Can your out-of-hours activities effect your employment? When does out-of-hours conduct amount to a valid reason for dismissal in relation to the consumption of drugs and alcohol outside of an employee’s work? The Fair Work Commission recently contemplated this question in the case of Goodsell v Sydney Trains (2024). In this case an employee tested...Read More

From 1 July 2025, the payment of superannuation to a parent receiving paid parental leave will be mandatory. This reform was introduced by the Australian Government to address the gender imbalances in retirement incomes, given thar women generally hold 25% less superannuation than men at retirement. How it will work: Eligible working parents seeking parental...Read More

From the 23 January 2023 the NSW government is offering eligible participants a contribution to purchase a property percentage in exchange for a proportionate interest in the property – that is to be co-owners (the Shared Equity Initiative). Eligible participants will be entitled to up to 40% of the price for purchasing new homes and...Read More

As of 1 February 2023, employees will be entitled to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave within a 12-month period. This will apply to employees of small business employers from 1 August 2023. The leave: is paid at employee’s ordinary rate including loading, allowances and penalty rates; anddoes not accumulate if not...Read More

Following the Annual Wage Review for 2021-2022, the Fair Work Commission has announced the following changes to the national minimum and award minimum wage, which will apply from the first pay period on or after 01 July 2022: the National Minimum Wage will increase by 5.2% per week, amounting to a $40 increase per week....Read More

Permanent amendments have now been made to Long Service Leave Legislation in NSW to provide greater flexibility for employers and employees. The amendments will: Enable an employer and a worker to agree to the employee taking long service, either in advance or accrued of periods not less than 1 day;Provide workers who do not have...Read More

The High Court has recently provided clarity on determining if a person is a contractor or employee.  The analysis is now by reference to the terms of the workplace contract. Previously, the courts would characterise the workplace relationship by considering factors beyond the terms of the workplace contract. Such factors included the level of supervision,...Read More

The amendments to the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act have now come into effect. The object of the changes was to support workplaces and workers to address sexual harassment claims and include miscarriages as a reason for a person to access compassionate leave. The major changes to the act are...Read More

As of 27 September 2021, new amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 have come into force, altering the obligations of employers for their casual employees and changes to their entitlements.  You will need to:  ensure you have provided the Casual Employment Information Statement to casual employees;  determine if you have an obligation to offer...Read More