In a decision closely examining when employees can be directed to perform extra duties, a FWC full bench has ruled that a maintenance worker could refuse to remotely monitor an automated gate at a gas supplier's facility.
The FWC has refused to throw out an allegedly out-of-time adverse action case, ruling a FIFO worker only learned he had been sacked when told he had been left off the list of passengers due to board a plane to the worksite.
In a decision shedding further light on whether workers should be paid if instructed to conduct COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at home or prior to a shift, the FWC has held an aged care agreement lacks any provision to pay staff for testing at a time of their choosing.
The FWC has reinstituted a CFMMEU official's entry rights after more than five years, accepting that he had put his history of foul-mouthed contraventions behind him since being elected to a leadership role and making "lifestyle" changes to reduce stress.
The FWC has upheld the summary sacking of a "drunk and disorderly" financial advisor who refused to be breath-tested after turning up to work with bloodshot eyes and smelling of alcohol.
A Federal Court judge has speculated that he might have been "overly pessimistic" when he rejected suggestions that a FWC full bench displayed bias when sharing with parties its concerns about an already-approved agreement.
Tugboat operator Svitzer Australia has withdrawn its long-running application to terminate its national enterprise agreement, saying it will focus instead on continuing negotiations with three maritime unions on a new deal.
The FWC has granted an extension of time for a unfair dismissal application sent six days late because the worker's computer was infected with malware.
The FWC has speculated that an energy company in the midst of a $1.5 billion buying spree "presumably has a contingency plan in place" after rejecting its bid to have thousands of new employees covered by a 12-year-old deal that would leave some on below-award wages.
Submissions are due next month on Albanese Government proposals to empower the FWC to set minimum standards and pay rates for those in "employee-like" forms of work, including in the gig economy, and to tackle disputes over contract terms and termination.
