Employer Bulletin | 09 December
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says it is important employees are not rewarded in the personal grievance system for poor behaviour or performance and is introducing changes to personal grievances to strengthen employee accountability.
“Simplifying personal grievances is a policy ACT campaigned on, in particular, removing the eligibility for remedies if the employee is at fault and is an ACT-National Coalition Agreement commitment. These changes will strike a better balance and increase certainty for employers so they can focus on their business,” says Ms van Velden.
“The Employment Relations Act allows the courts to make reductions to remedies when the employee contributes to the personal grievance, but these reductions have become smaller, while awards to employees have been increasing.
“The status quo has led to increasing uncertainty and potential costs for employers and has incentivised employees to try their luck at raising a personal grievance in the hope that they will get a financial pay out.”
In today’s Bulletin:
- Employer fails to adhere to drug and alcohol policy
- Issues outside employment relationship do not factor into personal grievance
- Directors made personally liable after breaching employment standards
- Failure to pay commission in line with employment agreement leads to costly payout
- Unjustified dismissal following redundancy results in interim reinstatement
- Seven news updates of interest for employers including: Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour; Government open for business on market-led infrastructure proposals; International visitor survey results released; International trade: September 2024 quarter; New Funding and Financing Framework released; Government releases independent scientific review on biogenic methane science and targets; and Targets data positive but action needed on welfare.
- Ten bills open for submission
If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.
Please note that AdviceLine will close at 5pm Tuesday 24 December and reopen on Monday 6 January.
Our hours from Monday 6 January – Friday 10 January will be 8am – 6pm.
