FCB Group Events

FCB Year in Preview Events 2021

The team at FCB Group would like to invite you to attend our annual Year in Preview event, which for the first time, will be hosted online!

A maximum of 20 places will be available at each session, so register early to avoid missing out.

FCB Year in Preview Webinar 7 General Session 3	Tuesday 2nd March	10:00am – 11:30am	SESSION FULL
FCB Year in Preview Webinar 8 Manufacturing Session	Tuesday 2nd March	1:00pm – 2:30pm	REGISTER HERE
FCB Year in Preview Webinar 9 Allied Health Session	Wednesday 3rd March	10:00am – 11:30am	REGISTER HERE
FCB Year in Preview Webinar 10 Hospitality Session	Wednesday 3rd March	1:00pm – 2:30pm	REGISTER HERE
FCB Year in Preview Webinar 11 Retail Session 2	Thursday 4th March	9:00am – 10:30am	REGISTER HERE
FCB Year in Preview Webinar 12 General Session 4	Thursday 4th March	12:00pm – 1:30pm	REGISTER HERE

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The ins and outs of community service leave

February 16, 2021

By Bethany Silverman, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant at FCB Group Most Australians go above and beyond to help those in need – it’s in our nature to serve the community, no matter what the emergency, natural disaster or situation. You only have to think back to 2020 when our country was battling fires and cleaning up after mass flooding; we got through this thanks to the support of the people who volunteered their time and energy. So how can a business support its employees if they decide they want to assist in a crisis situation? In some circumstances, your employees are entitled to community service leave – this allows them to be absent from work when they’re participating in a particular community service activity. Community service leave also applies to other circumstances. Here, explain the entitlement and when it applies. What is the entitlement? Community service leave is an entitlement under the NES. A person is entitled to be absent from the workplace when he or she is engaged in either: jury service, including attendance for jury selection; or a “voluntary emergency management activity” that involves dealing with an emergency or a natural......

Christmas parties in a COVID-19 world; 3 things to consider

December 3, 2020

By Isaac Chan, workplace relations consultant at FCB Group a This year has been unusual and incredibly challenging, to say the least. Aussies were hit hard at the beginning of 2020 with fires and floods and then a deadly pandemic swept the world. It’s a year many would rather forget. With the silly season fast approaching, it’s no surprise then that your employees will be looking forward to the end of year events. While many employers have decided to put a hold on the annual Christmas shindig (thanks COVID-19), there are some who have decided to celebrate with their staff and host a party. If your business has decided to celebrate 2020, it’s a good idea that employers proceed with extra caution. Here I point out a few things to consider. Christmas festivities and alcohol Whether your business has decided to hold a day function or an after-hours event, you must operate in accordance with the relevant state COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. It’s only natural that some of your employees will want to spread some Christmas cheer while enjoying alcohol. While it’s a normal part of Christmas parties, employers need to ensure that employees are doing this safely and......

Coronavirus update 23 November 2020 – Victoria’s restrictions ease further

November 23, 2020

By Bethany Silverman, Workplace Relations Consultan On Sunday 22 November 2020, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that COVID-19 restrictions would ease further after the state recorded zero new cases in the past three weeks. After months of hard restrictions and currently, just one active case of COVID-19 in the state, it’s looking positive that Victorians can enjoy a somewhat “normal” holiday season. What you need to know The following changes are effective from 11:59 PM on 22 November 2020 and apply across the state: Masks – one of the biggest changes is easing the requirement to wear masks at all times when outside of your home. While face masks remain mandatory in some settings, they’re no longer mandatory when outdoors, provided you remain 1.5 metres away from people you don’t live with. If you’re not able to socially distance outdoors, for example on public transport, at outdoor markets, and walkways, you must wear a face mask. People must, at all times, carry a face mask with them. Social gatherings – there are no restrictions on reasons to leave home or restrictions on how far one may travel. Public gatherings have increased to a maximum of 50......

Fair Work Commission amends casual overtime entitlement

November 19, 2020

By Amanda Curatore, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant As part of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) 4 yearly modern review process, the FWC recently handed down a decision which addressed casual employees’ entitlement to overtime rate under numerous modern awards, including the Fitness Industry Award 2010 (Award). Following a formal review of the Award, which has taken many years to finalise, the FWC recently determined that the Award will be amended to reflect that casual employees are entitled to overtime penalty rates in accordance with clause 19.1 of the Award. Historically, a casual employee’s entitlement to overtime rates was the subject of a dispute and requested variation to the Award. This recent decision as determined this issue such that casuals will now be entitled to overtime rates where they work: outside the span of ordinary hours (5AM – 11PM Monday to Friday, and 6AM – 9PM Saturday and Sunday); over 38 hours in a week averaged over four weeks; or over 10 hours in any one day. The FWC further found that the specified overtime penalty rates do not include the casual loading, either on a cumulative or compounded basis. A determination has been issued of......

Coronavirus update 19 November 2020 – South Australia enters ‘circuit-breaker’ restrictions

November 19, 2020

By Bethany Silverman, Workplace Relations Consultant In the last week, South Australia has experienced a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. In response to the outbreak, on 18 November 2020, the South Australian Government announced it would impose COVID-19 restrictions to attempt to avoid a ‘second wave’ leading into the Christmas and Holiday Period and prevent further spread. What are the restrictions? From 12:01 AM on Thursday 19 November 2020, for six days, a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown will be imposed on South Australia. People must remain at home for this period. Whilst the list is not yet complete, the following industries are permitted to remain operational to maintain critical services only: Critical infrastructure including power, telecommunications, and water; Supermarkets for essential food; Bottle shops; Medical supplies and medical services; Public transport; Airport and essential freight; Petrol stations; Post offices and banking institutions; Childcare and schools for essential services workers only; Veterinary; Essential agriculture services; Factories remain open for essential machinery upkeep and production of essential......

