Testing Employees for Coronavirus
Coronavirus – to test or not to test? That is the question. As an employer you are legally obliged to contain the health and safety risks presented by COVID-19 infection in the workplace by seeking to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of: your workers (employees, contractors, volunteers); and third parties…
Recent Jobkeeper Updates in a Snapshot
Jobkeeper payments will continue from 28 Sept 2019 to March 2020 at reduced rates From 28 Sept two fortnightly payments are available $1200 (for eligible employees working over 20 hours as at Feb 2020) and $750 (for those under 20 hours per week) Eligibility will be assessed quarter to quarter, so you need to compare…
Fair Work Commission announces 2020 minimum wage Increase
To the surprise of many employer and industry groups and despite particularly challenging macroeconomic circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic (including an anticipated fall in Australian GDP by up to 8%) and a significant increase in unemployment – The Fair Work Commission’s Minimum Wage Panel (Panel) has increased the National Minimum Wage, together with all…
Staff returning to work after COVID-19? Things to consider
Staff returning to work after COVID-19? Things to consider Key Points: Understand your health & safety responsibilities Conduct a Risk Assessment (free sample Risk Register template) Engage staff in the return to work (RTW) process It seems that Australia might just be returning to normal (or a new normal) and returning to work after Covid-19 sooner than…
COVID-19: JobKeeper amendments to Fair Work Act
COVID-19: JobKeeper amendments to Fair Work Act Recently Federal Parliament passed legislation to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) for some items relating to the JobKeeper scheme. In short these are: Subject to consultation obligations and reasonableness requirements, employers may give three different types of directions to employees called a JobKeeper Enabling Direction (JED): reducing…
Pandemic Leave and Annual Leave at Half Pay: 99 Awards Varied 9 April 2020
Pandemic Leave and Annual Leave at Half Pay: 99 Awards Varied 9 April 2020 Today the Fair Work Commission have varied 99 modern awards (full list at the end of this article) to insert a new Schedule – ‘Additional measures during the COVID-19 pandemic’. This provides an entitlement to unpaid ‘pandemic leave’ and the flexibility…
New flexibility for Admin’s during COVID-19 pandemic.
Fair Work Award temporary amendments to Clerks Award Over the weekend we have seen some big amendments to the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2010! On Saturday 28 March 2020, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) made a determination varying the Clerks-Private Sector Award 2010 (Clerks Award) to insert “Schedule I – Award Flexibility during the…
Can I reduce an employee’s hours or pay during tough times?
Can I reduce an employee’s hours or pay during tough times? If your business is one of many being confronted with a potential downturn in business it’s difficult to know where to start and what options are available to you. To ensure financial viability of the business you may be forced to consider reducing costs…
Can I stand down employees during COVID-19?
Download our Standing Down Employees Fact Sheet Here Presently there is a great uncertainty in the economy and workplaces and the PeopleStart team are receiving a lot of queries in relation to potential future stand downs in the workplace. We’ve outlined some key points for you: What is considered a genuine stand down When employees…
Coronavirus: what if healthy employees refuse to attend work?
If an employee refuses to come to work, or undertake work-related travel, because he/she is concerned about possible exposure to the coronavirus, it basically comes down to whether the employee has legitimate concerns for his/her safety. If not, then you can direct the employee to attend work or travel, and if the employee refuses, the…