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.

Victorian businesses have today received the clarity and certainty they have been waiting for, with the State Government’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all Victorian authorised workers.

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.

The State and Federal Governments have announced a further $2.27 billion in grants and financial support to assist Victorian businesses and workers struggling through the final weeks of lockdown.

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.

The Victorian Chamber is boosting business confidence during the pandemic via the launch of a new webinar series created to help support businesses through the latest COVID-19 lockdown and beyond. 

For more than 40 years, iconic Australian brand Bakers Delight has continued to uphold its commitment to ‘real bread, real people and real delight.’ Hear how the family-owned and run organisation has thrived through the pandemic, and how it has maintained its reputation as the nation’s most successful bakery franchise.

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.

Premier Daniel Andrews has released the State Government’s Roadmap which details plans for the state’s recovery from COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns for the next three months and beyond.

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.

Working to conquer ‘invisible barriers’ and the challenges faced by job seekers from diverse backgrounds, not-for-profit organisation JobsBank continues to successfully drive change and uphold a commitment to increasing employer inclusivity and fill workforce gaps.

The Fair Work Commission has found an employee accused of stealing a cake was unfairly dismissed.

Victorian business needs certainty and clarity on the plan for our state’s COVID-19 recovery. The Victorian Chamber has formulated a detailed four-phase roadmap to provide that light on the hill for business, workers, the economy and communities.