A law firm has launched the first major underpayment class action against a private Australian university, it claims, over the alleged short-changing of casual academics.
Underpayments spike as FWO calls for end to "adversarialism"; FWC launches sexual harassment tool; Reinstatement for "phat arse" worker; SCHADS pay rises deferred; and ANMF wins scope orders for aged care nurses.
The FWC has temporarily increased the vehicle-related allowances in the SCHADS and aged care awards to compensate workers for the fuel price surge from the Middle East conflict, but has declined to make the change in 39 other awards.
A FWC full bench has refused to delay the phasing-in of junior rates changes, while rejecting SDA arguments that a six-month qualifying period before 18 to 20-year-old retail, fast food and pharmacy workers receive full adult pay should be based on their time under an award rather than length of service with an individual employer.
The FWC will insert a working from home term in the clerical award that provides for employees to request WFH arrangements, but it has found no basis for a "major regulatory intervention" to compel employers to act.
The FWC has rejected a highly-paid commercial leasing director's unfair dismissal claim, finding that while many of his duties aligned with a real estate award classification, his duties and responsibilities pushed him outside its scope.
High Court rebuffs academic pay challenge; "No guarantee" lawyers will respond before deadline, says FWC; ABC presenter free to contest sacking; and Bench rejects consolidation order appeal.
The FWC has upheld a coal mining company's right to stop accrual of annual leave for employees when they take industrial action or are locked out, in a decision with potential implications for the wider industry.
The first test case for the delegates' rights provisions legislated by the Albanese Government is set to be heard in the Federal Court in Brisbane next week.
In another FWC case blighted by AI, a senior member has lamented the time wasted by tribunal staff and an employer as a result of a self-represented worker's citing of three supposedly pertinent decisions, two of them irrelevant and one that "simply did not exist".
