What are wage subsidies? Wage subsidies are financial incentives available to businesses to help you hire, train and keep eligible job seekers in ongoing and sustainable positions. It was introduced by the government to create more jobs and boost the economy. Wage subsidies also benefit your business as it helps you grow and expand your […]
Message from the CEO, Dominique Lamb: 24 April 2018
The ACTU’s war against employers continues this week, with an outlandish claim that its push for a whopping 7.2 per cent increase to the minimum wage would create 87,000 new jobs over two years. As you know, upping your staff’s wages by $50 per week each is not going to help you create more work […]
Message from the CEO, Dominique Lamb: 17 April 2018
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has upped the ante on its anti-business crusade, unveiling an alarming six-point plan it believes will lift wages. It’s a plan that’s more likely, however, to send businesses broke and cost Australians their jobs. Industry groups, including the NRA, have warned the unions’ bid for industry-wide bargaining and […]
The crackdown on retailers and restaurants has begun
Retailers and restaurants targeted for underpayments and false records with massive fines Written by Sid Sidhu and Justine Ansell, NRA Legal The crackdown on retailers, fast food stores and restaurants avoiding their obligations has well and truly begun. As predicted, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has increased its auditing activity and successfully obtained significant fines […]
‘Deliberately ignoring’ Ombudsman warnings results in record penalty
By Alexander Millman and Angela Szczepanski, NRA Legal FWO v MHoney Pty Ltd & Anor [2016] FCCA 2959 In November last year, Judge Burchardt of the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne found that MHoney Pty Ltd and its director, Mr Abdulrahman Taleb, had deliberately engaged in multiple serious and deliberate contraventions of the Fair Work […]
Message from the CEO: 6 June 2017
The Fair Work Commission has made two important decisions affecting retailers in the last 24 hours, and it’s worth considering how commentators and elected officials respond to each one. The first issue, yesterday, was the Commission’s announcement on the timing of the adjustment of Sunday penalty rates. Your feedback to us has been that retailers […]
Employers launch advertising blitz against FWC wage decision
Small business owners will be worse off Retailers demand Parliament override Commission decision Marginal seats campaign to target MPS who accept Commission verdict Not really. In fact, the National Retail Association fully accepts the decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to today’s 3.3 per cent increase in the minimum wage and Modern Awards, […]
Beechworth Bakery EBA overturned
Written by Alex Millman and Troy Wild, NRA Legal After rigorous action by the Shop, Distributive and Applied Employees Association (SDA), bakery chain Beechworth Bakery has had the approval of its enterprise bargaining agreement in December 2016 overturned by a decision of the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission. Throughout the approval process Deputy President […]
How to pay your employees over the Easter and ANZAC Day periods
by Ben Desir and Troy Wild, NRA Legal A number of us are looking forward to the upcoming Easter long weekend and attending ANZAC Day ceremonies. However, for employers, public holidays can be confusing particularly when trying to determine how employees should be paid. The answer depends on whether your employees are working or not. […]
Disasters & staffing: what are your options?
By Ben Desir and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Our Queensland and New South Wales members are taking stock after being lashed by Cyclone Debbie last week, with many still experiencing the aftermath with flooding and lack of power. When a natural disaster strikes, safety is the ultimate priority and other factors take a backseat. For […]
Transition for Sunday penalty rates still undecided
The NRA is dedicated to keeping members informed of any changes that are likely to affect their businesses following the recent penalty rates decision made by the Fair Work Commission. The changes to public holiday penalty rates will take effect on 1 July 2017 and the variation of the early morning and late night loadings […]
Message from the CEO: 27 February 2017
As you are all aware, last week Fair Work Commission President Justice Iain Ross handed down the Commission’s verdict on Sunday penalty rates across a range of industries, including retail and fast food. The NRA is supportive of this decision on behalf of our members. However we are concerned by the additional level of red tape […]
Supermarket accused of underpaying
by Angela Szczepanski and Troy Wild, NRA Legal Fair Work Ombudsman commences legal action against IGA for underpaying employees The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court against a Melbourne IGA supermarket operator who allegedly underpaid six employees and submitted false records to the FWO. The FWO have filed […]
H&M enterprise agreement fails BOOT
by Ben Desir, Workplace Advisor, NRA Legal After a lengthy application process, Swedish fashion retailer, H&M has had their proposed national enterprise agreement rejected by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) after failing to pass the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT). The agreement, which proposed to trade lower weekend and public holiday penalty rates for higher […]
Reports of ‘Cash back’ Scam at 7-Eleven Store
by Ben Desir, Workplace Advisor, NRA Legal Concerning reports of 7-Eleven employees being forced to pay back parts of their wages have come to light. Recent media reports suggest that franchisees of the embattled 7-Eleven brand, have continued to flout their employment law obligations. Workers have spoken to media outlets claiming that their employers have […]
Baiada Group serves as warning
FWO warns businesses to monitor worker obligations within their supply chain and network Natalie James, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), has encouraged businesses to use Baiada Group, Australia’s second largest poultry processor and supplier of Lilydale and Steggles, as an example and to get ahead of any compliance issues in their supply chain or network. […]
UPDATED NEWSFLASH: State Wage Case: Increase For P&Cs, and Before and After School Care Workers
Please note, further to our communication last week, that an error has been identified with calculations relating to the 2.4% wage rate increase for the Children’s Services Award, effective 1 September 2016. This error has been rectified and a new wage rate summary can be accessed by logging into our Members Resource Portal. Please accept […]
7- Eleven, wages and the Franchise Code: The story so far
A recent decision in the Federal Circuit Court is one of the latest episodes in the ongoing 7-Eleven wages saga. Federal Circuit Court Judge, Michael Jarrett, saw fit to impose the largest penalty ever ordered for an action brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman on the operator of 7-Eleven franchise. Judge Jarrett, found that the […]
Fair Work Commission refreshes its digital image
As of Friday 8th July, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) launched a revitalised website with new design and features which have been based on feedback compiled through a website usability survey by stakeholders. The Commission was seeking feedback to improve the design, user experience and the functionality of the website. Feedback received from stakeholders has […]
More 7-Eleven owners fined for underpayments
The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against another 7-Eleven franchisee for underpaying 12 employees. Couple Haiyao Xu and Yiran Gu, who operated a 7-Eleven store in Parkville Melbourne, were found to have underpaid staff by over $84,000 while building up a near $3 million property portfolio. Judge Suzanne Jones said, “There can be […]