BHP Billiton's approach to disciplining train drivers at its Pilbara iron ore operations has been put under the microscope in two new WAIRC full bench appeal rulings.
A downward trend in wages in private sector agreements has been reversed, coinciding with a warning from the Reserve Bank's deputy governor that continued economic expansion will require greater productivity and better matching of labour supply and demand.
Australia Post was right to dismiss an employee who told co-workers "I'll stab the lot of you" while holding a knife used to open mail bags, the AIRC has ruled today.
A NSW IRC full bench has upheld a finding that a chief executive was treated unfairly when he was lured to the job by an executive search company's misleading representations. However, it cut his severance payment from 18 months to 10 months – a reduction worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
An employer was justified in dismissing an employee for gross misconduct after she made a "deliberate, premeditated decision" to go to sleep under her desk during a night shift, the NSW IRC has found.
After initially offering AWAs to employees throughout its Australian operations, The Smith Family has struck a s170LJ certified agreement to cover its 300-plus workers. The deal includes a novel salary packaging arrangement that involves workers returning part of their packaging benefit to the employer.
Employers are advertising more often and in more channels to attract good applicants, says ANZ chief economist; and OECD urges Australia to develop better strategy for mature age workers.
The NSW IRC says Linfox was right to dismiss a truck driver who tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, despite TWU concerns over the drug-testing procedure.
The new non-union agreement for Prime Minister John Howard's own department mandates that employees take at least five days annual leave, while any recalcitrants can be directed by department head Peter Shergold to have a break.
