Employer obligations

Architectural employers must meet a range of obligations under the Fair Work Act, the National Employment Standards and relevant state-based legislation. The ACA publishes regular and timely updates to ensure that practices understand and meet their obligations and rights under employment and workplace law.

2023-06-01

Flexibility Expanded

1 June 2023

From Tuesday 6 June 2023, more employees will be able to request flexible working arrangements, and employers will have new obligations regarding flexible work requests, including a more rigorous process of discussion, negotiation and written responses.

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2023-05-29

2023 Changes to Parental Leave

29 May 2023

From 1 July 2023, the rules for government-funded parental leave are changing to provide greater flexibility for parents to share caring responsibilities.

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2022-11-17

Paid Family & Domestic Violence Leave Entitlements

17 November 2022

On 9 November, the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 received royal assent. This legislation introduces paid family and domestic violence leave to all employees as an entitlement under the National Employment Standards. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides the following update for ACA members.

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2022-05-09

Legal overview of WA’s WHS changes

9 May 2022

Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an overview of the new WHS laws brought into effect in WA in March 2022. Practices need to be aware that there are potentially significant changes to the way that safety in design is dealt with under the new WHS legislation.

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2021-09-21

Industrial Relations – FAQs

21 September 2021

At the ACA we are here to help you understand your industrial relations obligations. This FAQ article, prepared by Fair Work Lawyers, is designed to answer your commonly asked questions.

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2021-07-06

Casual Employment – An Explainer

6 July 2021

Tom Earls provides detailed analysis of employer obligations relating to casual engagements, and the key steps to take during the transitional window, which has the critical end date of 27 September 2021.

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2021-03-30

Casual Employment Information Statement

30 March 2021

The new Casual Employment Information Statement is now available for download. All employers are obligated to give a copy of this statement to any new casual employee employed on or after 27 March 2021.

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2020-08-14

High Court Decision about Personal Leave

14 August 2020

Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers summarises the findings of an important high court decision about personal leave accrual for ACA members.

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2022-01-19

Unpaid Pandemic Leave & Annual Leave at Half Pay

19 January 2022

The Fair Work Commission has extended the entitlement to unpaid pandemic leave and annual leave at half pay for many awards to 30 June 2022.

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2020-06-04

COVID-19 & Industrial Manslaughter

4 June 2020

By 1 July 2020, Victoria will introduce industrial manslaughter laws for the first time. At the same time, Australia continues its efforts to contain COVID-19, including significant restrictions on work and workplaces. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers explores the issues for ACA members.

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2020-05-21

Federal Court's Ruling on Casual Employment

21 May 2020

On 20 May 2020, the full bench of the Federal Court redefined what constitutes a casual worker. Michael Corrigan digs into the detail.

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2020-03-19

Coronavirus: Stand Down Considerations

19 March 2020

Tom Earls and David Putland from Fair Work Lawyers provide an update on key considerations for employers when circumstances force them to stand down parts of their workforce.

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2020-03-15

Coronavirus: Implications for Employers

15 March 2020

With COVID-19 threatening to have significant impacts on businesses and workplaces around Australia in the coming weeks and months, Tom Earls and David Putland from Fair Work Lawyers provide insights into the complex and often competing legal concepts relating to employment.

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2020-01-14

Community Service Leave

14 January 2020

Practice owners and managers should be aware that all employees, including casuals, are entitled to community service leave to take on emergency service management activities, such as volunteering for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) or State Emergency Service (SES).

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2021-03-30

Fair Work Information Statement

30 March 2021

A new Fair Work Information Statement was released on 29 March 2021. This must be given to all new employees, as part of an employer’s responsibilities under the National Employment Standards.

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2018-10-17

Long Service Leave Changes

17 October 2018

The Victorian Government has expanded the rights of employees regarding long service leave, effective from 1 November.

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2018-08-13

Legal Advice: Unpaid Internships

13 August 2018

What are your obligations in terms of unpaid internships? Nick Ruskin from K&L Gates looks at the fine print.

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2021-06-02

Individual Flexibility Arrangements

2 June 2021

Individual flexibility arrangements provide the opportunity to vary modern awards or enterprise agreements to provide flexibility in a fair and appropriate manner.

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2017-10-14

What is Reasonable Management Action?

14 October 2017

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.

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2017-08-16

Can casual workers really just ask to become permanent?

16 August 2017

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.

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2015-07-20

Reducing the Risk of General Protections Claims

20 July 2015

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.

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2015-05-12

Meeting Your Obligations in Relation to Redundancy

12 May 2015

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.

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2014-02-02

Fair Work Employer Checklist

2 February 2014

Do you understand all your obligations under the national workplace relations system?

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2013-12-03

Your Business and the New Anti-Bullying Legislation

3 December 2013

Michael Corrigan explains the changes to workplace laws on bullying and what you need to know.

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2013-10-11

Changing Employees' Hours of Work

11 October 2013

Managing reducing hours of work to ensure minimum stress and maximum benefit for all.

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2013-07-10

Anti-bullying legislation

10 July 2013

New anti-bullying legislation focusses on how employers respond to allegations of bullying.

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2012-09-10

Redundancy

10 September 2012

When does redundancy occur and what are your obligations as an employer?

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