Victoria’s Supreme Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that Austin Health treated a manager unfavourably because of her gender. Austin Health allegedly ignored her repeated attempts to negotiate her salary despite her male colleagues being paid higher rates.

From Tuesday 6 June 2023, significant changes relating to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 came into effect.

The Victorian Government recently announced major changes to the state’s Workers’ Compensation scheme, which it plans to legislate later in 2023.

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has increased award and minimum rates of pay by 5.75 per cent from 1 July 2023.

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has criticised an employer’s ‘tick and flick’ approach to social media and standards policy training after one employee’s dismissal was overturned and another’s upheld for various social media contraventions.

Running a business can be challenging enough without employee issues arising but many employers will need to address a performance or conduct matter at some stage.

The negatives outweigh the positive initiatives for business in the Victorian State Budget 2023-24 released today, with medium and large businesses and multiple property owners facing increased costs to repay State debt.

Today’s State Budget of new and increased taxes and levies will hit medium to large businesses and property owners. It will directly impact jobs and investment in Victoria.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the Victorian Government announcement to replace stamp duty for commercial and industrial properties with an annual property tax.

WorkCover changes announced today will see premiums increase by more than 40 per cent, changes to mental health eligibility and the creation of a new pilot program for impacted workers.

Today’s State Government announcement of a 42 per cent increase in WorkCover premiums to 1.8 per cent makes our scheme the most expensive in the country and is yet another increase to the cost of doing business in Victoria.

The Victorian Chamber’s third Business Voice trend survey has revealed a drop in confidence concerning business’ revenue growth with almost one-third of businesses responding that they are less likely to recruit new staff, compared to one in four just six months ago.

Victorian businesses are bracing themselves for lower revenue growth and slowing staff recruitment in the coming months as the cost-of-living crisis hits, the latest Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey reveals.

The Federal Court of Australia found the HR manager and general manager of a restaurant chain purposely underpaid employees for almost a year and deliberately tampered with records in their payroll system outlining employee hours worked.

Solar power is now more accessible for small and medium businesses through measures announced in the 2023/24 Federal Budget combined with Victorian incentives.

In February this year the Victorian Chamber flagged the termination of ‘zombie agreements’ under the Australian Government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay Amendment Act 2022.