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.
A FWC full bench led by President Adam Hatcher has abruptly ended conciliation of the crucial clerks award WFH case after a "highly regrettable" leak of confidential information to the media, while issuing a broader warning that participants should respect processes conducted behind-closed-doors.
An expert FWC panel headed by President Adam Hatcher has decried the Albanese Government's "proposed usurpation" of the Commission's role while rejecting an ASU request to delay consideration of gender-undervaluation changes in a major award.
A Federal Circuit and Family Court judge has urged the Albanese Government to "substantially" increase penalties for failing to engage with compliance notices and to empower the FWO to seek the removal of directors, to prevent recidivism and deter directors and companies from ignoring notices.
The FWC has listed the ANMF's nurses and midwives work value case for a conference early next month as the union and employers attempt to resolve outstanding issues, such as any phase-in arrangements, without the need for a full contested hearing.
