KEEP UP TO DATE WITH CHANGES TO AWARDS
CASUAL MINIMUM DAILY ENGAGEMENT UNDER THE RETAIL AWARD
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has clarified, that the minimum daily Engagement for a Casual Employee under the Retail Award, is 3 hours or 1.5 hours in certain circumstances, as set out in the Award. Refer to Retail Award >>https://awardviewer.fwo.gov.au/award/show/MA000004#P361_27497
ELECTRICAL AWARD CHANGES FOR CASUAL EMPLOYEES
The FWC has clarified how certain Casual Penalty and Overtime Rates should be calculated under the Electrical Award.
Refer to determination >> https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/sites/awardsmodernfouryr/pr735789.pdf
MCDONALDS HAS BEEN HIT WITH A CLASS ACTION OVER ALLEGED UNPAID BREAKS
McDonalds has been hit with a 2nd Federal Court case, over its alleged failure to provide Paid Rest Breaks.
Allegedly vulnerable Workers, mostly minors appear to systematically not being provided with their entitled rest breaks.
FWC ADVISED INQUIRY OF SPIKE IN VAX-RELATED CLAIMS
A parliamentary inquiry has been told that the FWC received about 160 Unfair Dismissal Applications, that included a reference to COVID-19 vaccinations over a 6-week period, between late September and mid-November 2021.
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVIEW
The FWC is conducting a review of Entitlements to Family and Domestic Violence Leave in Modern Awards. As part of this review, the FWC is also considering a claim by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, that all Modern Awards be varied to include a new Clause that provides all Employees (including Part Timers and Casuals) with:
- 10 days of Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave per annum; and
- Once that Entitlement is exhausted, 5 days of Unpaid Leave on each occasion that the Employee is entitled to the Leave.
The next step is for ACTU and parties supporting the ACTU’s Variations, to file revised or further submissions by 22ndDecember 2021.
GET IT RIGHT!
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has alleged that Coles owes its Managers about $100 Million more than it has made allowance for, following internal Payroll Audits looking at the Underpayments.
The FWO alleged its own Assessment showed Coles had significantly underestimated amounts owed to Employees, and that more than $108 million remained outstanding.
The FWO said ‘Businesses paying Annual Salaries cannot take a ‘set and forget’ approach to paying their Workers. Employers must ensure Wages being paid, are sufficient to cover all Minimum Lawful Entitlements for the hours their Employees are actually working, and the work they are actually doing’.
MYTH: Lengthy Unpaid Work trials and Unpaid Work Placements are OK, for all inexperienced young Workers looking to get a foot in the door.
FACT: Unpaid work trials are only OK for as long as needed to demonstrate the skills required for the job. Depending on the nature of the work, this could range from 1 hour to 1 shift.
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