According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), one in five Australian adults will experience a mental illness in...
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), one in five Australian adults will experience a mental illness in any given year. With common conditions like depression and anxiety becoming more prevalent in the workplace, businesses are being urged to consider how they manage mental health issues amongst their...
The Working Holiday visa program in Australia is a great way for young people aged between 18 and 30...
The Working Holiday visa program in Australia is a great way for young people aged between 18 and 30 to visit Australia and earn some money while they're here. It's quick, easy and cheap to apply for if you're from one of the countries party to an agreement with...
The National Retail Association (NRA) has been actively involved in the Fair Work Commission’s four yearly review of Modern Awards....
The National Retail Association (NRA) has been actively involved in the Fair Work Commission’s four yearly review of Modern Awards. Of key importance to our members is our push to reduce Sunday penalty rates and our opposition to claims by the unions, primarily relating to casual conversion and to increase...
Commissioner Julius Roe ordered PQ Australia to compensate a bullied employee $43,900 for forcing him to resign. The FWC...
Commissioner Julius Roe ordered PQ Australia to compensate a bullied employee $43,900 for forcing him to resign. The FWC found the employee, was unfairly dismissed before being forced to resign for failing to attend an unnecessary medical appointment to be assessed by the company’s nominated doctor. The employee had previously...
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) dictates that businesses operating in Australia must ensure the consumer products that they sell meet...
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) dictates that businesses operating in Australia must ensure the consumer products that they sell meet mandatory safety standards, are fit for their intended purpose and safe. One way of determining this is for products to be tested to show they meet the necessary standards. If...
As a result of the Harper Review into competition policy, the Federal Government announced that it will legislate to...
As a result of the Harper Review into competition policy, the Federal Government announced that it will legislate to amend Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act - the misuse of market power provision. The Harper Review found that Australia's current misuse of market power provision is not reliably...
The Retail and Commercial Leasing Guide was recently released by the South Australian Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The...
The Retail and Commercial Leasing Guide was recently released by the South Australian Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The Guide has been prepared to assist current and prospective tenant deal with some main elements of the Retail and Commercial Leases Act, namely: Lease terms Rent Lease assignment Condition of...
The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges...
The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges of product safety and compliance. The committee is an important forum for the development of the retail industry policy. It communicates regularly with government decision-makers and agencies, including Standards Australia, the...
The demotion of an employee may not in all circumstances meet the meaning of dismissed in section 385 of...
The demotion of an employee may not in all circumstances meet the meaning of dismissed in section 385 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). Consideration must be given to the continuation of employment, the whether the demotion imposed a significant reduction in status and payment. The recent...
This recent case warns that labour hire companies cannot “abrogate responsibilities to afford procedural and substantive fairness to...
This recent case warns that labour hire companies cannot “abrogate responsibilities to afford procedural and substantive fairness to a dismissed employee by relying on the fact that unfair treatment was meted out by another entity in which had placed the employee.” Adecco Australia were found by the FWC...
In Australia, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner, whilst one woman is killed by...
In Australia, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner, whilst one woman is killed by her male partner every five or six days. The retail industry has one of the largest female workforces in Australia, and is also one of the most gendered industries with almost...
In the recent case of Rooney v Pickles Auctions FWC 858 (9 February 2016), an employer has been...
In the recent case of Rooney v Pickles Auctions FWC 858 (9 February 2016), an employer has been commended for his efforts in following due termination process. The National Retail Association consistently reminds its members of the equal weight given to a valid reason for termination as well...
Employers are reminded to take caution when sending their employees for a medical assessment, as a recent case has...
Employers are reminded to take caution when sending their employees for a medical assessment, as a recent case has brought to light the consequences of dismissing an employee on these grounds. In the case of Norman v Lion Dairy and Drinks Limited, an employee who suffered from a serious skydiving...
We often receive calls from members who claim to have footage of employees engaged in misconduct. This case is...
We often receive calls from members who claim to have footage of employees engaged in misconduct. This case is a timely reminder that in order to rely on video footage it must be conclusive. It is simply not enough to have something on camera that is unclear. In Mulhall v...
Safe Work Australia has published the Second Annual National Statement which identifies emerging trends in psychosocial health, safety and...
Safe Work Australia has published the Second Annual National Statement which identifies emerging trends in psychosocial health, safety and bullying in Australian workplaces. The data in the statement is based on data from accepted worker’s compensation claims involving mental stress. The statement highlights some interesting workplace trends: •the median direct cost...
We are pleased to share with you some recent staff changes within the National Retail Association Legal team. Victoria Hansen...
We are pleased to share with you some recent staff changes within the National Retail Association Legal team. Victoria Hansen joins the team with nine years’ experience as a lawyer. Victoria brings a wealth of experience gained from most recently working as an Industrial Relations Advisor for the Civil Contractors...