COVID-19
ALERTS in relation to COVID-19
With our frequently changing environment, we will regularly update and alert Employers as information becomes available. Please note that some of the information may no longer be current given how quickly the situation is changing. To sign up, click here.
'COVID-19' Related News
ALERT!
Major changes to mandatory vaccination rules in healthcare settings
The Queensland Chief Health Officer has revoked the Workers in a Healthcare Setting public health direction, one of the last-standing COVID-19 public health directions, with the revocation taking effect from 6pm on 2 September 2022. In announcing the revocation, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said vaccination requirements for healthcare workers are now left to each employers’ […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
An employee’s defiance of a public health order was a valid reason for dismissal
In a recent unfair dismissal decision, the Fair Work Commission (‘FWC’) confirmed that a crane company had a valid reason to dismiss a mobile crane operator (‘employee’), who attended an illegal protest in contravention of a Victorian Government public health stay-at-home order (‘PHO’). Significantly, the FWC rejected the employee’s claim that although he had attended […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
2021 – A Year in Review
2021 has been a challenging one for employers. Not only have we seen many of our clients grapple with the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the legal challenges that have come with it, but also do their best to keep up-to-date with many other employment law related developments throughout the year. In this Employment Update […]
ALERT!
Public Health Direction behind 17 December 2021 restrictions finally released
Yesterday, the Queensland Government released the ‘Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status Direction’ (‘Direction’) which will be effective from 5am (AEST) Friday, 17 December 2021. This is the direction that underpins the Queensland Government’s announcement of restrictions for unvaccinated persons on 9 November 2021. A link to the Direction can be found […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
COVID-19 vaccination mandate – but what happens when employees don’t comply?
The last two years have been challenging for employers in more ways than one. Employers have dealt with the financial and operational effects of COVID-19 and now they are faced with a new challenge, the dilemma of mandatory vaccination. In this Employment Update we will briefly consider two recent cases dealing with mandatory COVID-19 vaccination […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Can employers mandate covid-19 vaccination for workers?
Australia is currently experiencing several community outbreaks across the country. Across the nation many restrictions have been re-introduced in recent weeks. Unvaccinated workers working in high risk workplaces can be a significant contributing factor to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. There is also mounting pressure on Federal, State and Territory Governments to mandate COVID-19 […]
ALERT!
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for residential aged care workers
On 28 June 2021, the National Cabinet agreed that at a minimum, the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine must be mandatory for all residential aged care workers. This means that across the nation, all residential aged care workers as a condition of working in a Residential Aged Care Facility (‘RACF’), must be vaccinated for […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Modern Award Round Up for 2020
This year has seen a significant number of award changes as the Fair Work Commission (‘FWC’) draws near completion of its 4-yearly review. Award changes have also resulted from the insertion of various schedules into awards to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Award Flexibility Schedules On 8 April 2020 the Full Bench of the FWC […]
ALERT!
Are you up-to-date with JobKeeper 2.0?
The JobKeeper scheme commenced on 30 March 2020 and has been extended until 28 March 2021. The scheme was extended in September by two extension periods for eligible entities meeting the relevant reduction in turnover requirement. The required decline in turnover percentage to satisfy the turnover requirement is: 30% if your turnover is $1 billion […]
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Covid-19 Award Flexibilities extended in 74 Modern Awards
In April 2020 the Commission of its own initiative varied 99 awards to insert a new Schedule X to provide unpaid pandemic leave and the option to take twice as much annual leave at half pay. Schedule X was to operate until 30 June 2020 (see previous alert). Since April, Schedule X has been extended […]