All publications relating to ‘Employment’
The dos and don’ts when terminating employees
In Brief How you terminate an employee can be a minefield, with many employers finding themselves before the Fair Work Commission because they got it wrong. A claim for unfair dismissal is an accessible and cheap process for many employees which can end up costing employers a lot of time and money. This article…
Stop bullying orders — workplace bullying soon to become a more public ordeal
In Brief Bullying has increasingly been recognised as a serious issue in the workplace, in education and in the online world. Recently the Victoria Supreme Court ordered an employer pay a bullied employee $600,000 following their inaction over her bullying claims. The case demonstrates the seriousness of bullying and how important it is…
Employers need to be aware of changes to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
In Brief In March of this year the Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Act 2013 (Cth) (the Amendment) was passed. This Amendment has introduced several important changes to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Act). These include offences and civil contraventions for employers in addition to increased powers for the…
What to avoid when terminating employees
In Brief There are several actions which Employers need to be aware can get them into trouble regarding terminating an employee and any subsequent employee claim to the Fair Work Commission. Remember a claim for unfair dismissal is an accessible and cheap process for many employees which can end up costing employers…
Workplace Policies — What are they good for?
In Brief Employers interested in keeping the costs of their business down often view workplace policies as an unnecessary expense. However, when things go wrong in a workplace the catchcry is too often “if only we had a policy!” There are definite benefits to workplaces policies, the most important is that workplace policies…
Hiring Disabled Employees
In Brief People often judge a book by its cover and this still applies when it comes to the judgments we make about each other. In light of the proposed anti discrimination legislation, this article outlines how the supported wage system assists with the employment of disabled persons. What is the supported wage system…
Swearing at work — can it cost you your job?
In Brief What is appropriate and inappropriate conduct in the workplace is constantly evolving. Whether swearing is regarded as offensive is often informed by the context, the type of swearing and the audience. The question of whether swearing at work can cost you your job is a highly relevant one. Several cases…
Introducing the early years quality fund — are you eligible to receive funding?
This year the Federal Government announced the Early Years Quality Fund as part of its National Quality Agenda for early childhood education and care. There will be an additional $300 million funding to support childcare service providers to pay a $3 per hour wage increase to Certificate III qualified educators…
Disabled Employees
In Brief People often judge a book by its cover and this still applies when it comes to the judgments we make about each other. In light of the proposed anti discrimination legislation, this article outlines what disability discrimination is, the exceptions which allow discrimination and how the supported wage system assists…
Sexual Harassment case results in $100,000 awarded in damages
In brief — GLS v PLP (Human Rights) [2013] VCAT 221 A recent matter before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has resulted in a large award of damages to a female graduate lawyer who was sexually harassed during her practical legal training placement. Background VCAT suppressed the identities of the parties, referring to the…