ARTICLE · 28 AUGUST 2013

Recent changes to the Fair Work Act - things employers should be doing now to accommodate them

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Employers should review their policies and processes relating to a range of matters to comply with statutory obligations.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Abigail Vipond

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Several important changes were made to the Fair Work Act with effect from 1 July 2013. Others have been legislated to take effect from 1 January 2014. As a result, employers wanting to keep up with (or ahead of!) their statutory obligations should be looking now at their policies and processes relating to a range of matters.

Key points

The National Employment Standards have been changed, effective from 1 July, in relation to various parental leave entitlements and requests for flexible work arrangements.
Other changes will commence from 1 January 2014. These include the commencement of a new jurisdiction for the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to make orders in relation to workplace bullying disputes.

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