Employer organisations have generally welcomed the Albanese Government's plan to require businesses to pay superannuation on paydays rather than quarterly from 2026, but the small business lobby is seeking lower costs and possible exemptions.
In a decision closely examining when employees can be directed to perform extra duties, a FWC full bench has ruled that a maintenance worker could refuse to remotely monitor an automated gate at a gas supplier's facility.
The FWC has reinstituted a CFMMEU official's entry rights after more than five years, accepting that he had put his history of foul-mouthed contraventions behind him since being elected to a leadership role and making "lifestyle" changes to reduce stress.
An employer took adverse action against two union delegates when it retrenched them four hours before the deadline for voluntary redundancies, a court has found.
A Federal Court majority has today dealt a hammer blow to NSW's and Victoria's pursuit of employers alleged to have avoided long service leave entitlements to casuals, ruling that a tribunal's reading of the Fair Work Act's LSL provision produced an "absurdity" whereby employers received "no warning" they could be held criminally liable for supposed non-payments.
Underpaying employers could face fines of more than $4 million or three times the sum involved, while individuals such as directors and HR managers could face imprisonment and penalties up to $825,000 per breach under further wage theft reforms being considered by the Albanese Government.
The Albanese Government has outlined for the first time the details of how it might implement its "same job, same pay" proposal that it framed to ensure labour hire arrangements are not used to undercut employees' pay and conditions.
Submissions are due next month on Albanese Government proposals to empower the FWC to set minimum standards and pay rates for those in "employee-like" forms of work, including in the gig economy, and to tackle disputes over contract terms and termination.
