Fair termination of worker who refused to return to the workplace post-COVID lockdowns
There has been a great deal of discussion around returning employees to the workplace now that many of the COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, and the extent to which an employer can insist that an employee works from the workplace after an (extended) period of working from home.
COVID-19: The great holiday disrupter!
Despite our mammoth efforts in mass vaccination, it appears COVID-19 has disrupted (and will continue to disrupt!) many employees’ well-deserved break over the festive period (either through isolation or infection).
Have you complied with your consultation obligations?
The recent Full Bench decision of Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, Mr Matthew Howard v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd T/A Mt Arthur Coal [2021] FWCFB 6059 (3 December 2021) considered whether Mt Arthur Coal (operated by BHP) met its consultation obligations in directing 724 employees covered by an enterprise agreement to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to gain entry to the mine.
Tougher COVID-19 vaccine exemption rules in Victoria
On 29 October 2021, COVID-19 vaccination exemption rules tightened to curb Victorian’s doctor shopping and pressuring General Practitioners to grant a medical exemption. If you are an employer or an operator of a specified facility where a vaccination mandate applies and a worker has provided you with a medical exemption, you need to be aware of these changes.
Mandatory Vaccination Directions for Victorian Workers – details finally released
On 1 October 2021, Premier Daniel Andrews announced that mandatory COVID-19 vaccination obligations would be introduced for Victorian workers who are required to work ‘onsite’. While many employers have already commenced discussions with their workforce about these upcoming requirements, all the underpinning details of the mandate have not been available, until now.