Filter Results

Fair Work amendments: independent contractor or employee?

In February 2024, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024 (the Act) re-introduced the “multifactorial” test for whether a worker is legally considered to be an independent contractor or an employee. That is, the Act requires an assessment of all of the circumstances of each work arrangement to be made in …
Read more

The Right to Disconnect

In a bid to address the growing concerns of work-life balance and the intrusion of work into personal time, the right to disconnect amendment to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act) was passed by the House of Representatives on 12 February 2024.  

Hearing Testing Requirements under WHS Regulations

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations introduced new requirements for audiometric testing which commenced on from 1 January 2024. The relevant provisions are mirrored in all jurisdictions, except for Western Australia and Queensland, which have not adopted the relevant testing requirements as included in the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations.

Superannuation under the National Employment Standards

As of 1 January 2024 the National Employment Standards (NES) include a right to superannuation for national system employees. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Act 2023 has amended the Fair Work Act 2009 by, among other things, requiring national system employers to make contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of …
Read more

Gender Pay Gap Action – Changes in 2024

In March 2023 the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) 2023 Act (‘WGEA’) was passed. These amendments are intended to reduce gender inequality in the workplace, and increase the mandatory reporting obligations for reporting organisations (being those with more than 100 employees) from the 2024 reporting period.

Employment law changes commence

Employment law changes commence: new laws on fixed term contracts and enforcement powers for the positive duty New Rules for Fixed Term Contracts From 6 December 2023 employers should ensure their contract templates and staffing arrangements are appropriate for the new limitations on fixed term contracting introduced by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, …
Read more

Fair Work Act changes now in effect

Employment law is in a state of flux. There are a number of significant changes which are now in effect. We have set out a brief summary of each of these changes, and encourage you to reach out if your workplace requires assistance in ensuring its policies and procedures are up to date. We can …
Read more

Positive duty guidelines

Alert: AHRC releases guidelines for new positive duty. From 12 December 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission will have the power to enforce compliance with the positive duty obligation under section 47(c) of Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth). The positive duty requires organisations and businesses to take ‘reasonable and proportionate measures’ to eliminate, as far …
Read more