A hairdresser who was dismissed while pregnant has been awarded $1,338 in damages, with the Federal Magistrates Court finding that her pregnancy was not the reason for her sacking but it was why she was sent home for a week without pay.
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward has expressed concern that the Howard Government's award rationalisation process could threaten paid maternity leave and pay equity.
The FSU and National Australia Bank have reached in-principle agreement on a new three-year enterprise deal that doubles paid parental leave to 12 weeks, introduces a week's paid pre-natal leave, protects existing award conditions and delivers a 4% pay increase to most staff - down from 4.5% in the previous deal.
Qualified IT professionals working in Victoria will be covered by a new federal award even if they are not working for companies in the IT industry, the AIRC has decided.
Federal Government seeks tenders on employer advice service for Work Choices; Appeal court decision a warning on employers to be honest with employees facing redundancy or dismissal; and meat processor justified in standing down worker who fell ill on returning from surgery, says tribunal.
Companies wanting to solve skills shortages with migrant labour will be presented with a planned national union protocol to be developed through the ACTU to protect Australian jobs and prevent exploitation of foreign workers.
The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal has ordered a shop proprietor who sexually harassed three shop assistants - two of them 14 and 15 at the time - to pay a total of $70,000 in damages, plus costs.
The AIRC has found that a Safeway employee with 15 years' service should be allowed to continue to wear her diamante nose stud at work, except when handling or preparing fresh food or taking part in substantial customer contact.
An employer who refused a new mother's request to return to work part-time unlawfully discriminated against her on the basis of her caring responsibilities, while it also transgressed when it banned her from speaking Arabic at work, an anti-discrimination tribunal has found.
