Read up on the latest news from McDonald Murholme, including case updates and legal commentary.
A Melbourne-based employment lawyer says plans to safeguard religious freedom through the introduction of new laws have the potential to alienate minority groups should these laws come into effect. McDonald Murholme managing director Alan McDonald says Attorney-General Christian Porter’s plans to introduce a religious freedom act will create challenges within Australian businesses, noting that such
Australian workers on the minimum wage now have more purchasing powers than any other country in the world, according to new 2018 OECD figures, but one firm says it is not all good news. However, according to McDonald Murholme, while this appears to be a positive move for low-income earners, the increase in other factors
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia now has the world’s highest minimum wage. While this appears to be a positive step for low income Australian workers the increase in other factors such as taxes and the cost of living means that they do not reap the benefits of a higher minimum
If you’re starting a new job, there’s a good chance your employer will put you on a probationary period to make sure you’re the right fit for the role. Probation can also be a great way for you to test out a new role while establishing yourself as a valuable employee—but it’s important that you know about
The drawing of an inference of a conflict between the views of a Rugby Australia sponsor and those of one of the sporting body’s employees means there could be penalties imposed on Qantas under the Fair Work Act, argues one senior employment lawyer. In conversation with Lawyers Weekly, McDonald Murholme managing director Alan McDonald (pictured) said
Rugby Australia sponsors could face fines if a court finds they influenced the decision to sack Israel Folau, employment lawyer Alan McDonald says. Speaking to Sky News host Andrew Bolt, Mr McDonald says the Fair Work Act does not want external parties entering contracts of employment and taking away someone’s job. Mr McDonald says the
In the wake of a Fair Work Ombudsman decision that Uber drivers are contractors, the gig economy is being scrutinised. Following a two-year investigation into whether Uber Australia is engaged in “sham contracting’ arrangements with its drivers, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) made the contentious decision that Uber drivers are not classified as employees. The decision will
McDonald Murholme has been nominated for Workplace Relations and Employment Team of the Year and Business Development Professional of the Year! See article below: Lawyers Weekly, in partnership with UNSW Law, is pleased to announce that finalists have been selected for this year’s Australian Law Awards. The 19th annual Australian Law Awards (ALAs) will be held on 9
An employment law firm managing director has sounded the alarm on what’s being described as a recent spate of wage theft, with small businesses, particularly those in regional areas, being found guilty of underpaying their employees. McDonald Murholme managing director Alan McDonald said recent audits in regional areas such as Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat and Wollongong have indicated a significant amount
If you’re considering a new job, you might be more interested in what the role itself involves than what kind of employee you’ll be hired as. But the benefits, entitlements and conditions of a job can differ depending on whether you’re a casual worker or a part-time or full-time employee. We’ve asked an expert employment
As appetite for simplifying Australia’s workplace law grows following the election at the weekend, small business ombudsman Kate Carnell is preparing to hand the relevant incoming minister a case for overhauling unfair dismissal protections for small businesses. Speaking to SmartCompany on Monday, Carnell said provisions to protect small employers from unfair dismissal in the Fair Work Act aren’t working very well
Reference: ‘Working for Free’ by Andrew Jewell, May Edition, HRM Magazine
Is terminating an employee based on expressions of religion legal? At this point, Israel Folau is probably more well known for the outrage caused by his Instagram summary of biblical doctrine than for his career in rugby. The long and ongoing drama of whether he will be fired for that social media post has become
As Easter approaches, it’s important to give consideration to those who may not celebrate the religious event in the workplace, says a Victorian employment law firm. McDonald Murholme has highlighted that Australia’s workforce is increasingly diverse, and the lead-up to Easter is “rousing debate over workplace entitlements to religious and cultural leave”. A principal lawyer
An employment law firm has responded to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s first budget, saying it is set to benefit both SMEs and employees in a multitude of ways. Among last night’s budget delivery was a promise to cut SME taxes to 25 per cent and increase their access to finance with a new $2 billion fund. The instant asset write-off
The Coalition budget offers millions to the Fair Work Ombudsman, makes a big splash in the VET sector, and provides a boost for small businesses. Pre-election budgets are always tricky – no one is sure if they will be enacted or not. That being said, the budget presented on Tuesday by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg offers
An employment law firm has called for greater clarification regarding a promise made by opposition leader Bill Shorten to implement a “living wage” through legislated changes to the Fair Work Commission. McDonald Murholme said that Mr Shorten’s plans to implement a “living wage” through the Fair Work Commission (FWC) needed greater clarity, with debate surrounding the future
By Trent Hancock The recent scores of reports relating to unpaid internships are indicative of the pressures on young people entering the workplace to gain industry experience. There was a survey commissioned by the Federal Department of Employment that revealed more than half of Australia’s young adults have completed unpaid work as part of an internship or job
By Trent Hancock The celebration of Australia Day has become an increasingly contentious issue among Australians, writes McDonald Murholme’s Trent Hancock. Each year the debate around whether our national day should be held on 26 January seems to intensify. What happens though when this debate finds its way into the workplace? While employers might be
A niggling tickle in your throat has developed into something more sinister: you’ve caught that cold, flu or undiagnosed viral thing that has been making its way around your open-plan office. You’ve got to call in sick. Or do you? There’s so much to do and there is nothing stopping you from responding to all
