COVID-19 Hub | Australia

Insights

Handy tips for employers holding virtual end of year work parties

A year like 2020 has meant that many employers have had to pivot to holding virtual end of year events for their staff. In this article, we take a fresh look at the pitfalls of virtual events from an employment law perspective, and provide some tips for employers during the festive season.

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COVID-19 and unfair dismissal

A failure of a financial services partnership to properly consult with an administrative assistant before her employment ended by way of redundancy has resulted in a finding of unfair dismissal.

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Mining update

In step with the broader Australian construction industry, the mining industry is recognised as an essential service by the Australian Federal Government which has allowed mining projects to continue their development and otherwise softened the impact on the mining industry in Australia due to COVID-19.

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Build to Rent

The COVID-19 crisis has put a magnifying glass on the existing undersupply of affordable rental homes, for people on moderate, low and very low incomes – including essential workers such as nurses, teachers, cleaners and hospitality industry professionals. It is clear that the emerging Build to Rent (BTR) sector in Australia can play a critical role in the delivery of the required affordable rental housing at scale.

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COVID and the changing environment

As employers across the world being to adapt to the 'new normal' in their working environment, we take a look at some of the key challenges alongside some of the potential opportunities arising out of the global pandemic.

Employment law landscape

Join DWF's Michelle Dawson, George Haros, Christina Tsakiris and William Marshall for an interactive Q&A webinar which will look into what lies ahead for the employment law landscape.

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Locking down on COVID-19 workplace requirements in Victoria

On 28 July 2020, the new COVID-19 related Occupational Health & Safety Regulations were passed in Victoria. In this article we look at these new regulations and what they mean for employers.

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COVID-19 Direction Reasonable and Lawful

The value of having a clause in an employment contract requiring employees to follow reasonable and lawful directions has been underlined by a recent decision of the Fair Work Commission (Commission) in Kieran Knight v One Key Resources (Mining) Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 3324.

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What now for leased premises in Victoria?

With another six weeks of Stage 3 lockdown for Victorians where does this leave landlords and tenants that may have already reached agreement regarding rent relief for the prescribed relevant period (ending 29 September 2020)? What about those yet to reach agreement for the relevant period?

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Victoria's combustible cladding rectification scheme

In the wake of COVID-19, the Victorian Government, has provided a much-needed boost to the construction and property sector by fast-tracking the $550 million funding to be used for the rectification works for apartment buildings which contain combustible materials.

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The COVID-19 journey so far Australia

The story so far for Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and what returning to the workplace in the post-lockdown environment may look like.

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Company successfully implements partial stand down of workforce

A cruise operator has been found to have acted lawfully when it stood down a marine superintendent and 106 other employees, after transferring some of their duties to the 50% of staff that were not stood down.

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COVID-19 The key challenges

As employers across the globe come to terms with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we take a look at the key challenges facing employers in a range of jurisdictions across the world.

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Key global employment considerations as businesses manage the return to work

With social, economic and cultural norms changing at an unprecedented level, employers have the responsibility to protect their workforce and support their employees through the process of returning to the 'new norm' working environment.

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New laws introduced to ease privacy

The federal government has passed legislation governing the collection, use and disclosure of COVIDSafe app data as the government increases its efforts to get Australians to sign up and help track the spread of COVID-19.

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Electronic signing and remote witnessing

New laws have been implemented at the Federal and State levels to facilitate the electronic signing and remote witnessing of documents in order to address the practical difficulties brought on by COVID-19.

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Governments across the globe announce financial support packages for businesses

In light of the global pandemic COVID-19, governments around the world are offering financial measures to support businesses.

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More COVID-19 WHS guidance released must be adopted

Key insight for our Australian market on Workplace Safety.

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New Regulations detail how the National Code of Conduct for Leasing will be implemented in Victoria

The Victorian Government has now enacted the necessary regulations to give effect to the National Code during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we answer some popular questions we are fielding from both landlords and tenants.

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National workplace health and safety principles released

In late April 2020, new guidelines were released by the Prime Minister’s National Cabinet for businesses to develop cultures and strategies on preparing for the safe return to workplaces.

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Q&A: Property and Construction

The evolving COVID-19 situation has raised numerous challenges for the Property and Construction sectors. Added to this, information and government policy (both Federal and State) is changing daily – if not hourly.

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Government issues JobKeeper Rules

On 9 April 2020, the Federal Government released the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Rules 2020 (the JobKeeper Rules), which confirm the eligibility requirements for employers to receive the JobKeeper payment.

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Sweeping changes made to Fair Work Act 2009

The two bills required to give effect to the proposed JobKeeper payment have passed both Houses of Parliament and contain historic but short term changes to the Fair Work Act 2009.

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Government provides further details of the mandatory code of conduct

The Government has released more details on the new Rent Relief Policy for tenancies impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) - but where does that leave landlords and tenants?

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Fair Work Commission serves up changes to the Restaurant Industry Award 2010

Modern awards covering the industries that were hit the hardest were the first to see urgent temporary provisions inserted to address the current pandemic, namely the Clerks Private Sector Award 2010 and Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010.

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Pandemic leave is pending

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has now flagged significant pandemic-related changes to 100 modern awards. Our team in Australia look at what this means in practice for employers.

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Government principles for commercial and residential leasing

The Prime Minister has recently announced several principles to assist the leasing sector through the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

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All foreign purchaser transactions now require FIRB approval

The Treasurer has recently announced that the threshold amounts for any foreign purchaser transaction made on or after 10:30pm Sunday, 29 March 2020 will be $0.

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The Clerks Private Sector

During February 2020 approximately 14.3% of all employees were employed in positions governed, or supported, by the Clerks Private Sector Award 2010 (Award). This makes it unsurprising that this award would be next in line for the FWC to consider the insertion of urgent interim measures.

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Award flexibility in response to COVID-19

On 24 March 2020, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) approved unprecedented interim changes to the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 (Award), with similar provisions expected to be rolled out in many other modern awards as employers grapple with the ever changing landscape of the Australian economy.

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What now for small retailers and venue operators?

What rights (if any) does a tenant have to seek rent relief under their lease following a forced closure of their business?

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Construction industry exposure to COVID-19 delays

The impacts of the coronavirus are being felt throughout the Australian construction industry. How might the coronavirus affect your existing construction contracts? What issues should you consider before entering into a future construction contract?

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A Workers Compensation Perspective

In the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, employers across Australia and the world are navigating an ever changing landscape of issues for their businesses. From a workers' compensation perspective, employers should be alive to the risks that flow from employees contracting the virus.

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Managing the Coronavirus outbreak

We are less than a quarter of the way into 2020, and Australia has seen a dramatic start to the year. After a summer of catastrophic bushfires, crippling drought, major storms and floods, Australians are now (with the rest of the world) facing the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

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