Calling NZ Worker “Sheep Shagger” Not Racial Discrimination: Court
A Court has found that the term “sheep shagger” has no connection to race because it could be applied to any New Zealander regardless of their race or ethnic origin. The finding formed part of a decision in a case brought by a worker against a concrete pumping business alleging breaches of anti-discrimination legislation and the Fair Work Act.
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Challenges to QLD Police Vaccine Direction Fail in QIRC
A Full Bench of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) has dismissed two applications challenging the lawfulness of a direction given by the Queensland Police Commissioner to staff directing them to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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Additional Public Holidays on the way this Festive Season
Looking for something a little more up-to-date? Confirm the 2023/24 Festive Season public holidays for all of Australia here.
REMINDER: Select Modern Awards subject to 2.5% wage increase from 1 November
A small number of Modern Awards remain to be varied for this year’s Annual Wage Review Increase of 2.5%, which will be flowed into 20 awards from the first full pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 November 2021.
If you’re seeking confirmation of the increase awarded via the 2021-22 Annual Wage Review, applicable to most award-covered employees from ppc 1 July 2022, see our related article.
Continue reading “REMINDER: Select Modern Awards subject to 2.5% wage increase from 1 November”Vax mandates remain hot topic as FWC Full Bench upholds dismissal of flu jab abstainer
In September, a majority Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) further endorsed the July 2020 sacking of a receptionist in a NSW aged care facility for refusing to receive the flu shot in accordance with her employer’s policy, denying her permission to appeal an earlier FWC decision upholding her dismissal, but the receptionist’s representatives have flagged a Federal Court challenge, emboldened by the passionate dissenting view of one FWC member.
Continue reading “Vax mandates remain hot topic as FWC Full Bench upholds dismissal of flu jab abstainer”Dismissal upheld for unreasonable refusal of employer’s lawful urine-sample demand
The Fair Work Commission has endorsed an employer’s stringent random drug testing policy, rejecting a dismissed worker’s argument that she should have been exempted from the “invasive” urine testing technique because she was experiencing a “personal medical condition” at the time she was required to provide a sample.
Continue reading “Dismissal upheld for unreasonable refusal of employer’s lawful urine-sample demand”Compensation for sacked Bottle-o Manager despite customer’s “convincing” complaint
A Tasmanian bottle shop manager has been awarded $3,000 compensation by the Fair Work Commission after finding his dismissal for misconduct in March 2021 lacked procedural fairness, notwithstanding the “truthful” and “convincing” evidence of a customer that he had made “unwelcome comments of a sexual nature” to her.
Continue reading “Compensation for sacked Bottle-o Manager despite customer’s “convincing” complaint”Important Decision for Community Sector Employers
In a decision many employers in the community services sector will find useful, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has determined that a casual nurse was not dismissed when the sole NDIS participant the nurse assisted decided not to use the worker any longer.
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Marriage Breakdown Real Reason for Dismissal, Not Redundancy: FWC
A worker sacked by her estranged husband from the business they co-founded was unfairly dismissed, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has found.
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