Employer Assist

2022 – 2023 Annual Wage Review Decision Announced

3 June 23

The Fair Work Commission has announced a 5.75% increase to the national minimum wage and a 5.75% increase to award minimum wages following its 2022-2023 annual wage review.

New Award Shutdown Provisions in place

22 May 23

New shutdown provisions have taken effect in many awards this month, including the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award, Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award and Clerks – Private Sector Award.

International Women’s Day 2023: #EmbraceEquity

8 March 23

Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every organisation’s DNA. HVIA is celebrating International Women’s Day and we are exploring how we can embrace the 2023 theme: Embrace Equity.

Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave

1 February 23

Starting on 1 February 2023, non-small business employers (employers with 15 or more employees) must provide their employees with 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year.

Access eligible workers for entry-level positions

11 January 23

The Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has opportunities available for businesses to deliver projects under the Launch into Work program.

Employer Assist: Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill

7 December 22

On 2 December, The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (Bill) passed Parliament.

Managing Risk – The End of Year Work Party

9 November 22

With the festive season fast approaching, now is a great time to review your policies which are also applicable during work functions.

Skilled Visa information webinars (NSW/ACT)

3 August 22

e Department of Home Affairs NSW/ACT Business Industry and Regional Outreach team will be holding several free online Skilled visa information sessions in August.

Managing Employees – The Warning Process

3 August 22

We often receive calls from employers who are dealing with employees who are not performing their duties to a standard reasonably expected or who are engaging in unsatisfactory workplace conduct despite efforts to manage their performance (e.g. through a performance improvement plan).

In many of these circumstances, we advise the employer that to issue …

2022 Increases to Vehicle Award and Clerks Award Rates

29 June 22

The minimum rates in these Guides apply to the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 (Vehicle Award) and the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (Clerks Award) and are effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 JULY 2022.

2021-22 Annual Wage Review Decision Announced

15 June 22

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 5.2% increase to the national minimum wage and a 4.6% increase to award minimum wages (subject to a minimum increase of $40 per week for full time adult employees) following its 2021-2022 annual wage review.

Preparing for Annual Wage Review

1 June 22

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is scheduled to announce its 2021-2022 annual wage review (Decision). Following the wage review, the FWC may announce a wage increase before 1 July 2022

Written contract key to determining if a worker is an employee or a contractor

28 April 22

In ZG Operations v Jamsek [2022] HCA 2 (Jamsek), the High Court held that where parties have comprehensively committed the terms of their relationship to a valid written contract…

Deductibility of COVID-19 tests

9 February 22

he government announced on 7 February 2022 that they will ensure COVID-19 testing expenses are tax deductible for testing taken to attend a place of work.

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) direct orders

25 January 22

HVIA is working with Australian company Croft Group to make commercial quantities of TGA approved Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) available for purchase by HVIA members and stakeholders.

COVID-19: leave entitlements during quarantine and self-isolation

24 January 22

With the rising number of positive COVID19 cases, Employer Assist is receiving enquiries from members about leave entitlements for employees who are absent from work because they have COVID-19, are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 or are getting tested.

Guidance for a best-practice COVID-19 Policy

12 January 22

At our 2021 AGM, HVIA members were advised by guest speaker Robert King, Partner of Cornwalls Law, that having a COVID-19 Policy is considered workplace best practice. HVIA has now published a guide to help our members navigate the contents of a COVID-19 policy.

COVID-19 Policy Checklist

10 January 22

This guideline is designed to be a simple reference document to assist HVIA members, that wish to have a COVID-19 policy for their workplace.

Work-related fatalities in 2020 report released

17 November 21

Safe Work Australia has published the Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australia 2020 report, which provides the latest detailed national statistics on all workers and bystanders fatally injured at work.   

Will the upcoming public holidays affect your business?

10 November 21

As we near the end of the year, it is important to be aware of the upcoming public holidays and how they may impact your business and employees.

Mandatory Vaccinations – what employers need to know

26 October 21

HVIA’s 2021 Annual General Meeting featured an enlightening and thought provoking presentation by Robert King titled “Mandatory Vaccinations – what employers need to know.”

Is Superannuation Paid on Overtime?

8 October 21

It can be difficult to identify and distinguish earnings in respect of ordinary hours of work from overtime hours which are excluded from ordinary time earnings.

Victoria: Vaccination requirement for all authorised workers

1 October 21

All workers on the Authorised Worker list in Melbourne and regional Victoria will require their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday, 15 October in order to continue working onsite.

