Fairfax faces FWC over role ‘made redundant during maternity leave’

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 26 : 16-Nov-15

Fairfax Media has declined to comment on allegations that it retrenched consumer marketing director Vicki Aristidopoulos shortly before she was due to return from maternity leave. Aristidopoulos has lodged a general protections application with the Fair Work Commission, claiming that she was not consulted by Fairfax prior to being offered a redundancy package in October 2015. Her redundancy followed a restructuring at Fairfax.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, FINANCIAL REVIEW GROUP, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

Trafficking of workers ‘a spider’s web’

Original article by Ben Schneiders, Royce Millar
The Age – Page: 8 : 5-Oct-15

Victoria’s Industrial Relations Minister, Natalie Hutchins, says the exploitation of both local and foreign workers is widespread. She warns that many people are setting up labour hire companies with the intention of hiring workers on below-standard wages and conditions. The State Government will shortly release a discussion paper as part of its inquiry into illegal labour practices. A recent Fairfax Media expose revealed the existence of a "black economy" in Australia, whereby overseas workers are employed for less than the minimum wage.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS AND INNOVATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, 7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD

Writer of accidental ‘dick’ text sacked

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Apr-15

The Fair Work Commission has rejected an unfair dismissal claim brought by a woman who was sacked for insulting her employer. Louise Nesbitt inadvertently sent a derogatory text message to Dragon Mountain Gold chairman and MD Rob Garder, in which she called him a "complete dick". She had meant to send the message to her daughter’s boyfriend, who was to undertake plumbing work in the company’s office

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, DRAGON MOUNTAIN GOLD LIMITED – ASX DMG

Foul-mouthed truckie firing ‘unfair’

Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Feb-15

Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) has upheld an Aussie Waste Management employee’s claim that his dismissal for swearing at the managing director was unlawful. The garbage truck driver was summarily dismissed after using offensive language during a private telephone conversation with the executive. FWC deputy president Nicole Wells noted that swearing in some workplace’s is quite common in 2015, adding that the phone call was private and not overhead by other staff

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSSIE WASTE MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE, K&L GATES LLP

Sacked man loses $42m claim

Original article by Tim Clarke
The West Australian – Page: 9 : 29-Sep-14

The Federal Court of Australia has ruled in favour of Woodside Petroleum in a unfair dismissal action by a former employee. Hassan Zaghloul sought more than $A42m in damages after claiming that he had been bullied and harassed during his tenure as the LNG group’s principal structural engineer. He has also accused lawyers involved in the case of professional misconduct

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA