2023 has been a significant year for employment law reform. The following changes, identified by the Fair Work Ombudsman, aim to close loopholes in current legislation.
Employers found guilty of intentional wage theft or non-payment of superannuation may face imprisonment for up to 10 years or fines over $7 million.
Those performing the same job in a labour hire capacity must now be paid the same as those employed by the company.
Employees experiencing family violence have 10 days of paid leave each year and will now be protected from discrimination and adverse action when exercising this right.
The government has made it more difficult for larger businesses to claim the small business redundancy exception, which previously allowed large businesses to avoid paying redundancies.
What Business Owners Should Do Now
- Regularly review your policies and procedures
- Make sure your bookkeeper and accountant are briefed on changes involving pay, superannuation or taxation
- Support employees experiencing family violence
- Speak to a lawyer for advice on your obligations as an employer