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Workplace Relations Division
The Workplace Relations team provides advisory and consultancy services on a wide range of employment topics to members and non-members. Specialising in human resource management and industrial relations our services include:
Telephone Advisory Services
Our experienced Workplace Relations Team provides up-to-date advice on all employment related issues, from day to day matters to strategic development and planning. Topical issues include:
- Recruitment and retention
- Wage and allowance entitlements
- Conflict in the workplace (Harrassment, Workplace Bullying)
- Leave entitlements (annual, sick, long service, cashing in provisions)
- Employee benefits and incentives (salary sacrificing, bonus systems)
- Absenteeism
- Performance management
- Termination
- Abandonment of employment
- Workers compensation
Subscription Services
With the subscription services provided to members with full membership, members will remain up to date with topical IR and HR issues, as well as traditional updates for awards, pay scales and wage rate summaries.
With over 4,000 awards across Australia, there is probably one that covers your business. We determine which awards apply and assist in determining which categories your employees will fall under. Employers are legally required to provide the minimum terms and conditions of employment as stipulated in the award. Where terms in an award are less favourable or the employee is not covered by an award, the Australian Fair Pay Commission 'Standard' will apply.
Members recieve:
- Access online to awards specific to their workplace, anywhere you work
- Information on the Standard and Federal Minimum Wage
- Access to pay scales and automatic updates as these are increased each year
- Automatic notification of award changes
Members also recieve up-to-date articles across a broad range of topics including changes in legislation and how this may impact on their business.
Make sure to access information on Award Modernisation for changes commencing 1st January 2010.
Legislation Interpretation
The Fair Work Act 2009, its subsuent acts and regulations provide the foundation legislation for the employment of staff. In addition, many other Territory and Federal legislation Acts apply to employment. We interpret various Acts and provide advice on their application to your individual organisation's circumstances. The common types of topics covered in legislation that relate to employment include:
- Minimum standard entitlements
- Employment of school children
- Immigration workers (457 visas etc)
- Defence Leave entitlements
- Contractors versus employees
- Interaction of awards with Territory and Federal Legislation, including recent amendments
- Public Holidays in the Northern Territory
- Occupational Health & Safety obligations
- Discrimination, workplace bullying and sexual harrassment
- Workers compensation
- Superannuation
- Privacy legislation (criminal history checks)
- Time and record keeping requirements
Information Sessions and Training Workshops
Information sessions are topical and conducted to educate members on the latest issues affecting business. These are made available to members either free or at a subsidised fee.
Our training workshops focus on employment related issues and are delivered in a practical hands on learning environment, to all transfer of newly gained knowledge back at the workplace. Courses can be customised to suit individual needs and we are continually adding new courses to meet business demands:
- Termination
- Award interpretation
- Understanding changes to legislation
- Performance management
- Employment legislation in the Northern Territory
- Employer obliations for 457 Visa Workers
- Record keeping obligations
- Do's and Dont's of letter writing for employment contracts
Workplace Agreements
Workplace agreements allow employers and employees to create a flexible working environment and customise terms and conditions to their individual workplace needs. Agreements also allow business to take advantage of cashing in provisions for annual leave, long service leave and sick leave as introduced in March 2006.
The Workplace Relations team has a wealth of knowledge and experience with all types of agreements and employment contracts. We specialise in customising agreements to your individual workplace needs. To find out is a workplace agreement suits your business, contact one of our Advisors today.
Award Interpretation
Members who are subject to awards in their workplace can take advantage of our awards interpretation service. We provide service in ensuring business can clarify the meaning and intention of award clauses and when they apply. This ensures that employers understand their obligations correctly and removes risk in managing employee entilements.
Mediation, Conciliation & Arbitration
There are many instances where expert advice can save the employer time, money and resources as well as the employee relationship.
Employers are increasingly being targeted by government agencies to ensure compliance in relation to employee entitlements. Employees are becoming more educated in relation to their rights, and assertive in getting results.
This has seen an increase in claims against employers. The Workplace Relations Team provides employer representation services for:
- Mediation and dispute resolution in the workplace
- Investigation of underpayment of wages claims
- Representation in unfair and unlawful termination claims
- Representation at the Australian Industrial Relations Commission between employers and employees
Employers should contact a Workplace Relations Advisor at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss their options immediately on notification of a claim. All enquiries are treated as confidential.
HR Advisory Services
The Chamber of Commerce can offer your business a range of human resources services by tapping into our professional, experienced talent pool of internal advisors and external consultants. This enables us to tailor services to suit your strategic business requirements. Traditional services that encompass human resources, training, management and industrial relations in business development or strategic planning can be arranged to meet your business needs. These include:
- Audit services on HR, Payroll and OH&S
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Support for Indigenous Employment
- Staff Development strategies
- Media and Staff communications
- Employment of overseas workers
- Budgeting costing, Consumer Price Indexing, Wage Increases
- Conflict Management, Coaching and Mentoring
HR Advance
The Chamber of Commerce presents HR Advance, a web based, interactive HR tool that gives you access to a comprehensive library of HR documents that can be customised including contracts, policies, forms, correspondence and checklists. All documents come with extensive notes on their use and applications.
To view this product, click here.
Fair Work Ombudsman Assistance
The Chamber of Commerce can provide assistance to businesses in meeting their obligations with the Fair Work Ombudsman. We can assist you in interpreting requirements and working out what information has to be provided to the Fair Work Ombudsamn, together with helping to defend a claim of underpayment or working out what liability in an underpayment claim there might be.
Our expert Workplace Relations Advisors regularly conduct audits to identify areas of non-compliance and assist you to change your operational requirements to ensure that you don't end up with large liabilities or spending time defending claims.
If you would like more information, please contact our Workplace Relations Department.
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