Pay rises in private sector agreements approved in the June quarter reached 3% for the first time in 18 months, despite the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Attorney-General's Department data bedevilled by an inability to quantify increases for 76,000 workers.
In a decision underlining the perils faced by workers who are not covered by awards or enterprise agreements, the FWC has found an employer had no statutory obligation to consult an employee about its plans to make him redundant.
Private sector pay rates excluding bonuses increased by 0.1% seasonally adjusted and 0.5% in original terms in the September quarter, according to the ABS.
The FWC has ordered compensation for an award-winning Ray White real estate salesperson sacked after "stirring the pot" over plans to pass on only a proportion of JobKeeper payments to commission-based employees.
After more than a fortnight without a locally-acquired coronavirus case, the City of Melbourne is seeking agreement from major employers to sign a "CEO pledge" committing to enticing 70% of their workforces back to the office once they are allowed to do so under government health policies.
RBA's modest wage growth hopes; Case to test employers' vaccination policies; Clerks award flexibilities extended until March; and Grace retains Palaszczuk Government's IR portfolio.
Multinational cosmetics company Lush has backpaid workers almost $4.5 million and entered into an enforceable undertaking with the FWO after the lack of an HR department and training, along with a moribund manual payroll system, led to widespread underpayments.
A leading economics and IR academic says the Morrison Government's decision to ditch public servants' 2% pay rise cap and instead link increases with private sector WPI adjustments is a missed opportunity that will "make a bad situation worse".
The FWC has warned employers against using Facebook Messenger to communicate with employees, in a ruling on the sacking of a casual who refused to work her JobKeeper hours.
