Productivity in the private sector has increased in the past three quarters on the back of a reduction in hours worked, while real labour costs have dropped for the past two quarters, according to ABS national accounts data released today.
Employers say they are approving most flexible hours and work from home requests, according to a FWC-commissioned modern awards review survey that suggests the tribunal might explore entrenching a right to fully flexible arrangements for work that can be performed remotely.
Shadow workplace relations minister Michaelia Cash has quizzed FWC general manager Murray Furlong on a "potentially serious" bullying or harassment allegation involving a tribunal member, and has questioned the ability of a former gang member to retain his entry permit while facing criminal charges.
In a landmark ruling today on franchisors' IR compliance obligations, the Federal Court has imposed a $1.44 million fine on a coffee chain for its franchisees' underpayments and record-keeping breaches.
Inadequate award descriptors and lack of opportunity to progress through the award classification system have contributed to rife underclassification in the social and community services sector, a new survey has found.
A FWC full bench has extended a 22-year-old zombie agreement's drop-dead date for a second time to enable bargaining for a replacement agreement to continue.
The FWC has cleared the way for Antoinette Lattouf to take her unlawful termination case against the ABC to court, finding that despite it paying the casual radio presenter for her full planned five-day stint, it ended the employment relationship when it took her "off-air" on day three.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has won $28 million over the next four years to continue to pursue underpayments by large corporate employers, while its workforce has been boosted by 16 to 970.
A FWC bench has upheld a ruling that a club unfairly sacked a casual duty manager after accusing her of stealing a drink, but not before rejecting a presidential member's finding that the "theft" needed to be established "beyond reasonable doubt" and that the employer used an "intimidatory" dismissal process.
The FWC's expert panel has this morning approved a 3.75% increase in all award rates and the national minimum wage, but has rebuffed the ACTU's bid for an immediate additional 4% for workers in highly-feminised industries, instead committing to a timetable to address the issue over the next 12 months.
