New Classification levels + Wage increases for Dental Assistants from April 2026
On Christmas Eve, the Fair Work Commission issued a determination to vary the Health Professionals & Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award), resulting from the Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process which has been running for more than 18 months.
Continue reading “New Classification levels + Wage increases for Dental Assistants from April 2026”Report highlights proposed alternative classification structure for SCHADS Award arising from Gender-based Undervaluation Review
The Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process, which has been running for more than 18 months, commenced on the Commission’s own motion and set out to consider variations to classifications and minimum wage rates on work value grounds within six Modern Awards applicable in highly feminised industries, “to remedy potential gender undervaluation”. The Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (the SCHADS Award) was one of the priority awards identified.
Continue reading “Report highlights proposed alternative classification structure for SCHADS Award arising from Gender-based Undervaluation Review”New Classification structure + Wage increases for Children’s Services Award from March 2026
On 10 December 2025, the Fair Work Commission issued a determination to vary the Children’s Services Award 2010 (the CS Award), resulting from the Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process which has been running for more than 18 months.
Continue reading “New Classification structure + Wage increases for Children’s Services Award from March 2026”2025 Season’s Greetings to ES Clients
The ES office and advice line will close for the Festive period at 5.00pm, Tuesday, 23 December 2025 and re-open, subject to our standard operating hours, at 9.00am, Monday, 5 January 2026.
Continue reading “2025 Season’s Greetings to ES Clients”Public Holiday curveballs on the calendar in 2026
With the Festive Season on the horizon and a new year racing up fast, businesses may astutely be planning for 2026. It’s notable that next year’s public holiday calendar will deliver-up some quirky arrangements in respect of Anzac Day and Boxing Day that employers should be mindful of.
Continue reading “Public Holiday curveballs on the calendar in 2026”Confused ‘resignations’ tripping up employees and employers
Numerous recent decisions from the Fair Work Commission (FWC) have highlighted the importance of having clarity over cessation of employment, with employers and employees equally at risk of disappointment where there is conjecture about how the employment relationship ended.
Continue reading “Confused ‘resignations’ tripping up employees and employers”ESL small business owner penalised for reliance on AI-assisted redundancy letter
A Victorian small business owner for whom English is a second language has been criticised by the Fair Work Commission for his use of ChatGPT to compile an email which advised an employee of the redundancy of their role, with Commissioner Redford commenting that the use of the “cursory” method of communication lacked “decency”.
Continue reading “ESL small business owner penalised for reliance on AI-assisted redundancy letter”Employer reasonably rejected Educator’s flex-work request based on “restrictive roster”
An early childhood employer’s rejection of an Educator’s request to continue working shifts that facilitated the collection of her young children after school has been upheld by the Fair Work Commission, with Commissioner Schneider confirming compliance with ratio requirements and child safety guidelines prevails over an employee’s desired working hours.
Continue reading “Employer reasonably rejected Educator’s flex-work request based on “restrictive roster””Christmas shutdown basics for Employers in 2025
If your business is eagerly anticipating some down time over the 2025/26 Festive Season, whether or not you can require your employees to use their annual leave during the temporary shutdown period will depend on a number of factors, including how much annual leave an employee has accrued; whether a Modern Award applies or not; and, what the relevant Modern Award provides, if one applies to the employee.
Continue reading “Christmas shutdown basics for Employers in 2025”Dismissal finding for worker who resigned after being given 24 hours to respond to long list of concerns
A Property Manager has succeeded in demonstrating her resignation was forced by her former employer after she was given just 24 hours to respond in writing to over 20 concerns.
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