ARTICLES

The Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 has become law. It amends the Fair Work Act to protect penalty and overtime rates for modern award-reliant employees. The Fair Work Commission must ensure that: penalty rate...

A continued sharp rise in mental health claims. Some are absolutely genuine and deserve every bit of care and compassion. Others… arrive just as a performance issue or misconduct concern is about to come to a head. Employers need to handle both...

High Court Expands Employers’ Redeployment Duties in Redundancies The High Court of Australia has clarified that before making a role redundant, employers must now consider all possible redeployment options - not just vacant roles. This includes...

From 26 August 2024, employees in businesses with 15+ staff gained the right to disconnect - that is, to reasonably refuse to monitor, read or respond to work contact outside their hours. As of 26 August 2025, this right also applies to small...

A small business employer met with an employee over allegations including watching “demonic videos” at work, using the women’s toilets despite being told not to, and disparaging a colleague. Mid-meeting, the employee declared, “I’m done” and “I’m...

My overseas clients are expressing genuine disbelief about Australian labour laws. The complexity. The cost of doing business…and one client is seriously considering NOT doing business in Australia. Take Out Point: We need a simpler system so...

Australian companies being stung by overseas "contractor" arrangements that look deceptively simple. Engaging a cost effective VA, bookkeeper or developer can expose an Australian business to: ・Fair Work Act Obligations – deemed employee. (For...

After pushback from workers, the NSW Government has pulled a semi-backflip (with pike) on its controversial workers comp bill. Employees will no longer need the proposed NSWIRC ruling before claiming for psychological injuries caused by bullying or...

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed some of the (ahem) work-related claims people have made that won’t pass muster this year. Past expense claims not considered “work-related” include: a truckie’s claim for swimwear (because it was...