News

Still no success for vax abstainers as FWC decisions start to flow

Months earlier than expected, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has issued several decisions addressing dismissal applications lodged by unvaccinated employees, terminated for being non-compliant with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate applicable to their work. The dismissals have been endorsed by the FWC in each instance, while many more unvaccinated employees who lodged their dismissal applications out of time have failed to win the right to pursue their claims.

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Insult to injury: FWC awards compensation to sacked employee who squished pet galah

In January, Deputy President Lake of the Fair Work Commission found an employer had acted unfairly when he summarily dismissed a labourer for accidentally reversing over the employer’s beloved pet bird, ‘Crackers’. This month, the Deputy President poured salt in the wound by awarding the sacked employee over $8,000 compensation.

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Unvaccinated nurse not entitled to paid personal leave, confirms FWC

A Nurse in Victoria, who is not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 and is therefore unable to perform work in compliance with the vaccination mandate that applies to her employment, has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission (FWC) she is entitled to access her paid personal leave at present, despite the fact she has consistently submitted medical certificates verifying her incapacity for work since October last year.

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Aged Care Worker Dismissed for Failing to Provide Vaccination Evidence Loses Unfair Dismissal Claim

Representing one of the very first unfair dismissal claims determined by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) involving mandatory vaccination for workers under a public health order, an aged care employee who refused to provide evidence of being vaccinated to her employer has failed to convince the FWC her dismissal was unfair.

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New vax mandates in effect in QLD, another NSW challenge fails

By 17 December 2021, many private-sector Queensland workplaces will be operating under public health directions, issued by the State Government, mandating vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, contractors and volunteers. Similar public health directions have been operating in other States and Territories for months, with New South Wales and Victorian businesses having been subject to particularly expansive mandates on COVID-19 vaccination. 

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No compensation for “out of touch” hospitality worker wrongly stood down

Deputy President Lake of the Fair Work Commission has declined to award compensation to a Gold Coast hospitality employee, despite confirming she was unlawfully stood down twice in August and September, finding it would be unfair to her employer and colleagues who agreed to “share the burden of the pandemic”.

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2022 Queensland Public Holiday Calendar

Subscribers, login to your online account, go to ‘Fact Sheets’ and scroll down to the ‘Pay’ subheading to download a handy PDF list of all of the 2022 Public Holidays for Queensland. Don’t forget, just like last year, there are some additional public holidays in force over the Christmas/New Year period this year (see our related article).