Family Domestic Violence leave request update

The Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022

The Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 passed parliament on 28 October 2022, making 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave an NES entitlement. Employers need to be mindful of any Enterprise Agreement provisions regarding family and domestic violence leave which may conflict with the new NES entitlement, and ensure they provide their employees with 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave as needed. Get in touch with CER if you’re unsure how to proceed with a Family Domestic Violence leave request.

Flexible work arrangements - Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022

The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 was introduced to Parliament on 27 October 2022. If the Bill is passed in its current form,  employers will be required to make ‘genuine efforts’ to approve flexible working arrangement requests from eligible employees. Currently s65 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) permits employers to refuse flexible working arrangement requests on “reasonable business grounds”. However, under the new provisions, employers will have an obligation to make genuine efforts to accommodate employee requests for flexible working hours or arrangements where they might have previously rejected the requests for reasonable business grounds reasons. If the employer and employer can’t reach an agreement, the employee may submit an application with the FWC to conciliate the dispute in the first instance.  

CER will keep you updated regarding these changes and will provide further information regarding other potential changes in the Bill that may impact your organisation.

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