High Court overturns Rossato finding employee was casual

25 August 21

The High Court has set aside the orders made by the Full Court of the Federal Court in WorkPac v Rossato [2020] FAFC 83 (Rossato) and declared that Mr Rossato was a casual employee.

Increase to Vehicle Award and Clerks Award Rates

30 June 21

The Fair Work Commission has announced a 2.5% increase to minimum wages.

2.5% Wage Increase Announced

18 June 21

The Fair Work Commission has announced a 2.5% increase to minimum wages following its 2020-2021 annual wage review.

Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS)

2 June 21

If you are a small business employer, you need to provide a Casual Employment Information Statement to all existing casual employees as soon as possible.

Casual Employment Reforms

26 March 21

The Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021 (Bill) was passed by Parliament on 22 March 2021 and the Act will commence the day after it receives Royal Assent.

COVID Vaccinations and the workplace

10 March 21

Many employers are seeking clarity on whether they can require their employees to obtain the COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine. The answer currently is, it depends on the facts, taking into account the particular workplace and each employee’s individual circumstances.

Increase to Vehicle Repair, Services & Retail Award rates

3 February 21

Last year the Fair Work Commission announced a 1.75% increase to minimum wages.

Upcoming Fair Work Act reforms

3 February 21

In December 2020, the Federal Government introduced the Fair Work Act (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020

High Court overturns controversial Personal Leave decision

8 September 20

The controversial Mondelez Decision regarding the calculation of Personal Leave has now been overturned by the High Court.

Guidance and clarity for Victorian Industry

7 August 20

The Victorian Government has produced further guidance information to clarify the exceptions and expectations for businesses that intend to stay open under Stage 5 restrictions

Amendments to the extended JobKeeper payment

7 August 20

The Government has extended the JobKeeper Payment by a further six months to March 2021.
The payment rate will be reduced and a lower payment rate will be introduced for those who work fewer hours.

1.75% wage increase announced

23 June 20

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 1.75% increase to minimum wages following its 2020 annual wage review.

New training and certification platform to help fast-track business back to the workplace

5 June 20

HVIA has welcomed Australian company Soul Safe™ as its exclusive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training and certification partner.

Soul Safe Courses & Certification Regime

5 June 20

The first of two Soul Safe courses provide all staff of a business a free 60-minute micro-credential certificate in the basics of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) covering what precautions and processes staff should do from the moment they wake up, to when they return home from work.

FWC ruling sets troubling precedent for employers of casuals and casual contracts

25 May 20

Casual employee entitled to claim payments for annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, compassionate leave, and public holidays. Employer not entitled to restitution or to “set off” the claim. The Regulation introduced to prevent double dipping proves ineffective.

Update: New regulation allows employers to offset casual loading

22 May 20

The Full Federal Court held that an employee who was classified as a ‘casual’ was in fact a permanent employee due to their regular and predictable hours and expectation of continuing work. As a result the employee was entitled to paid annual leave in addition to their casual rate of pay.

JobKeeper: Amendments to Fair Work Act

14 April 20

Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations affected by COVID-19 can elect to claim a subsidy of $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight per eligible employee employed as at 1 March 2020 and retained in employment (including employees who have been stood down or re-hired).

COVID-19: New Temporary Award Provisions

14 April 20

The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission have applied temporary variations to 99 awards including the Vehicle Manufacturing Repair Services and Retail Award 2010 and the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2010 until 30 June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employer Assist: Special provisions Pandemic Leave

5 April 20

The Fair Work Commission are proposing new temporary changes in most awards including the VMRSR Award.

Staying connected is more important than ever

31 March 20

Across Australia and the world people are facing an unprecedented situation as our health authorities and governments act to manage the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

National Cabinet takes advice on vulnerable people in the workplace

30 March 20

National Cabinet has endorsed advice on vulnerable people in the workplace from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

Employer’s guide to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

27 March 20

With the World Health Organisation declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, it is prudent for employers to be prepared for how the outbreak may impact the workplace.

What is an “Essential Service”?

23 March 20

Last night, the Prime Minister Hon Scott Morrison MP called a National Cabinet meeting and offered this explanation of which businesses would close from midday today 23 March 2020

Keeping the wheels turning

23 March 20

HVIA will continue to provide support for our members seeking clarity in addressing and understanding the issues brought on by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.