February 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the first HR update for 2022. The purpose of these monthly updates is to keep you and your business across the critical employment updates as they unfold. If there is a particular topic you would like covered or you would like to submit a question to our ‘Ask an Expert’ please email enquiries@liquidhr.com.au. […]
Join Our Team
Are you an experienced HR professional who loves variety and flexibility? Maybe you’re looking for your next challenge and want to be part of a vibrant team Are you Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane based? If so, we may have just the opportunity you’re looking for…. Whether you’re seeking full/part-time work, a casual engagement, or project-based […]
Mandatory Vaccination Update
Government mandates There are currently government mandated vaccination requirements in each state. These vary significantly and are constantly changing. As an employer, it is important that you are aware of these requirements and complying with them to avoid penalties. Due to the fact the requirements are changing rapidly, we have linked the current requirements below […]
The Importance of Data in HR Strategy
A critique that was once levelled at HR practitioners and HR as a business discipline is that compared to other hard business disciplines, such as finance and logistics, it was not quantifiable. The value of HR to an organisation was measured by the HR team’s output rather than the actual dollar value (versus cost) of […]
November 2021 Newsletter
Everything you need to know about a Christmas/New Year shut down Many businesses choose to close over the Christmas/New Year period. In this update, we explain what you need to know and whether you can ask your employees to take leave. When are the public holidays over the Christmas/New Year period? Christmas Day (25th December), […]
Sexual Harassment and Miscarriage Leave Changes
On 10 September 2021, the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Respect at Work amendments) took effect. The Respect at Work amendments update the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) to: • address sexual harassment at work • include miscarriage as a reason to access compassionate leave. The Respect at […]
The Advantages of Outsourcing HR for SMEs
Outsourced Human Resources (HR) is a Growing Solution for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Over the past decade, we have witnessed the exponential growth of organisations steering toward HR outsourcing – an option historically reserved for the ‘big end of town’ only. Small and medium sized organisations (SMEs) have also been taking advantage of the […]
“You’re too old” Employer ordered to pay compensation to Job Seeker
A 61 year old construction worker made a complaint to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board when he called up a Sydney based Builder in November 2019 asking about a job. He claimed that when he called to find out more information about the casual construction position, the company’s director “burst out laughing” and said in between […]
Fair Work Ombudsman 2021-22 Priorities
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker has announced the regulator’s strategic priorities for the year ahead, with the key focus supporting workplaces as they manage the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Speaking at a Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) roundtable meeting today, Ms Parker said the contract cleaning sector was a new compliance and enforcement […]
Cancer patient fired after requesting leave for treatment
An employee was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2020, when she informed her boss that she would need five weeks off to recover from her surgery. The employer, a Melbourne based retailer, allegedly responded saying “I can’t keep your job” and she was subsequently let go. Terminating a staff member for […]
Victorian Wage Theft Legislation – 1 July, 2021
On 1 July 2021, it will become a crime for an employer in Victoria to deliberately underpay employees or dishonestly withhold employee entitlements. An employer in Victoria will be incriminated for: deliberately underpaying employees dishonestly withholding wages, superannuation or other employee entitlements falsifying employee entitlement records to gain a financial advantage failing to keep employee […]
Fair Work Commission hands down 2.5% increase
The Fair Work Commission has announced an increase of 2.5% to the National Minimum Wage, bringing it up to $772.60 per week ($20.33/hour). This increase will come into operation on the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2021 for the majority of awards. There will be a delayed increase for the industries hardest […]
Onboarding – Because You Only Get One Shot!
As an employer, your onboarding process is one of your most valuable tools of employee engagement and retention – but it is often the most overlooked. An effective onboarding process can help the new starter feel welcomed, engaged, and understand their role in the organisation. Research has shown that the first 18 months’ of a […]
Changes to casual employment – here’s what you need to know
On Friday 26 March 2021, the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) was amended to change workplace rights and obligations for casual employees, called the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2021. These changes to casual employment are significant and will impact every employer in Australia who has a casual workforce. […]
Make mine a micro-job! Why working one day a week is the secret of happiness
We don’t usually re-post media articles in this section, but this recent piece from the Guardian UK was worth it! The cheeriest employees are those who spend most of their time at leisure, research has confirmed. Is this the end of the 40-hour week? Name: The secret of happiness. Age: Older than I look. I put my […]
JobKeeper Scheme Coming to an End 28 March 2021
Business’ should prepare for wage subsidies to end on 28 March 2021 under the JobKeeper scheme, with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison unlikely to extend the program in its current form. This means that employers relying on JobKeeper will need to make some hard decisions about their business’ future, and how this may impact their […]
The first annual reconciliation of annualised salaries under modern awards is approaching 1 March 2021
Many of you will recall the changes made to a number of modern awards on 1 March 2020. These changes placed new obligations on employers who pay an annualised salary to: Advise the employee in writing and keep a record of: What is incorporated into the annualised salary The method in which the annualised salary […]
So you’ve passed someone over for a promotion – now what?
