Junior Rates scrapped for some “Young Adults”
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has handed down a significant decision to progressively phase out junior rates for employees aged 18 to 21 (young adult employees) covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2020, Fast Food Industry Award 2020 and the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020. The junior rates for employees aged under 18 years (minors) […]
The rise in General Protections Claims – what employers need to know
Employers are facing a sustained and significant increase in general protections (GP) claims under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), particularly dismissal-related claims. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has described this growth as “unsustainable”, with a 57% increase on the three-year average reported in the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year. This has prompted […]
New regulations to protect the mental health of Victorian workers commencing 1 December 2025
On 1 October 2025, Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, announced that the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 (Vic) have been made and will commence on 1 December 2025. Psychosocial risks in the workplace can significantly affect workers’ wellbeing and result in psychological harm. The new Regulations […]
Loaded Rates and Annual Salaries for Award Employees – Now in Dangerous Waters
Employers who pay loaded rates or annual salaries to their award-covered employees should take careful heed of a long-awaited decision handed down by Justice Perram last Friday in the Federal Court of Australia. The case involved multiple proceedings (that were being heard together) against Woolworths and Coles and included prosecutions by the Fair Work Ombudsman […]
It’s time to McBargain: First Supported Bargaining Authorisation in private sector issued by FWC
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has granted a supported bargaining authorisation, forcing 18 franchisees operating 53 McDonald’s restaurants across South Australia to bargain with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), for a multi-employer enterprise agreement. This marks the first time the government’s supported bargaining laws have been applied outside the public sector. Background […]
Workplace Watch: What Changed on 1 July
On 1 July, a range of updates to minimum rates of pay, thresholds, and limits came into effect. Below is a summary of some of the key changes that employers and HR professionals should be aware of: Minimum wages As highlighted in our previous alert (here), the national minimum wage and minimum modern award rates […]
Living Costs Drive 3.5% Minimum Wage Rise for Australia’s Lowest Paid
The Fair Work Commission’s (Commission) Expert Panel for annual wage reviews (Panel) handed down its much-anticipated Annual Wage Review decision this morning. The Panel approved a 3.5% increase to minimum modern award rates and the National Minimum Wage. These changes will take effect from 1 July 2025. The Panel confirmed that the principal consideration guiding […]
Important changes for Victorian employers holding employee COVID-19 vaccination information
The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (COVID-19 Vaccination Information) Regulations 2022 (the Regulations) which amended the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) to permit Victorian employers to collect, record, hold and use COVID-19 vaccination information of their workers, expired on 12 July 2023. The Regulations were originally introduced so that employers could, if they […]