New Family and Domestic Violence Leave
Fair Work has announced new leave entitlements, applicable from 1 August.
2018 Updates to Architects Award
As the year draws to a close, we take a brief look at the changes made to the Architects Award this year.
Right to Request Flexible Work
The Modern Awards include a new clause outlining the right to request flexible work.
Flexibility - New Award Clauses
New clauses in Modern Awards aim to further support flexible work. The ACA outlines what this might mean, how employers can prepare for these changes, and where to find good material to support flexible workplaces.
Termination of Employment Clause
A new award determination requires employers to pay employees within seven days of their termination of employment.
The Architects Award
Download the current awards here, and understand your obligations under the Architects Award and how the ACA can help.
Converting Casual Employees to Permanent
The Fair Work Commission has handed down a new determination that will impact ACA members with regular casual employees.
Legal Advice: Unpaid Internships
What are your obligations in terms of unpaid internships? Nick Ruskin from K&L Gates looks at the fine print.
Managing the Risk of Sexual Harassment
Implementing policies and staff training around harassment are important, but enforcement is crucial. Employers must be prepared to take direct action when required, advises employment law specialist Elizabeth Radley.
2018 Award Rates
Updated Federal Industrial Awards pay rates for the Architects Award – effective from 1 July.
Harassment Resources
We encourage all ACA members to ensure that their workplaces are safe for all. There are some excellent resources out there to help employers understand their obligations, and to develop the best processes, policies and culture.
New Model Domestic Violence Leave Clause in Awards
The ACA welcomes the decision of the Fair Work Commission that a model domestic violence leave clause should be inserted into modern Awards.
Architects Award: FAQ
The Architects Award sets the minimum standards and wages for the employment of architects, architectural graduates and architecture students. FAQs to help you meet your obligations.
Stopping Harassment in its Tracks
How does your practice address sexual harassment at work? Merilyn Speiser from Catalina Consultants offers a 10-step approach to keep your business harassment-free.
Employee or Contractor?
Do you understand the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, and what it means for your practice?
Guide Agreements - IFA
The ACA Guide IFA Agreement provides member practices with a guide document to review and adjust to suit their particular practice.
Guide Agreements - time off in lieu and cashing out leave
The ACA provides new Guide Agreements to assist members meet their obligations under recent changes to the Architects Award.
Individual Flexible Arrangements
Individual flexibility arrangements provide the opportunity to vary modern awards or enterprise agreements to provide flexibility in a fair and appropriate manner.
What is Reasonable Management Action?
An employee usually won’t succeed in an unfair dismissal or bullying claim if the conduct of their employer is considered ‘reasonable management action’. But what does that term mean? Merilyn Speiser from Catalina Consultants investigates.
Can casual workers really just ask to become permanent?
A recent Fair Work decision about the right of casual workers to request permanency has raised many questions. Merilyn Speiser from Catalina Consultants provides the answers.
Draughting Employees - Which Award?
Which Award are draughtspeople classified under? Michael Corrigan explains.
Changes to Your HR Obligations for the New Financial Year
The new financial year will bring a number of changes to laws and regulations affecting HR, including new obligations for employers.
Federal Industrial Awards Pay Rates from 1 July 2017
Updated Federal Industrial Awards pay rates for awards relevant to employees working in architectural practices.
Employer Superannuation Obligations
All Australian businesses have responsibilities when it comes to superannuation. Cbus explains employers’ obligations and how Cbus can help.
Long Service Leave for Casual and Part-time Employees
Michael Corrigan explains long service leave entitlements for casual or regular part-time employees, and how to calculate leave owed.
Time off in Lieu - New Rules
A surprise decision by the Fair Work Commission now requires employers to calculate time off in lieu (TOIL) at a rate of 1.5 hours for each hour of overtime worked for employees being paid at the Award rates.
Paid Parental Leave
Do you have systems in place for Paid Parental Leave? We provide an overview of your obligations.
SuperStream
Are you using SuperStream yet? The extended deadline for businesses with less than 20 employees to start using this ATO system is 28 October. Cbus provides a guide to help you get started.
2016-10-17
Employee / Contractor Decision Tool
The ATO has a simple online tool to help you find out whether your worker is an employee or contractor for tax and super purposes.
Link
Redundancy Update
A new decision by the Fairwork Commission means that redundancy payments should now be calculated with reference to previous casual employment as well as part-time and full-time service. Abraham Ash and Andrew McNair of Clayton Utz explain.
Students and Graduates of Architecture
Provisions for students and graduates of architecture in the Architects Award and applicable pay rates.
Guide Employment Agreements
The ACA Employment Agreements provide member practices with guides that they can review and adjust to suit their particular practice.
Federal Industrial Awards Pay Rates from 1 July 2016
Updated Federal Industrial Awards pay rates for awards relevant to employees working in architectural practices.
Federal Budget New Internship Program
The 2016 Federal Budget includes an internship program. Details are scant, but the ACA is keeping a watching brief on the initiative and what it means in relation to the Architects Award.
Reducing the Risk of General Protections Claims
The Fair Work Act 2009 contains a range of general protections available to employees against conduct that is discriminatory, unfair or unlawful. Peta Tumpey and Rae Mozejko, of TressCox Lawyers, set out what the general protections are and what employers can do to avoid claims being made in this jurisdiction.
Meeting Your Obligations in Relation to Redundancy
Peta Tumpey and Katie Simon outline the steps you need to go through as an employer to ensure you meet your obligations in relation to redundancy.
A Reminder About Unpaid 'Interns'
The ACA is concerned to note that some architectural practices are advertising unpaid ‘internship’ positions that appear to be unlawful.
Employment Update
Michael Corrigan provide an update on changes to the Fair Work Act and what they mean for architectural practices.
Superannuation Changes in 2014
Cbus provides an update on changes to superannuation requirements in 2014.
Contractors Employed in an Architect's Office
A Guide Employment Agreement for Contractors Employed in an Architect’s Office.
Fair Work Employer Checklist
Do you understand all your obligations under the national workplace relations system?
Advice for members
The ACA assists members with formal and informal advice in a range of areas relating to the business of architecture.
2014-01-30
Unfair Dismissal Statistics
The Fair Work Commission has a new webpage showing the statistics for the “results and outcomes of applications for unfair dismissal remedy made under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009”.
Link
Internships - Legal Advice
An employer’s legal obligations, rights and responsibilities in relation to students, work experience participants and volunteers.
Fair Work Information Statement
Do you give all new employees the Fair Work Information Statement?
Award Modernisation
Simon Hanger outlines the ACA’s role in the Award Modernisation Process, which led to the Architects Award.
Your Business and the New Anti-Bullying Legislation
Michael Corrigan explains the changes to workplace laws on bullying and what you need to know.
Changing Employees' Hours of Work
Managing reducing hours of work to ensure minimum stress and maximum benefit for all.
Performance reviews
How do you make performance reviews productive for both the business and the employee?
Anti-bullying legislation
New anti-bullying legislation focusses on how employers respond to allegations of bullying.
Internships Update
Do internships provide a much-needed foot in the door and an opportunity to learn or are they exploitation? It all depends on the structure and policies in place, and the integrity with which they are supervised.
Superannuation Changes from 2013
Mark Ward of Cbus gives an overview of changes to the Australian superannuation system which took effect at the beginning of the 2013 financial year.
