Director of Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors Dianne Hollyoak will host a series of free employment relations compliance events in Brisbane this May, in an effort to reduce the number of businesses being caught out for failing to meet their employee obligations. In 2017, the Fair Work Ombudsman responded to a staggering 385,700 enquiries (73 per cent higher on the previous year), with the majority of employee issues relating to entitlements and wages, widely considered “the basics”. Fines can extend to $63,000 for a business, and $12,600 for an individual.
Dianne says Australia’s employment relations legislation is complex, making it easy to make a mistake. “The problem for small business owners is they more often than not lack any dedicated resources to proactively manage and stay up to date with their obligations so while considered important, it’s not often given much thought until an issue arises,” Dianne said.
Alongside the legal firm, Dianne will deliver a series of free employment relations compliance events throughout South East Queensland as part of Queensland Small Business Week 2018. “In an increasingly litigious employment relations environment, a proactive approach is required,” says Dianne. “This event series will help educate small business owners as to the steps they can take to becoming a more compliant business.”
The workshop will be a practical session with a focus on how to reduce the likelihood of an issue arising. Key trigger topics include getting the basics right, employer responsibilities, managing ill or injured staff and the dangers of employing a casual workforce. The series will comprise of five events that will be held in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Toowoomba, Ipswich and Mooloolaba from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 May.
You may also enjoy this story about Entrepreneur Grants
