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An issue for many who have recently contracted COVID-19 or are a “close contact” is what, if any, leave they are entitled to from their workplace during the isolation period.

As an employee, you are able to access accrued leave entitlements under your applicable award, enterprise agreement, employment contract, workplace policy and under the National Employment Standards.

Changes to the Fair Work Act relating to casual employees came into effect on 27 March 2021.

The High Court has overturned the Full Federal Court decision in Workpac v Rossato which was handed down in 2020 and had caused significant controversy around the engagement of casual workers.

The Queensland Government passed new legislation, which came into effect on 1 July, 2020, which seeks to impose heavy penalties on companies, their executives and their senior employees personally for workplace deaths arising from negligence (industrial manslaughter). These laws are similar to I..

From 1 July, 2021 the income and compensation caps for unfair dismissal claims will increase, along with filing fees for lodging an unfair dismissal application. The high income threshold rises from $153,600 to $158,500; The compensation cap increases from $76,800 to $79,250; The filing ..

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has granted a 2.5% wages increase to minimum pay and award wage workers from 1 July 2021. The FWC has lifted the national minimum wage by $18.80 to $772.60 per week (or $20.33 an hour) for a full time employee. The flow on effect to Awards is a 2.5% in..

From 1 July 2021, the super guarantee rate will rise from 9.5% to 10%. All employers will need to ensure they have updated their payroll systems ready for 1 July to reflect this increase. Employers can be subject to interest and penalties for underpayments of super contributions to th..

On 22 March, the long-awaited changes to the Fair Work Act (FW Act) in relation to casual employees were passed. Since the recent Federal Court decisions of Workpac Pty Ltd v Skene* and Workpac v Rossato**,employers have been exposed to “double dipping” claims by casuals for permanent entitl..

Highlighting the breadth of an employer’s responsibility for bullying at work, Allianz has been held liable by a NSW court for the deliberate actions of a senior manager who verbally and physically bullied a claimant for over 14 months, even though the court found that Allianz was not negligent[..

The Federal Government has announced a new Bill with significant changes to industrial law including: changes to casual employment: a definition of casual employment; criteria for when employers must offer permanent employment; and anti-double dipping provisions by which employers can..

In a novel general protections dispute the Federal Court has affirmed the rights of workers to have a toilet break! A McDonald’s franchisee, Tantex Holdings Pty Ltd, has been fined $82,000 in total by the Federal Court of Australia for multiple breaches of the Fair Work Act (“the Act”) in fa..

Wage theft is now a crime in Queensland after new laws were passed on 9 September, 2020. These new laws could see employers prosecuted, and even face up to 10 years jail time, for deliberately underpaying or withholding entitlements from their workers. Importantly, the new laws also pro..

Current and prospective blue card holders need to be aware of major changes to the blue card system in Queensland that take effect from 31st August 2020. The new requirements will affect current and future blue card holders. Anyone intending to work in August or September this year in a regu..

Central to the new JobKeeper laws are the rights of employers to give “JobKeeper enabling directions”. Importantly the rights only apply for those employers and their employees who qualify for the JobKeeper scheme and where the employees are receiving the JobKeeper payment. Criteri..

The JobKeeper legislation and changes to the Fair Work Act have passed and are in effect. This is part 1 of a series for businesses that qualify for the JobKeeper allowance, explaining the changes to the Fair Work Act and how to implement them in your business. Objectives The objectives ..

Employers are often confused about how to pay their employees who work during the Easter break and whether an employee can refuse to work during this time. In Queensland all of the days during the Easter period are declared as public holidays: Good Friday – Friday 10 April Easter Saturd..