It can be tough to let someone down in an internal hiring process. Two HR experts tell us how to walk that tightrope. In-house hiring can be a smart, efficient option for organisations. For employees, knowing that promotions are on the table can be an incentive to stay at the company. But for HR managers, […]
7 Steps to Prepare Your Organisation for 2021
We would all agree that 2020 has been unexpected, turbulent and challenging for many organisations who have had to adapt swiftly to the COVID-19 environment. As 2020 comes to a close, now is a good time to reflect on your objectives for 2021 and schedule in a planning session for early 2021 as everyone returns […]
How Engaged Are Your Employees?
Engagement tends to be one of those buzz words that a lot of people use, but what do we actually know about employee engagement? When we talk about employee engagement, we are talking about the emotional commitment an employee has to their role. Employees who are engaged report high job satisfaction, are less likely to […]
Switching off: do employees need a “right to disconnect”?
Unions are calling for greater protections for employees working from home, including mandating work/life balance. Federal Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has urged employees to return to the office as soon as possible. “As our economy continues to recover, it is important that Australian workplaces get back to normal as quickly as possible, which includes […]
Performance Management and Unfair Dismissal Applications
There is little as frustrating for a manager than an employee that constantly under performs or behaves inappropriately. When this happens, it is important that a correct and fair process is followed to deal with the issues. When it comes to dismissing an employee, there is a chance that they may seek compensation or reinstatement […]
Modern Award wage increase – 1 November 2020
You may recall that when the Fair Work Commission handed down a wage increase of 1.75% this year, they separated the modern awards into three categories: Category 1 awards – the increase came into operation on 1 July 2020 Category 2 awards – the increase comes into operation on 1 November 2020 Category 3 awards […]
Financial Budget – incentives and tax cuts
The Federal Budget has a number of incentives in place for employers to encourage job growth. This update provides an overview of the two key incentives, as well as information around the income tax cuts that came into operation on the 13th of October 2020. JobMaker Hiring Credit From 7 October 2020, eligible employers will […]
Productivity Myths That Are Holding Your Team Back
Reading about productivity is almost like reading about some kind of mythical creature. All that news outlets and business gurus talk about is either ways that people can get more productive or reasons why people aren’t as productive as they should be. The hard truth is that the road to productivity looks different for everyone, […]
Providing Feedback to Employees
Employee feedback – it’s something we know we all need to do, but do we know why we do it? It is not uncommon for a business to have mandatory performance reviews every six to 12 months, which are often linked to salary increases. But what do you as the employer get from these reviews? […]
Online Workplace Compliance Training
Liquid HR is constantly seeking to build and improve on the service it offers its partners. Therefore, we are excited to announce our commercial endeavour with Sentirent, which will provide a complimentary, reliable workplace compliance solution for our existing clients. The online platform enables the training of employees, contractors and volunteers and the sign-off of […]
Further changes announced to JobKeeper
The stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne has seen the Australian government announce some additional amendments to the JobKeeper program. From 3 August 2020 the relevant date of employment will move from 1 March to 1 July 2020. Previously the scheme was only open to employees who were employed by the business as at 1 March […]
Victorian Pandemic Leave Payment
The Victorian Government is providing one-off payments to financially support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate or quarantine due to coronavirus (COVID-19). To be eligible for the one-off $1500 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Worker Support payment you must: Have been instructed by the Department of Health and Human Services to self-isolate or […]
Changes to JobKeeper Scheme from September 2020
With ongoing economic uncertainty from COVID-19, today the Australian Government announced changes to the future of the JobKeeper scheme, taking the program until March 2021. Below is an overview of the key dates and changes you should be across. Business Eligibility In order to be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment after 27 September 2020, businesses […]
