Labour law expert Ron McCallum says ahead of this year's annual debate named in his honour that a "wellbeing index" for employers, and stronger measures to boost mental health, fairness and inclusion, could all help drive up productivity.
The FSU says employers are now on notice that they must have genuine business grounds for refusing flexible work arrangements, after the FWC made orders to enable a Westpac employee to work from home to care for her children, finding "no question" her role can be "performed completely remotely".
Multi-employer bargaining is on the chopping block and the definition of casual employment might follow suit, but the Coalition has changed its tune on working from home and tax cuts, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley announced today.
Faced with "simply unsustainable" growth in its caseload, the FWC is seeking to improve efficiency, starting with general protections cases involving dismissals, up by 27% over five years, partly on the back of paid agents using them as a "substitute" for unfair sacking claims, the tribunal's president said today.
The National Construction Industry Forum has today unanimously endorsed a reform blueprint for the building and construction industry that pushes for the Albanese Government to give the FWC and FWO dispute resolution and enforcement powers.
WA's Cook Labor Government will create two new public holidays from 2028 and change the dates of multiple existing public holidays under amendments to be introduced into Parliament this week.
The Greens will use their balance of power in the Senate to seek to amend the Fair Work Act to give workers the right to work at least two days a week from home if it is "practical and reasonable", echoing Victoria's recent policy proposal.
The Albanese Government should force companies to share productivity gains with employees via higher pay rises, extra leave or shorter hours, according to research using the retail sector to challenge "conventional wisdom" that productivity growth flows through to workers.
Greens finance and workplace relations spokesperson Barbara Pocock says the party would "value" a seat at the Albanese Government's economic reform roundtable, where it would push for a four-day work week and an easier path for parents returning to employment, while the ACTU and the Productivity Commission have revealed more of their roundtable agendas.
