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The advocacy group has launched the ‘Small Business Peak Program’ to help SMEs navigate the impacts the new industrial relations changes will have on how they operate.
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COSBOA program to address SME knowledge gaps with major IR changes
27 August 2024
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The latest industrial relations changes will affect the rights of casual employees, contractors, and their right to disconnect from work outside regular hours, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has reminded small business owners.
To help SMEs navigate these changes, COSBOA launched its Small Business Peak program with the aim to support small businesses in navigating these updates.
COSBOA said it is encouraging all small businesses to connect, sign up, and learn more about the program.
The program has been specifically designed to help businesses tackle the recent industrial relation changes in a format that is simple, practical, and easy to understand.
COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat said the program includes everything small businesses need to know about the new industrial relation changes and how to overcome them.
“Our Small Business Peak Program provides employers with information and guidance on minimum workplace rights and responsibilities,” he said.
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“These changes affect casual jobs, the ability to switch to part-time or full-time work and fundamental rules about communication within the workplace.”
Changes to casual employment that have come into effect include a new definition of casual employee, casual conversion rights, changes to the definition of employment, and the ‘right to disconnect.’
The right to disconnect applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
Laws about unfair contract terms, workplace delegates rights, road transport regulation, and the regulation of employee-like workers will also commence on 26 August,, however, only apply to certain categories of employers.
According to a national survey of the business community, not many businesses were aware of the changes and how they would impact their operations.
It was found 64.7 per cent didn’t know or were unaware of what is required under the casual conversion industrial relations changes.
It was also revealed 70.5 per cent were unaware of what is required for the changes to the minimum standards for ‘employee-like’ workers.
This was followed by 63.6 per cent who were unaware of what is required for the right to disconnect changes.
Achterstraat said the survey demonstrated how little business owners know about the new changes that will make the new COSBOA program a critical tool.
“The research highlights the low levels of awareness in the business community about the IR changes,” he said.
“This was reflected across all industry sectors and demonstrates why Small Business Peak is so critical to the small-business community.
“Think of Small Business Peak as your workplace companion in simplifying IR complexities, allowing you to focus on what you do best – growing your business.”
Free downloadable toolkits have been included with the program as well as step-by-step guides that explain the latest workplace changes, with timelines, implementation checklists, and case studies to help simplify the complex changes.
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