Lockdown restrictions ease in Victoria

October 27, 2020

By Amanda Curatore, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that the state will ease lockdown restrictions as of 11:59 PM on Tuesday 27 October 2020, after the state recorded zero new cases on Monday 26 October. It’s been 12 weeks since Victorians went into lockdown. What do you need to know? Effective from 11:59 PM on 27 October 2020, Metropolitan Melbourne will see significant steps out of lockdown. The most crucial change coming into effect is that the four reasons to leave your home (being shopping for essentials, caregiving, exercise or work) will be lifted, however, Melbourne residents will still be subjected to the 25-kilometre travel limit and the border between regional Victoria and Greater Melbourne will stay in place. Businesses re-opening Retail will re-open subject to being COVID Safe. People must maintain 1.5 metres from others; Hospitality will re-open subject to a maximum of 20 people indoors and a maximum of 50 people outdoors; Beauty, personal care and tattooing business can re-open if the service provided allows for the wearing of a face mask from both employees and visitors of the business......

Coronavirus update 19 October 2020 – lockdown restrictions ease

October 19, 2020

By Amanda Curatore, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant Over the weekend, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that the State has “a little longer to go” until COVID normal, however, announced the easing of Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions. So, what does this mean for employers and employees in Victoria? Let’s find out… Changes to the road map Under the road map announced on 6 September 2020, movement to the next stage was based on specific dates and an average of case numbers over the previous 14 days. Now, however, the roadmap has been amended, and the five-case rolling average to move to the next stage has been set aside. Further, Andrews indicated that the zero-case threshold for changes in late November would also be scrapped. What do you need to know? Effective from 11:59 PM on 18 October 2020, Metropolitan Melbourne took a further step forward in reaching its COVID Normal. The most significant departure from the initial road map was the removal of the 5-kilometre travel distance. Melbournians can now travel within 25 kilometres from their home however, several restrictions continue to remain in place. Residents are still subject to the Stay at Home......

The risks of unpaid work

October 9, 2020

By Ceri Hohner, Associate at FCB Workplace Law Although some unpaid work arrangements are lawful, many are not, and a hostel chain is the latest employer to be accused of underpaying a group of workers that it classified as ‘volunteers’. The law firm organising the class action anticipates that the underpayment claim could be worth $15 million in lost wages. Unpaid work is generally unlawful, other than in a few limited exceptions as outlined below. Employees have a right to be paid for all work performed for their employer. Unpaid work Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), certain individuals are excluded from employment entitlements, including persons on a vocational placement. ‘Vocational placements’ are formal, regulated arrangements undertaken as a requirement of an education or training course, and authorised by law. As a result, not every period of ‘work experience’ will qualify as a vocational placement. Unpaid work experience or internships may be undertaken where the person is not performing substantive or productive work to the business but is instead, obtaining meaningful value for themselves and their career or professional development......

Retailers beware: October 2020 wage update

October 1, 2020

By Simon Saha, Workplace Relations Consultant at FCB Group Retailers should be aware of an increase in evening penalty rates for casual employees, commencing on 1 October 2020. Employers in the retail sector will be required to review and update casual employee wages from 1 October 2020, as changes to the General Retail Industry Award 2010 increase the loading paid to casual employees for evening work, Monday to Friday, to a loading of 45 per cent, inclusive of casual loading, from the current loading of 40 per cent. Additionally, the Award specifies that the new rates come into effect from 1 October 2020, and not the first full pay period following. This update to casual wages also serves as a timely reminder of the need to regularly review wage rates for all employees, as there has been significant focus by the Fair Work Ombudsman recently on wage compliance and underpayment liabilities. Employers should conduct an annual review of employee wages and salaries, to ensure they comply with the Award, to avoid the significant penalties that apply for non-compliance. If you have any concerns or would like to learn more about wage compliance, please contact Simon Saha on (02) 9922......

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FCB Year in Preview Events 2021

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The ins and outs of community service leave

Christmas parties in a COVID-19 world; 3 things to consider

Coronavirus update 23 November 2020 – Victoria’s restrictions ease further

Fair Work Commission amends casual overtime entitlement

Coronavirus update 19 November 2020 – South Australia enters ‘circuit-breaker’ restrictions

Lockdown restrictions ease in Victoria

Coronavirus update 19 October 2020 – lockdown restrictions ease

The risks of unpaid work

Retailers beware: October 2020 wage update

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Related Case Studies & News

The ins and outs of community service leave

Christmas parties in a COVID-19 world; 3 things to consider

Coronavirus update 23 November 2020 – Victoria’s restrictions ease further

Fair Work Commission amends casual overtime entitlement

Coronavirus update 19 November 2020 – South Australia enters ‘circuit-breaker’ restrictions

Lockdown restrictions ease in Victoria

Coronavirus update 19 October 2020 – lockdown restrictions ease

The risks of unpaid work

Retailers beware: October 2020 wage update

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