Week 5 - Minimum Standards & Employment Rights

Question 1

What is the importance of employment rights?

Answer 1

1. Financial well-being for individual and family
2. having a fair go
3. emotional and employment stability
4. Personal safety

Question 2

What is minimum wage? (financial well being)

Answer 2

• the minimum wage has traditionally been regarded as a safety net and as a living wage
• now considered by the OECD to be a welfare protection to assist the low skilled or those a the lower paid end of the job market to continue to work rather than relying on welfare/social security payments

Question 3

What are the 10 employment standards?

Answer 3

1. max weekly hours of work - 38 hours per week; plus reasonable additional hours
2. Annual leave - 4 weeks paid
3. Personal carer / compassionate leave - 10 days paid, 2 days unpaid
4. Community service leave
5. Public holidays off unless it is reasonable to ask the employee to work
6. Parental leave and related entitlements - up to 12 months
7. Notice of termination and redundancy pay
8. Request for flexible working arrangements
9. Long service leave
10. Fair work information statement to all new employees
    Only get some NES if you are a casual employee

Question 4

What is meant by the importance of having a fair go?

Answer 4

1. Good faith performance
2. work with dignity
3. Freedom from discrimination
4. a safe and healthy place to work
5. workplace democracy / employee voice

Question 5

What are the legal origins of employment rights in Australia?

Answer 5

Traditionally there has been little constitutional protection for employment rights in Australia apart from conciliation and arbitration power. Employment rights have been negotiated collectively by trade unions through industry awards