With vaccination numbers increasing daily and lockdown lifting, businesses are starting to consider what an end-of-year celebration may look like in 2021. It is expected many will take the opportunity to catch-up in-person, either on the worksite or by supporting their local restaurants or pubs.

With the hospitality and retail sectors in the process of reopening their doors and workplaces welcoming staff back to their offices in coming weeks, focus has shifted to how businesses should request and handle COVID-19 vaccine certificates and vaccination information.

Sunday was a good day for most when we heard the State Government’s roadmap had been bought forward. I cannot wait to see the smiles on the faces of business owners, staff and customers when we start to emerge from lockdown in Metropolitan Melbourne this week.

A long-standing employee who was dismissed after using a mobile phone while operating a forklift will be reinstated after the Fair Work Commission found his dismissal to be ‘harsh and therefore unfair.’

The Victorian Chamber, in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has produced an employer guide to Victorian Public Health Orders Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace in response to strong demand from members.

The Occupational Health and Safety and other Legislation Amendment Act of 2021 became law as of Wednesday 22 September. Here’s what you need to know.

October is finally here, and we are three weeks or less from hitting the 70 per cent target to start the reopening. It’s within sight now, and we can finally start to think about waving goodbye to lockdowns forever. The Victorian Chamber is continuing our push for the State Government to revise openings at both the 70 and 80 per cent targets.

Businesses and workers have sacrificed, suffered and done their bit to protect us all from COVID-19. They stayed closed, in some cases without work, pivoted their services to keep Victorians employed and many lost what they had spent years building. Businesses across the State are in crisis.

Casual employment can provide much needed flexibility for businesses, enabling them to quickly expand their workforce to meet demand. However, any business relying on casual labour shouldn’t look at it as a quick fix. Getting it right takes planning, paperwork and proactive management.

The Fair Work Commission has determined an employer who cut a rail worker’s pay by almost $14,000 constituted a dismissal, giving the employee the green light to pursue an unfair dismissal claim.

I had a close friend message me from London on the weekend, as he sat comfortably in a coffee shop on Regent Street.

More than 1300 businesses across all sectors, sizes and regions provided feedback to the Victorian Chamber on the State Government’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and viewpoints on vaccination conditions. Here are the results.

Given the numerous lockdowns, restrictions and uncertainty faced by employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are finding themselves carrying the financial burden of increasing leave accrual - or, in a position where they are struggling to cover gaps due to long-term absences. Understanding leave entitlements and what an employer can and cannot do in this space is vital. The Victorian Chamber encourages businesses to act now to ensure responsibilities and obligations are understood.

Sunday was not the news we wanted. The roadmap fell short: short of hope, short of NSW and short of where we need to be moving to as a state.

Working from home doesn’t mean workplace conflict is a thing of the past. In fact, statistics show it is on the rise. Managing conflict quickly and making the most of virtual tools will help reduce ongoing disputes and legal risks.

The Fair Work Commission has found a childcare centre unfairly dismissed an employee when it casually sent the staff member a “notice of non-renewal” via email with no prior warning.