The ACTU has called for employers to "step up" ahead of the forecast peak in COVID-19 numbers by providing leave at full pay for workers who need to isolate or quarantine and distributing free rapid antigen tests to all employees.
Just a month after declaring its intention to delete "Schedule X" unpaid pandemic leave provisions, the recent COVID-19 resurgence has spurred the FWC to extend their operation in a handful of health and care awards, coinciding with the Federal Government reviving the pandemic leave disaster payments.
The bid by Qantas to overturn a Federal Court ruling that it took unlawful adverse action against its former ground crew employees argues that some of the Fair Work Act's protected workplace rights are "time bound".
The Federal Court has this afternoon thrown out the latest challenge to COVID-19 public health orders, observing that whatever else the applicant's case lacked, it did not lack ambition.
In a decision reinstating a Regional Express pilot who missed a COVID-19 vaccination deadline, the FWC has expressed sympathy for the airline's "beleaguered HR staff", despite finding the sacking procedurally flawed.
An ACTU call centre worker whose Facebook posts cheered on vaccine mandate protesters who kicked in a union headquarter's windows, applauded attacks against police, mocked domestic violence and disparaged black and transgender people has failed to budge a finding that it rightly sacked him.
The FWC has upheld Australia Post's sacking of a long-time employee who ignored directions not to return to a client's workplace after complaints he was spreading COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
An AGL worker who refused to provide proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19 has won a time extension to contest her dismissal after the FWC accepted her application was delayed when the Commission redirected its mail from Perth to Melbourne.
The FWC is seeking feedback within four weeks on its draft online proceedings framework, which outlines how matters can be heard in person, partly online, or fully online, at the discretion of the member.
