News & Events

Consider privacy before asking about vaccines

October 12, 2021

Can I collect, use and disclose an employee’s COVID-19 vaccination status, and if so, how do I avoid interfering with the employee’s privacy? The issues raised by these questions have become increasingly common in Australian workplaces and are a sensitive... Read more

‘Stapled’ Superannuation Accounts’ For New Employees From 1 November 2021

September 7, 2021

With the passage through Parliament of the Your Future, Your Super measures in June 2021, an employee’s superannuation account will now follow them from job to job unless they make an active choice to nominate a different account. For new... Read more

Respect @ Work

September 6, 2021

Respect at work is a right, not a privilege. Important changes that shape how employers prevent and respond to sexual harassment are coming following the introduction of the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021. Ai... Read more

Annual Wage Review Decision

September 3, 2021

The Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review 2020-21 Decision on 16 June 2021.  Key elements of the decision include: Award minimum wages and the National Minimum Wage were increased by 2.5%.The National Minimum... Read more

Adverse action claim fails despite employee being dismissed less than a month after filing an anti-bullying application

August 31, 2021

On 15 April 2020, the Federal Circuit Court handed down its decision in Batista v Wells Fargo International Finance (Australia) Pty Ltd (No.2) [2020] FCCA 829. The Federal Circuit Court considered whether the termination of the Applicant’s employment with the... Read more

FWC stand-down decision a win for aviation industry

July 30, 2021

A decision issued by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) today in favour of an Ai Group-backed member has been hailed a win for the aviation industry. The FWC held that the member, Menzies Aviation, was entitled to stand down an... Read more

National legal team celebrates promotions

July 28, 2021

Our national legal team is celebrating a series of promotions announced this week. Head of Consulting & Legal Services Michael Mead said he was delighted to acknowledge the significant contribution that each of the lawyers had made to Ai Group... Read more

FWC accepts Ai Group’s arguments and rejects the unions’ paid pandemic leave claims in the community services sector

May 3, 2021

On 24 December 2020, a Full Bench of the FWC rejected union claims to include new paid pandemic leave entitlements in the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award). Ai Group opposed the claim, on... Read more

New portable long service leave scheme in the community services industry in Queensland

April 29, 2021

A portable long service leave scheme for the community services industry commenced in Queensland on 1 January 2021. The new scheme allows community services workers in Queensland to accumulate service across the community sector as a whole. The scheme broadly... Read more

Award variations – overtime entitlements for casuals and related matters

April 21, 2021

The FWC has varied a large number of modern awards to clarify the manner in which overtime penalties for casual employees are to be calculated under each award. The awards have generally been varied to implement one of the following... Read more

2018 in review: Key workplace relations developments

February 13, 2019

In this one-hour live and interactive session, three specialists from Ai Group Workplace Lawyers discussed the key workplace relations developments of 2018 (as well as a few on the horizon for 2019) and what they could mean for your business.... Read more

Still keepin’ it casual? – Casual Employment Part 2

October 27, 2018

Following on from our highly popular previous session, Ai Group's Head of Consulting and Legal Services and one of the team's senior lawyers conducted a live, interactive session to talk about two of the latest developments in this area: The... Read more

Keepin’ it casual? – Navigating the modern minefield of Casual Employment

October 1, 2018

Two of Ai Group's most senior lawyers cover the complex and frequently misunderstood minefield of casual employment. Key topics include: Casual employment – what it is (and isn't), and why it matters for your business; Engaging and terminating casual employees—... Read more

Contract Labour Licensing Law – Special Updates

September 27, 2018

In an important follow-up to our series of online events conducted late last year, Ai Group is presenting the latest update on the Labour Hire Licensing Schemes in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. In case you missed the online event... Read more

Industrial Relations Essentials: What you need to know in 2018

August 27, 2018

In this live and interactive one-hour session, two of Ai Group’s most experienced workplace relations practitioners will consider the consequences for employers of 2017’s big ticket cases, and consult their crystal ball to discuss what they expect to be some... Read more

PIR (Policy-Influence-Reform) Forum

February 26, 2019

National PIR Conference | 3 and 4 June 2019 The Government has announced that the next federal election will be held in May and therefore Ai Group's 2019 Annual PIR Conference will be held shortly after the election. The debate... Read more

2019 Election Series: Workplace Relations in Focus

February 26, 2019

As we head towards the 2019 election, workplace relations issues continue to remain high on the reform agenda. In this special three-part online series, the Ai Group Workplace Relations Team will tackle the big ticket IR and workplace relations items... Read more