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The new federal workplace laws (coming in 2010) will allow unions to inspect the employment records of non-members, IR Minister Julia Gillard has confirmed. Read full article

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The Federal Government’s new IR laws will allow AWAs to continue indefinitely where both sides are happy with them. Read full article

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The Workplace Ombudsman has started random audits of up to 400 companies at construction sites throughout the Sydney metropolitan area. Read full article

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Employers may have to pay market rates to skilled migrants on 457-visas, rather than award rates, following the release of a report into the temporary skilled-migration program. Read full article

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The Workplace Authority has published checklists to help employers who are making, varying and terminating a workplace agreement. Read full article

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Payroll professionals who have to trawl through the vast amount of information on the ATO website will be please to hear that the ato.gov.au website will have a new look from 22 November.  Read full article

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The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has estimated a new modernised retail award would cost small retailers an average of $22,000 a year in extra wages. Read full article

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An employer who refused to pay annual leave loading in the belief that it had been abolished, has been fined $20,000 in the Federal Magistrates Court. Read full article

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The importance of checking referees for new recruits is highlighted in this case where a recruitment company which failed to properly check the references of a man subsequently appointed as a senior manager at a client company, has lost its appeal against the awarding of $164,224 damages. Read full article

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Is it imperative for employers to give out a new employment contract whenever there is a change to the employee’s work hours or benefits.Can any written correspondence suffice? Read answer

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What is the rule with regards to paid examination leave? How many days can be granted to an employee? Read answer

 

What are the procedures for this? Where does the employer remit the funds to? Read answer

 

Our employees working on Fly-In, Fly-Out rosters of 3 weeks on 3 weeks off, and 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off, may pose an issue with annual leave. Can we average the hours over a four week period as the employees work 168 hours per fortnight with the second fortnight off giving the employees 168 hours every 4 weeks? Read answer

 

Our head office is in New South Wales, however, we have operations in every state. Some employees are covered under the respective state NAPSA, although most are under an individual contract of employment. We read that the Federal Government intends to introduce an across-the-board long-service leave entitlement in its new industrial relations legislation. Is this the case and, if so, when is it anticipated to be introduced? Read answer

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