premiums will be increasing across each State from 1 July 2023 which will put an added pressure on many businesses.
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.
Are you paying too much for your Workers Compensation Insurance?
If your business is registered in NSW, QLD, SA or VIC (these are what are classified as the ‘managed states’ which have government run workers compensation schemes)
Why your business needs to seriously consider a tailored wellbeing program
We’ve all heard about workplace wellbeing programs but why should 2023 be the year that your business designs or revises a tailored program?
Many WHS Codes amended to reflect the national transition of Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7 ) and for other purposes.
A total of nearly 30 WHS Codes of Practice have been amended in the ACT, NSW and Queensland to reflect the national transition to the seventh revised edition of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7), and for other purposes.
Knife-attack ruling misapplied workplace injury test
A ruling that a worker's knife-attack injuries weren't compensable, because of a possible drug-dealing connection, has been revoked for misapplying the "course of employment" test and considering "irrelevant matters".
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.
Your employees are back from their summer vacation – how do you keep them engaged?
As a business owner, you want your employees to be effective ambassadors for your business.
Family and Domestic Violence Leave
Effective 1 February 2023, full time, part time and casual employees will be able to access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year as part of the National Employment Standards (NES) in the Fair Work Act.
