These are certainly unprecedented times, employers and employees must work together to manage the risks associated with the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) in the workplace. Measures to reduce the spread will require co-operation and compliance with Federal and Queensland Government (‘Government’) directives and restrictions. We encourage all employers to regularly review the following websites for updates and…
This month we look at the new international OHS standard published by Standards Australia. We also discuss the current ‘casual leave’ issue that is set to be considered again by the Federal Court, with a number of parties intervening in a new case brought by Workpac. New OHS standard published The world’s first international OHS…
A recent decision of Judge Vasta of the Federal Circuit Court reiterates the need for a careful and considered approach in making decisions involving pregnant employees. In this decision it seems that in trying to do what it thought was the right thing, the employer inadvertently (and perhaps ignorantly) fell foul of laws put in…
An employer’s unwitting error in incorporating its policies, including a redundancy policy, into a Chief Executive’s employment contract resulted in a significant financial windfall for the redundant Chief Executive. Interestingly, the ‘Global Markets Head’ of the same business tried to establish a similar claim; however it was found that he was not made redundant, but…
The High Court of Australia has overturned the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia find that there is no implied duty of trust and confidence in Australian employment contracts. A recap on the facts Mr Barker had been employed with CBA for approximately 28 years. During this time he had risen to the…
Justice White of the Federal Court has held that an employer who had made an employee redundant whilst on parental leave had not discriminated against the employee. The employee was employed in the position of Marketing Manager. Whilst the employee was on parental leave, the employer proceeded to make the position redundant. In considering whether…
