Archived News for Human Resource Professionals
The Queensland budget has announced around 10,600 redundancies in 2012-13, with total job losses amounting to around 14,000, taking into account discontinuing temporary positions and not filling vacant positions.
NSW Treasurer takes on Industrial Relations
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that Treasurer Mike Baird has had industrial relations added to his portfolio responsibilities.
Report on enterprise agreements released
The Minister for Workplace Relations Bill Shorten has released Trends in Enterprise Bargaining Report for the June quarter 2012 which shows that more than 20,500 enterprise agreements covering 2.62 million employees have been made since the agreement making provisions of the Fair Work Act began on 1 July 2009.
Survey shows workers think employers break overtime rules
An international survey of hourly wage earners by US human resources firm Kronos has shown that Australian workers believe their employers frequently break overtime laws.
Unemployment down 0.1%
Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 per cent in August, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Insecure work makes for unsafe workplaces: ACTU
The ACTU has claimed that the rise of insecure work in Australia over the past few decades has made employees less able to speak up for their rights and workplaces less safe.
AiGroup calls for action on Fair Work Act
"Today's jump in the level of industrial disputes confirms what industry has been saying for some time; there are some big problems in the Fair Work Act that need to be addressed without delay,"
No long term salary loss from maternity leave: report
Australian women who take paid maternity leave after having a baby aren’t suffering any long term salary loss, a new University of Melbourne study has found.
ABS reports on labour mobility
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its report on Labour Mobility, presenting findings about people aged 15 years and over who, within the 12 months to February 2012, either had a change of employer/business in their main job, or had some change in work with their current employer/business, for whom they had worked for one year or more.
ACT Labor promises to set up Industrial Magistrate's Court
ACT Labor has undertaken to establish a an Industrial Magistrate’s Court and appoint Industrial Magistrates to oversee work safety law in the ACT if it is re-elected in October.
One in six Australians forced to leave job
Some 2.5 million Australians ceased a job during the year ending February 2012 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Around 1 in 6 of these lost their last job because they were retrenched, made redundant or their employer went out of business. In 2010, around 1 in 5 people reported that they lost their last job for these reasons (compared with 1 in 10 in 2008).
The most common main reasons for ceasing a last job during the year ending February 2012 were:
IPA calls for super to be aligned with PAYG
The Institute of Public Accounts (IPA) has called on the Government to reconsider proposed changes to superannuation in relation to fund notification requirements.
Study highlights increase in computer-related pain
Office workers from all professions are experiencing unprecedented levels of neck, back, shoulder and arm pain as an unintended consequence of the paperless office, according to new University of Sydney research.
Black Dog Institute forms new mental health index
Mental health advocacy group Black Dog Institute has announced the formation of a new methodology to measure national mental health.
Employers meet to discuss childcare options
Some of the country’s largest employers have met to discuss the future of affordable and flexible childcare for working parents.
More men want flexible hours
A report published by the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA) has found that men increasingly want flexible working hours to support their roles as fathers, carers and engaged volunteers in their communities.
Government launches anti-racism campaign
The Federal Government has launched Australia’s National Anti-Racism Strategy, with Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Senator Kate Lundy calling on all Australians to stand against racism.
Australians less likely to make mental health claims
Australians are significantly less likely to claim GP visits for psychological illnesses on workers’ compensation than they are for physical work-related injuries, according to research conducted by the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR).
Comcare releases sedentary work practices toolkit
National workplace safety agency Comcare has released its sedentary work practices toolkit, a collection of information, guidance materials and templates that can help workplaces develop and apply a strategy to reduce prolonged sitting in the workplace.
First round of SkillSelect announced
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced the first round of skilled migrants invited to formally apply of visas under the Federal Government’s new SkillSelect service.
NSW streamlines workers compensation obligations for councils
The New South Wales Government has announced reform that will make it easier for Government-owned entities, local government and public universities to lodge security deposits to cover workers compensation obligations.