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 […]
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 […]
The Fair Work Commission (‘the Commission’) as part of its 4-yearly review of modern awards has clarified “overtime for casuals” in 97 awards. The need for clarification was initiated by a Statement issued by the Full Bench (as then constituted) on 4 December 2017. This Statement included a table identifying modern awards which were considered […]
Christmas is not only the time to celebrate another year with family and friends, but it is also a time to celebrate your workforce, and your business’ achievements during the year. While Christmas parties can be great for team building and morale, such events are loaded with potential employment law risks. This Employment Update aims […]
The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission this year determined an increase to the National Minimum Wage of 1.75%, and for the same increase to be applied to the minimum rates in each Modern Award. As Aitken Legal previously reported, the increases to Award rates of pay are to take place on a staged […]
The Queensland Government has announced frontline and support health care staff will be able to access up to an additional two days leave in acknowledgment of their hard work during COVID-19. The additional leave will apply to Queensland Health permanent and temporary full-time health care staff (non-executive) for the Department of Health, Hospital and Health […]
JobMaker Hiring Credit As part of the Federal Government’s $74 billion JobMaker Plan announced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget, $4 billion has been allocated to what is called ‘JobMaker Hiring Credit’. This is aimed at providing businesses with an incentive to take on employees aged between 16 and 35 years old. The JobMaker Hiring Credit […]
As part of the Federal Government’s $74 billion JobMaker Plan announced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget, the government is investing an additional $1.2 billion through the Boosting Apprenticeships Wage Subsidy to encourage the employment of new apprentices and trainees. Employers (including Group Training Organisations) engaging an Australian Apprentice on or after 5 October 2020 may […]
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 […]
The Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Wage Theft Amendment Act 2020 (Qld) commenced on 14 September 2020. The new legislation allows for the prosecution of wage theft as an offence of ‘stealing’ by amending the definition of stealing and introducing a higher maximum penalty where there is ‘stealing’ or ‘fraud’ by an employer with respect […]