Today
Lawyer denies claim of ‘astonishing’ fee quote in ex-CFMEU boss case
Mid-tier firm Mills Oakley and criminal law outfit McGirr & Associates have been criticised for “grossly excessive” legal fees for a corruption case that hasn’t progressed in four years.
- David Marin-Guzman
Yesterday
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Worker consultation overhaul risks ‘sabotaging’ management
The Fair Work Commission has flagged worker rights to intervene early on changes to the workplace, prompting warnings it would put emerging technology in “shackles”.
- David Marin-Guzman
This Month
- Exclusive
- AI
A worker said one negative word to a customer. AI dobbed him in
A new report on AI’s effect on jobs in the finance industry found “sentiment bots” were analysing worker conversations with customers.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Working from home
CBA cracks down on ‘coffee badging’, Woolies joins WFH push
The big four bank tells staff they have to spend at least four hours in the office to count for a day’s work, while Woolies joins the back-to-the-office push.
- Euan Black
Woolworths orders 10,000 staff back to the office
Supermarket chain Woolworths has told its 10,000 office-based workers they will have to attend the workplace at least three days a week from October.
- Euan Black
- Opinion
- Skills
Why businesses are key to fixing Australia’s skills gaps
Cutting-edge training and education is happening in Australia’s largest employers. If we are to meet our national skills challenge, we must encourage more of it.
- Bran Black
- Exclusive
- Gig economy
Uber fury at Labor bid to expand gig economy laws
The NSW government’s push to bring in its own laws to set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers, going even further than federal Labor, has sparked a scathing response from gig platforms.
- David Marin-Guzman
Inside the fight over McDonald’s 100,000 low-paid worker army
Crew trainer Connor Boyle is part of a test case to extend multi-employer bargaining laws to the types of workforces unions have always struggled to organise.
- David Marin-Guzman
Accenture to end DEI policies to comply with Trump
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet advises staff of a global evolution as the consulting giant abandons DEI programs in response to President Donald Trump’s orders.
- Euan Black, Edmund Tadros and Jemima Whyte
- Exclusive
- Workplace
Leaked consulting firm slide deck gives hints on ANU job cuts
A secret document from Nous Group, which has been hired by ANU to push through job cuts, was left behind in a staff lunchroom exposing restructure plans.
- Julie Hare
Stuck in a rut? Here’s how to shake off the post-holiday blues
If you feel like you’ve been wading through treacle since returning to work, you’re not alone. Career coaches say it’s a common feeling at this time of year.
- Euan Black
The business case for diversity is not always clear-cut
HR bosses say DEI is good for the bottom line. Critics emboldened by Donald Trump say that’s not backed by evidence. Who’s right?
- Euan Black
CFMEU administrator launches ‘culture of violence’ probe in Queensland
CFMEU state officials will be forced to co-operate with an inquiry into violence and menacing conduct that was allegedly perpetuated by the union’s past leadership.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Opinion
- Diversity
Lived diversity at work let me step in to the light as a trans woman
My story shows that what mattered was care not a formal diversity and inclusion policy.
- Stephanie Banning
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
CFMEU redundancy fund ‘misuse’ of worker money sparks regulation call
Regulation of the vast redundancy fund sector could be an election issue, following claims a CFMEU fund unlawfully took workers’ money and gave it to the union.
- David Marin-Guzman
Review into IR laws backs abolition of watchdog despite CFMEU threats
Employers “cannot fathom” how a review into Labor’s scrapping of the ABCC found no need to revive it after widespread reports of intimidation.
- David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU organiser’s ute firebombed
A CFMEU organiser’s union car was firebombed in the middle of the night just three months after his house was vandalised with the words ‘CFMEU dog’.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Builders push for limits on CFMEU wage-bargaining powers
Civil contractors are starting to lobby all sides of politics on reforming the construction industry, which could curb the CFMEU’s dominance of government projects.
- David Marin-Guzman
ANU budget cuts mean fewer courses and crowded tutorials
At one humanities school within the university, the budget for casual and sessional staff had been reduced by about two-thirds.
- Julie Hare
January
The workforce challenges keeping these HR bosses up at night
BOSS talks to six human resources executives about challenges they face in 2025. Rethinking diversity programs may not be one of them, but there are many others.
- Sally Patten, Patrick Durkin and Euan Black
Change to small wage theft claims could prompt ‘go away money’ surge
A departmental recommendation that employers pay workers’ legal costs if they lose underpayment cases of up to $100,000 has sparked business fears.
- David Marin-Guzman
Luxury island retreat underpaid staff by more than $20m
The operators of Hamilton Island’s leisure facilities have agreed to backpay thousands of employees, admitting to almost a decade of underpayment.
- David Marin-Guzman
Is this the end of the ‘smoko’ break?
A Kmart boss says fewer people smoke these days so the mid-morning break is less important. Unions accuse the retailer of trying to kill off an Aussie tradition.
- David Marin-Guzman
Assault on retail penalty rates may spread to other jobs: ACTU
A major push to simplify the retail award, backed by Coles, Woolworths, 7-Eleven and Mecca, has sparked union fears of a broader attack on penalty rates.
- David Marin-Guzman
Will AI make you dumber?
It’s a question that some HR bosses are pondering, albeit in less dramatic terms. And an academic paper might hold some answers.
- Euan Black