Reardon Workplace Consulting

17/06/2024

Staffing is becoming a huge problem for many Australian businesses and these examples just demonstrate the employees treating their employment as it is intended, casual. Employers need to be proactive with staff recruitment and retention, including rostering if they want to keep staff engaged.

Hospitality small business owners say junior staff are letting them down by not rocking up for shifts.

13/09/2023

The Fair Work Ombudsman is undertaking a national campaign reviewing the pay and conditions of Australian workers, with the agriculture sector being an industry being focused on. Currently, the campaign is targeting Queensland however with the local Adelaide Plains area being well known as the state's food bowl it's most likely just a matter of time before the Fair Work Ombudsman comes knocking.

Wages and conditions can be a complex area and recent years have seen some of Australia's biggest employers found to be underpaying their workers. If you have concerns now is a great time to undertake a private audit allowing you to address any issues before the Fair Work Ombudsman gets involved.

Practical Advice
Outcome Focused
Reardon Workplace Consulting
[email protected]

We’re inspecting farms and eateries on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this week to check workers are getting the right pay from paddock to plate.

We’re acting after receiving intelligence about potential non-compliance in the region, such as alleged non-payment for time worked, unlawfully low flat rates, below-Award rates to visa holders, unpaid casual, weekend and public holiday loadings and leave entitlements, unauthorised deductions and pay slip breaches.

Inspectors will be assessing a number of farms and labour-hire companies between Noosa and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The farms grow a range of produce including berries, bananas, avocados, citrus and ginger.

We’ll also be visiting eateries in Noosa Shire food precincts across the suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunrise Beach and Noosaville. The businesses include a mix of ‘high-end’ restaurants and ‘cheap eat’ venues.

If you know a workplace not doing the right thing but don’t want to get involved, send us an anonymous tip-off: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/workplace-problems/send-us-an-anonymous-tip-off

13/08/2023

Online training.

Undertaking online training can be a huge advantage for many people across a range of industry sectors however this one does scare me to be honest.

How can you verify someone's competency to operate earthmoving equipment online? Unfortunately I think this is an example of the direction training and assessment has been heading in, that it's more about having things ticked off to cover someone's backside, rather than the old school method of teaching someone the skills to do the job.

Yes, we are all time poor, but if companies don't provide adequate training they will continue to struggle with skill gaps.

31/07/2023

Think that you have your Employment Relations practices under control? Think again.

Recent targeted inspection campaign by the Fair Work Ombudsman found 86% of employers breaching work place laws. With the rapidly changing workplace regulations it pays to ensure you are ahead of the curve. For a review of you employment relations email [email protected]

19/07/2023

Do you have employees covered by Awards?

If you do it's advisable to review wages and conditions to ensure that you are meeting your responsibilities as an employer.

If you need assistance in this please send us an email at [email protected]

21/02/2023

15% increase to the minimum wage to take effect from the 30th of June 2023 for aged care workers following the handing down of a decision by the Fair Work Commission.

17/02/2023

With so many employers looking for staff, how long should it take to fill a general blue-collar type vacancy?

06/02/2023

The things you hear.

I overheard a conversation while on a large construction site about enterprise bargaining and from the way the person was speaking they sounded very convincing.

Pity they got the facts wrong.

Don't leave these things to people who think they know, get advice from people really know.

24/01/2023

The effects of the CFMEU and changes to the Fair Work Act are beginning to be seen. It's never been more important to get the correct Employment Relations advice and support.

Workers at a Wingfield crane firm will collect a swag of bonus allowances under a deal brokered by the CFMEU, including $10 for each day they arrive at work on time and wearing the correct uniform. 📍 READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3DccsX0

🗣 What do you think about this incentive?

08/01/2023

Do you use contractors or are they employees in disguise?

With the surge of non-traditional employment including an increase in service-based roles and the gig economy there has been a significant increase in the number of people employed as contractors. However just because you call someone a contractor doesn’t make them a contractor.

A number of new service-based industries have grown in recent years including domestic cleaning, personal support workers, and delivery services but just because you may see them as a contractor doesn’t mean they are, and they may in fact be deemed as an employee leaving you liable for unpaid superannuation, workers compensation levies and even underpayment of wages.
What makes a contractor a contractor and not an employee?

This can be a confusing situation and relies on a number of different factors including
• How much control does the contractor have over the work
• Who supplies the tools and equipment required
• Can the contractor delegate or subcontract the work out?
• Details of any contract in place, written or verbal (Written contracts are encouraged)

While it’s tempting to take on people as contractors instead of employees especially for smaller businesses starting out that don’t have in-house HR support, it’s not what you call someone that defines the working relationship. If you would like clarification of this issue or any other Employment Relations issues please contact us at [email protected]

02/01/2023

Just 2 days into the new year and without a normal business day, job sites like seek.com are already full of new opportunities.

Does your business have a recruitment and onboarding process in place to put you ahead of the rest? We are offering packages starting from just $550 for your recruitment, selection and onboarding solutions.

For a free consultation contact us on 0421 272 698 or email at [email protected]

12/12/2022

For personalised advice on how these changes impact your business contact us directly at [email protected]

The Australian Government amended the Fair Work Act to include a range of new workplace laws. Learn more on our website: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/news/secure-jobs-better-pay-changes-to-australian-workplace-laws

Key changes introduced by the laws relate to:

• promoting job security and gender equality
• equal remuneration and establishing expert panels
• prohibiting pay secrecy
• prohibiting workplace sexual harassment
• anti-discrimination
• fixed term contracts
• flexible work
• enterprise agreements and enterprise bargaining
• changes to functions of the Fair Work Ombudsman (that's us)
• enhancing the small claims process
• prohibiting job advertisements that contravene the Fair Work Act
• abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and the Registered Organisations Commission (ROC).

We're updating our website and we'll have more information about the changes and when they start soon.