Avoiding Stress Claims
Over the past few months we have observed a significant rise in ‘stress claims’. Under the relevant workers compensation legislation in each State, workers have the freedom to lodge a workers’ compensation claim if work can be established as a significant contributing factor to a mental health condition. Of particular interest is the number of […]
Developing handy employment and liability insurance products
Over the past 12 months, Human Outsource has been working with Nexus Risk Services (www.nexusrisk.com.au) to develop a suite of insurance products that protect businesses from employment-related liability claims. As you probably all know, claims made by workers against organisations (including their officers and directors) is on the rise, so it is good to have […]
COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Free advice to SMEs
The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has created unprecedented business disruption. For businesses that have either had to close (due to government mandated directives) or businesses that have experienced a significant downturn in trading conditions, measures will undoubtedly now need to be taken to effectively manage your workforce. Different measures to consider include: When implementing these types […]
About standing workers down amid the COVID-19 pandemic
As a consequence of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) a number of our clients have been impacted in different ways. In trying to manage these impacts we have had several clients contact us regarding standing workers down without pay. The stand down provisions specified in the Fair Work Act, 2009 do not give employers a blanket right […]
Minimum Wage to Increase by 3% from 1 July 2019
The Fair Work Commission has announced a 3% increase to minimum wages. The new national minimum wage will be $740.80 per week ($19.49/hr). The increase applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2019. The increase will also apply to wage structures within each Modern Award. As a consequence of […]
Employment Contracts for SMEs
January 2019 has already been a very busy month for Human Outsource and one of the things we have been busy doing is providing guidance to several SMEs on the implementation of employment contracts. While there is no law that specifies the requirement for a written employment contract, it is good practice to have them […]
New WHS Enforcement Policy Released in QLD
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Queensland released a new Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Policy in December 2018. https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/170423/compliance-monitoring-enforcement-policy.pdf Here is what you need to know: 1. WHSQ will identify priority safety risks. Types of risks identified may include hazardous tasks such as ‘Working from Height’, by way of example. 2. Inspectors at WHSQ will have […]
Some Advice for Staff Christmas Functions
Well it’s that time of year again and a lot of our clients have been asking us how they should manage their staff Christmas function. We have probably all been to a work function where someone drinks too much and starts acting inappropriately. The key to trying to avoid inappropriate behaviour (in the first place) […]
New rules for managing flexible working arrangements
From 1 December new rules were introduced by the Fair Work Commission regarding flexible work arrangements. Under the rule changes an Employer may only refuse a request (made under Sect 65 of the Fair Work Act) for a change in working arrangements on ‘reasonable business grounds’. In addition, Employers need to consult with the Employee […]
Managing Mental Health issues in the Workplace
Managing staff that present to work with a mental health problem or illness is becoming more prevalent. The stigma once associated with mental health is being broken down thanks to the great work of numerous charitable organisations within Australia who have raised the profile of mental health and made it a mainstream issue that needs […]
