Melinda Bell

The right to disconnect and managing the psychosocial risks of being ‘online’ outside office hours

By Nicki Milionis, Melinda Bell, Matt Wichlinski and Grace Carlson on July 25, 2023 Posted in Australia

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the general routine of how employers and employees engage with work, causing a spike in formal policies facilitating flexible work.[1] However, there is now growing support for stronger boundaries to be put in place to distinguish workers’ personal and professional lives as they struggle against an ‘availability … Continue reading

A last sunset for Zombie Agreements

By Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on February 9, 2023 Posted in Australia, General

In the second update in our series, we take a closer look at the key amendments introduced by the Fair Work Legislation (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Secure Jobs Act) which significantly amended the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act). Our article summarising the key changes can be accessed here. This update … Continue reading

Changes to family and domestic violence leave in Australia

By Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on January 31, 2023 Posted in Australia, General

From today, Australian permanent and casual employees working for non-small business employers can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave (FDV Leave) every 12 months to deal with the impacts of family and domestic violence. This new entitlement replaces the previous National Employment Standards entitlement to 5 days of unpaid FDV Leave. Employees … Continue reading

Changes to the Fair Work Act – a closer look

By Melinda Bell, Jessica Kamleh and Phina Conroy on January 31, 2023 Posted in Australia, General

Terminating enterprise agreements past their nominal expiry The Fair Work Legislation (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Secure Jobs Act) received Royal Assent on 6 December 2022, significantly amending the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). Our article summarising the changes can be accessed here. This update is the first in a series of updates taking … Continue reading

Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 becomes law

By Melinda Bell on December 15, 2022 Posted in Australia

This article was co-authored with Jessica Kamleh. The Federal Government’s highly anticipated Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (Bill) passed Parliament on 2 December 2022. A snapshot of the key changes are set out below. We have highlighted in grey the amendments to the Bill which have been negotiated between the Government and … Continue reading

Implementing the Respect@Work report recommendations

By Melinda Bell on November 20, 2022 Posted in Australia

This article is co-authored by Jessica Kamleh and Artemis Sfendourakis Embarking on fulfilment of its election promise to implement all 55 recommendations made by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins in the Respect@Work report (Report), the Federal Labor government introduced the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 (Respect@Work Bill) on 27 … Continue reading

We explore the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022

By Melinda Bell on November 3, 2022 Posted in Australia

This article was co-authored with Jessica Kamleh, Sarah Katz, and Lachlan Crosbie. The highly anticipated Federal Government’s Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (Bill) has been introduced to Parliament. This Bill proposes ambitious changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) and mirrors many of the proposals which emerged … Continue reading