Online Medical Certificates. Good Or Bad Idea?

What are your thoughts on medical certificates? Are they something useful, and necessary to "prove" that an employee is unfit for work? Or, are they one of those "we have always done it" things? What if you received a certificate from the Melbourne based online...

Workplace Investigation and the Support Person

Support person. It is one of those areas of workplace investigations that causes no end of confusion. This article will discuss the finer points of having a support person present during a workplace investigation. Though, before we get to that, we need to understand...

Introduction to workplace investigations

What do you know about workplace investigations, and could you do one? Before you break out the magnifying glass, pipe, and deerstalker's cap, there are a few things you need to know. To begin with, workplace investigations are something that should be taken...

Why I Don’t Agree With The Penalty Rate Decision

The FWC's decision to reduce penalty rates has divided the industrial relations 'community'. The pundits claim that the decision will help small business, and increase employment. Discussion around the decision has created a false dichotomy. If you support the...

Hiring Your First Employee

Your backyard, or hobby business has grown to the point where you need to expand to survive. Expansion means hiring staff. Though before you place that job ad in seek, there are a few things that you need to consider. While employing staff can be a good thing for your...

Stop Being Scared Of Unfair Dismissal

Unfair dismissal. Two words that are enough to make a business owner break out into a cold sweat. Or, so we are told. What would you say if I told you that businesses shouldn't be scared of unfair dismissal? In fact, I believe that they should embrace it, and grow...

Learning from H & M’s BOOT Failure

Enterprise agreements. They are often touted as one of the beneficial parts of Australia's Fair Work legislation. When done right, they can help improve the bottom line of a business. The Coles and H & M enterprise agreement decisions what can happen when a...

A Beginner’s Guide to Industrial Relations

I keep reading that industrial relations in Australia is scary, complex and confusing. I do not believe that to be the case. What you are about to read is the beginner's guide to industrial relations in Australia. Just like Ikea and Lego instructions, the Fair Work...