The NSW public sector granted more than 87% of women's requests for flexible work ahead of COVID-19, according to a large PSA member survey that says the pandemic has proved there is still room for improvement in the Berejiklian Government's "if not why not" policy.
The Federal Circuit Court has criticised the Federal Department of Agriculture for taking a "belligerent", "intransigent course" in resisting an extension of time and seeking costs against a former employee despite her lawyers accepting full responsibility.
The FWC has upheld the "scrupulously fair" sacking of a second-in-charge installation worker over multiple safety breaches, including some so fundamental he should not have needed training to prevent them.
A Sydney University think tank has warned that a post-coronavirus reversal of globalisation could reduce labour productivity by up to 12%, when Australia could enjoy a 9% labour efficiency boost by matching world-leading levels of internationalisation.
Just days after the defeat of the Morrison Government's legislation to further regulate the conduct of employee organisations and their officials, IR Minister Christian Porter has released a discussion paper on cooperative IR that seeks feedback on the role unions can play in fostering harmonious workplace relationships.
Regulator APRA is calling for submissions on a proposed shake-up of financial institutions' pay structures that would ensure no more than half of an employee's bonus is linked to fiscal performance measures, allow "clawbacks" and make boards oversee their entire workforce's remuneration.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will ask IR Minister Christian Porter to review the IR system with a view to expunging barriers to "shared gains" for employers and employees, while he has also reiterated the Government's commitment to reintroducing the "ensuring integrity" legislation to target "thugs in militant unions".
So-called 'comic' employment contracts replacing dense legalese with images have been coolly received by both the peak employer and employee bodies, each expressing a preference for the power of words when it comes to interpretation and enforcement.
Early adopters Sydney Water and the ASU are again making use of the FWC's New Approaches program in negotiations for a new three-year agreement, providing workers with detailed proposals for conditions and pay rises after four days early this month of "interest-based" assisted talks.
Australia's major banks say they will overhaul retail employees' pay structures to reduce the importance of incentives, commissions and variable rewards.