At the ACA we are here to help you understand your industrial relations obligations. This FAQ article, prepared by Fair Work Lawyers for ACA members and updated in November 2024, is designed to answer your commonly asked questions. It covers the Award system, minimum rates, ordinary hours of work, probation periods, annual leave and casual employees.

With the year flying by and Christmas just around the corner, it is worth taking the time to remind yourself about practice closedowns and your rights to direct employees to take annual leave during these periods. Emma Avey from Fair Work Lawyers offers advice related to employees engaged under the Architects Award and other relevant industrial awards.

ACA’s HR advisor Catalina Consultants has compiled a summary of changes from the Closing Loopholes legislation plus a timeline of key dates and suggested actions required. Significant changes on the horizon include right to disconnect, new laws related to independent contractors, casual employment definitions, and wage theft.

Given the recent Right to Disconnect legislation, what adjustments would you recommend we make in our practice to ensure compliance with the new rules? The ACA’s HR advisor Catalina Consultants outlines what the new rules mean for employers and some practical measures to aid in the promotion of a healthy work-life balance while still safeguarding productivity.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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