McDonald Murholme guide to the Fair Work Act – The Australian

By Alan J. McDonald

A study of 3,100 jobseekers found 80 per cent of respondents over the age of 50 believed they were treated differently because of their age. McDonald Murholme Senior Associate Andrew Jewell highlights that the Fair Work Act user guide serves as a free and accessible resource to those who have been affected.

See below article for further details.

McDonald Murholme guide to Fair Work Act

Law firm McDonald Murholme has developed a Fair Work Act user guide to help workers who feel they have been unfairly forced into resigning or badly treated at work.

Senior associate Andrew Jewell says the guide highlights integral points of the act and was created as a platform where workers can gain assistance navigating through a complex legal environment.

“It is important that there are free and accessible resources available to those who have been affected,’’ Jewell says.

Age in IT’s way

Technology recruitment consultancy Greythorn has found an alarming number of IT workers believe age discrimination exists in the industry.

A study of 3100 jobseekers found 61 per cent of respondents have been discriminated against or are aware of someone who has. The figure rose to 80 per cent for respondents over 50 who thought they were treated differently because of their age.

On the move

Morgan McKinley’s Asia-Pacific employment monitor for the third quarter of this year shows that while job vacancies remain flat, the number of professionals looking for a job has risen by 10 per cent from this time last year. Those seeking new employment grew by 7 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis from 32,499 to 34,844.

Chief operations officer Richie Holliday says the changes reflect a generational shift in the workforce, with generation Y workers likelier to swap jobs.

“While money is an important factor to them, so is recognition,” Holliday says.

“They want quicker career progression and to get those promotions they realise a change of employer often speeds up that process.”

He says salaries across the Asia-Pacific are similar to other financial centres such as London, with 25 per cent of middle and back-office professionals in Asia earning more than $US100,000 ($140,750), compared with 36 per cent in Britain.

Holliday says expats are also staying longer in Asia-Pacific countries.

Pay rise pause

The Hay Group is warning workers not to ask for or expect a pay rise next year, with average salary increases about to hit their lowest point in a decade.

With only a moderate rise in inflation expected, the group’s Australian salary movement index anticipates no real increases, reflecting the first decrease since the global financial crisis.

Study co-author Steve Paola says the downturn in resources, low unemployment rates and oversupply in technical roles has affected pay movements.

“The data will come as a reality check for many workers who had experienced almost unprecedented wage growth during the past few years,” Paola says. “Salary increases haven’t been at sustainable levels for a number of years and we’re now seeing a uniform correction.”

He says Australia is among the worst performing countries, with inflation-adjusted salary growth at 1.2 per cent for this year.

Diversity dinner

LeadershipHQ will hold a diversity dinner in Brisbane on November 23, co-hosted by the Griffith Business School Alumni Network.

The Leaders Engaging Diversity dinner will feature ANZ Australia’s head of diversity, inclusion and change management Fiona Vines, Brisbane Powerhouse chief executive Fiona Maxwell and LendLease head of human resources Chris Lamb.

Reference: ‘McDonald Murholme guide to Fair Work Act’, The Australian, 21 November, 2015.