As Adero Law prepares to file a class action accusing Super Retail Group of underpaying up to 3000 store managers via an "entirely foreign" annualised salaries system, the company has sacked its chief executive over his affair with its former head of HR, while defending proceedings launched by two whistleblowers.
The ASU is urging the FWC to scrap proposed changes to the SCHADS Award that it says could result in 73% of covered workers losing pay, and begin a new review with a broader remit.
After the FWC sought feedback about how it should proceed with retail award variation applications following the passage of Albanese Government legislation that circumvented a key element of one of the cases, the tribunal has acceded to a bid by retailers to also consider submissions on the effect of the recent Federal Court ruling on underpayments by Coles and Woolworths.
Woolworths claims Friday's Federal Court underpayments ruling will cost it an extra $470 million before tax and "will require significant and widespread changes to accepted retail practice".
A model working from home clause in a key award should avoid contributing to remote workers working "long and unsociable hours", address employer provision of equipment and apply to all employees, according to a Centre for Future Work report.
Almost a year since the FWC inserted right to disconnect terms in awards and on the eve of the entitlement extending to small businesses, the FWC is indicating that the lack of any significant case law since its inception suggests it should delay a promised 12-month review and development of guidelines.
FWC President Adam Hatcher has conceded the tribunal can juggle only so many balls, placing on ice its scrutiny of potential gender bias in awards' overtime provisions after the publication of an internal research paper.
In its latest clean-up of superannuation in awards, the FWC has observed that after more than a decade it still does not have the required members to constitute an expert panel to keep tabs on default funds terms.
The FWC is inviting quick submissions in its crucial work from home test case ahead of a directions hearing pushed back to September 5, after providing data underpinning WFH research criticised by the Australian Industry Group, while Victoria is consulting on WFH legislation to be introduced next year.
Employers are seeking work-from-home-related changes to the clerks award to make it easier to spread out working hours without requiring penalty rates, remove minimum engagement restrictions and overhaul meal and rest break provisions.
