Important Human Resources Legislative Changes for 2020
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager With the conclusion of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) four-yearly review of modern awards late 2019, 2020 is already shaping up to be a year
Changes to Banking, Finance and Insurance Award 2020
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager The Fair Work Commission (FWC) have been reviewing all modern awards as part of the 4-yearly review since 2014. This process has included the ‘plain
Entitlements during natural disasters
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. A range of natural disasters, such as bushfires, floods, cyclones and severe storms can cause devastation to communities and financial hardship for individuals and businesses. Currently bushfires
Recovering training costs when employees leave
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. We are often asked about an employer’s rights in relation to recouping the costs of training where an employee leaves after gaining a qualification or fails to
Why it’s critical that insurance brokers have good filing practices in place
Author: Sheila Baker, Managing Director, Gold Seal The matter of adequate filing practices has come to the fore lately, as we continue to examine broker practices, and how the simplest things can trip you up.
Stamping out sexual harassment in the workplace
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. No workplace, big or small, is immune to sexual harassment. It is important for senior management in every business, even small business, to take strong action against
Breach Reporting – understanding your AFSL obligations
Author: Irene Moimoi, Compliance Coordinator, Gold Seal. $10,500 and/or 1 year in prison is the minimum penalty an individual will pay if a significant breach has not been reported; if you think that’s hefty, the
Recent Federal Court decision – accrual of personal/carer’s leave
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. On 21 August this year, in Mondelez Australia Pty Ltd v AMWU the Full Federal Court handed down a decision that impacts the accrual and taking of
Personal vs General Advice and Retail vs Wholesale Clients
Author: Sheila Baker, Managing Director, Gold Seal. We’ve had a few queries to the Compliance Helpline recently which indicate that the knowledge once held by Brokers about FSR basics has become less clear than it
Legal Obligations when Reference Checking
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. Reference checking should be a mandatory step in the recruitment process - regardless of the position, and also when considering existing staff for a promotion or transfer
Social media profiles and recruitment – the pros and cons
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. In recent years it has become common practice to review social media profiles as part of the recruitment process to help assess suitability for the role. While
All You Need to Know About Changes to Minimum Wages
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. Further to our ‘Newsflash’ on this topic in June, each year the Fair Work Commission (FWC) carries out an annual minimum wage review. The 2019 annual
Employee or Contractor: knowing the difference is crucial
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. Although we have covered this matter in previous HR Helpline articles, it is a topic that is very complex. Many businesses have difficulty with understanding the differentiation
Changes to minimum wages – effective 1 July 2019
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. Each year the Fair Work Commission carries out an annual minimum wage review. The 2019 annual wage review has been announced, with the new minimum wage
Avoiding unfair dismissal through the correct redundancy processes
Author: Lehanne Bleumink, Gold Seal HR Services Manager. Redundancy happens when employees are terminated through no fault of their own when a role is no longer required to be done by anyone. It forms part