Real labour costs plummet as profits share soars; Police hit with $85K costs for "naïve" union prosecution; Slow wage growth "no puzzle" for employers: PC.
Former Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James has warned of IR specialists kept in cupboards, time bombs for HR managers and nightmare scenarios caused by "fundamental misunderstandings", in a speech to an Ai Group forum.
A court has cited multiple settlement offers in refusing to award costs to a mortgage provider or its former chief executive, who says he spent well over $500,000 on an adverse action claim which netted him $110,000.
In a significant decision on FWC practices, a Commission full bench has made a powerful case for members conciliating a matter to automatically step aside from arbitrating the dispute if a party objects to their continued involvement, obviating the need for recusal hearings.
The FWC has supported an HR manager's initial rejection of a request for an employer to deduct union fees from workers' pay on the basis the union concerned was not party to its current agreement.
RAFFWU will object to the FWC's approval of a new McDonald's deal voted up by an historically-low 59% majority, as it attempts to clear the way to terminate the burger giant's nominally expired 2013 agreement and claw back more than $250 million in alleged underpayments.
ASX-listed Spotless Group Limited has been ordered to pay 14 former employees a total of $60,000 for breaching their privacy rights when disclosing their names to a union and paying their membership fees without authorisation.
The FWC has awarded $4000 compensation to an injured employee who was preparing to return to work when he was dismissed for serious misconduct that occurred eight months earlier.
A senior FWC member has reassured an employer audience that the tribunal is rapidly clearing roadblocks to "timely" agreement-making, while reminding them there are no "shortcuts" in addressing issues that have seen the number of deals requiring undertakings more than double in two years.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has foreshadowed a tougher approach to compliance and enforcement in 2019/20, with underpayment of workers in fast food, restaurants and cafes leading its priorities.
