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Fair Work Commission dismisses unpaid trial worker’s dismissal claim

In brief The Fair Work Commission has dismissed a general protections application involving dismissal after finding that a worker who undertook an unpaid trial shift at a bakery had not been dismissed. The decision is a useful reminder that unpaid trials should be carefully limited and documented. It also highlights that, while general protections claims do not require a minimum…
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Fair Work Commission Minimum Wage and Award Wage Increase 2026

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its Annual Wage Review 2026 decision today, increasing minimum rates of pay from 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage will increase by 5.97% to: $26.44 per hour; and $1,004.90 per week based on a 38 hour full time working week. Minimum wage rates contained in modern awards will increase by 4.75%. Employers…
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Part-Time Redeployment Option May Prevent a Genuine Redundancy Finding

A recent decision of the Fair Work Commission is a timely reminder that employers must carefully consider redeployment options during restructures, including part-time alternatives proposed by employees. In Mr Marcus Watzlaff v Secure Parking Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 1408, Secure Parking made its full-time Compliance Manager role redundant as part of a cost-cutting restructure. The company redistributed the compliance duties…
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Junior rates to phase out for over 18s

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has recently abolished junior pay rates for young employees aged 18 to 20 in the retail, fast food and pharmacy sectors beginning from December 2026. What has changed? The FWC has determined that adult employees, defined as those aged 18 and over, should ultimately receive adult minimum wage rates. The transition will be staged through…
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New WFH laws in Victoria and the changes ahead for employers

The Victorian government has announced plans to introduce legislation that would give private and public sector employees a legal right to work from home at least two days per week. According to Premier Jacinta Allan, the proposed reforms aim to protect flexible working arrangements. The government has described the proposal as a “world-first” legislative right to work from home. For…
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New Victorian psychological health and safety regulations commence 1 December 2025 – what Victorian businesses should know

On 1 October 2025, the Victorian State parliament passed new health and safety regulations with additional obligations for Victorian businesses and businesses with employees, contractors, subcontractors, or workplaces or sites in Victoria. The new regulations, which are referred to as the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, come into effect from 1 December 2025. All businesses with workers,…
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