News

This morning, 1 June 2018, the Minimum Wage Panel of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down its Minimum Wage Ruling. The FWC has awarded an increase of 3.5% to all adult full time weekly rates in the Modern Awards from the first pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 July 2018. Proportionate increases will flow to part time and casual workers, juniors, apprentices and trainees.

The 3.5% increase results in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increasing to $719.20 per week (or $18.93 per hour). Casual workers who remain ‘award free’ will have the casual minimum rate increased to $23.66 per hour from ppc 1 July 2018.

It is important for employers to remember that it will not result in the same dollar value increase for each classification level – higher award rates will receive a higher increase in terms of the dollar amount flowed-on. For example, a 3.5% increase in the NMW is a $24.30 per week increase whereas a 3.5% increase in the standard trade-qualified (C10) rate, currently $809.10 per week, equates to an increase of $28.30 per week.

Allowances contained in each Modern Award, which are calculated as a percentage of the ‘standard rate’, will of course increase following the 3.5% per week increase to the ‘standard rate’ they are calculated from. Furthermore, expense-related allowances, specific to each Modern Award, will increase as necessary subject to the formal determinations issued by the FWC.

ES subscribers can anticipate updated versions of their Modern Award/s being made available online in the week beginning 25 June.

The Fair Work Commission has criticised the decision of a small business employer to dismiss a beauty therapist by phone but upheld the dismissal as being consistent with the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code.

Continue reading “FWC Critical of Dismissal by Phone but Upholds Sacking of Beauty Therapist”

A former Linfox employee has failed in his unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission finding he was dismissed, but that a Deed of Release he signed on the day of the dismissal operated as a complete answer to his claim.

Continue reading “Employee who resigned really dismissed – but unfair dismissal claim struck out due to Deed”

From 1 July 2018, employers with 20 or more employees will be required to comply with Single Touch Payroll reporting.

Continue reading “Are you ready for Single Touch Payroll reporting?”