Did you know that unfair dismissal and other employment claims cost employers $10,000's per claim ($100,000's in some instances), not to mention the time away from the business and the stress of defending or resolving a claim?
Employment Laws are changing so quickly in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the space of approximately 1 month coronavirus-related changes have gradually been made to the following:
- The Restaurant Industry Award 2010 – to provide flexibility around hours of work and duties;
- The Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 - to provide flexibility around hours of work and duties;
- The Clerks - Private Sector Award 2010 - to provide flexibility around hours of work and duties;
- 99 Modern Awards – to provide for 2 weeks’ unpaid ‘pandemic leave’, and the ability to agree for double the amount of annual leave to be taken at half pay;
- The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) due to the introduction of the Jobkeeper Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The COVID-19 is an unprecedented event, but do not fall into the trap of thinking that employment laws will not be enforced during this time. These are a lot of changes for employers to get their head around, but employers understanding their obligations is essential to minimise the risk of employment claims against them. It could be a costly headache for employers if they get it wrong!
The Government’s stringent restrictions to ‘flatten the curve’ have caused employers to consider their options to ensure that they still have an operational business once the restrictions are lifted, including the possibility of having to stand down employees or make redundancies. Employer’s need to know what their obligations are to employees generally during the COVID-19 pandemic and when acting on decisions being made regarding operational changes.
In this webinar employers will learn about their obligations to employees to provide some guidance and clarity, and reduce the stress of an already stressful situation (as well as the risk of employment claims).
Holly Mylne, the Principal of Blossom Lawyers will talk on:
- Leave entitlements if employees are absent due to the COVID-19 – such as suffering illness, caring for someone suffering an illness, a consequence of a government direction, an unwillingness to attend work; and pandemic leave;
- Changes to the Fair Work Act as a result of bringing in the Jobkeeper Wage Subsidy Scheme;
- Options to employers such as stand downs;
- Redundancy processes that need to be followed; and
- The consequences of failing to comply with the employer’s obligations to its employees.
Blossom Lawyers’ motto is ‘Helping people and industries Blossom’ and we want to do just that. We want to help people minimise the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business, and help businesses come out the other side positioned for success.
Click on the button below to register and attend this webinar.
If you register and are unable to attend, we will send you a recording of the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Click on the button to register for our upcoming FREE webinar presented by our Principal, Holly Mylne on Wednesday, 22 April 2020, at 12:00pm (Queensland time).