ARTICLES

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...

An employee sent a resignation email in the early hours of the morning. The employer accepted it. Later, the employee tried to withdraw his resignation, claiming he had been suffering from paranoid delusions at the time. When the employer refused...

A Melbourne-based lawyer flew to Adelaide for a long weekend. His absence from work on the Friday and Monday was explained in a statutory declaration and online medical certificate. When a HR consultant later spotted Instagram photos of the healthy...

Emoji use can have unintended consequences - especially across generations. One person’s levity is another person’s passive-aggression. Take this exchange: Gen Z employee: “All done with the report 🖒” Boomer manager: “Is there a reason for the...

NSW Govt Seeking To Curb Explosion of Workplace Psychological Injuries The NSW Government is introducing reforms to WHS and workers' compensation laws regarding psychological injuries. The number of psychological injury claims has doubled in 6...

From Flat White to Flat Out of a Job A 66-year-old employee (with 27 years’ service) was invited by his manager for a coffee at their usual café, only to be told, in public, that his employment would end on 31 December (six months later). The...

Eligible casuals can provide their employers with written notice that they want to change to full time or part time employment. Employers should acquaint themselves with the changes, as they can only refuse a request for certain reasons. The Fair...