An increase in the number of unfair dismissal cases and the addition of JobKeeper disputes has seen the general caseload of the Fair Work Commission jump by 30 per cent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, FWC President Justice Iain Ross AO told Lawyerly.
The corporate watchdog would not take action on funding terms in a Fair Work class action brought by Adero Law, after receiving reports of potential misleading or deceptive conduct by the law firm and the funder backing the case, according to submissions made in the government’s latest inquiry into litigation funding and class actions.
The Victoria state government has launched reviews into the sexual harassment policies of its courts and tribunals and the law firms that provide services to the government, following allegations of sexual harassment against former High Court justice Dyson Heydon.
The parties in a ‘sham’ contracting class action brought on behalf of telecommunications workers have both lost bids to recover interlocutory costs, with a judge noting that costs orders against funded litigants should be the exception rather than the rule in Fair Work litigation.
The workplace umpire has jurisdiction to hear a case against Qantas and its budget subsidiary Jetstar brought by the union for licenced aircraft maintenance engineers stood down during the coronavirus pandemic, a judge has ruled in a blow to the airline.
The Federal Court is reviewing its sexual harassment policies following allegations that former High Court justice Dyson Heydon sexually harassed six female associates while on the bench.
A Qantas engineer who used his company-issued iPad to access pornographic material while at work has lost his unfair dismissal case.
More than 500 women from across the legal profession, including former judges, barristers, law firm partners and professors, have signed a letter urging the Attorney General to establish an independent body to deal with complaints against judges, following allegations of sexual harassment against former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon.
A public sector lawyer has won a bid to have the workplace umpire hear claims he was refused pay rises after engaging in allegedly inappropriate behaviour that included wearing Zara brand shoes and woollen jumpers in the winter months.
Westpac has become the latest company to discover it shortchanged workers, announcing it will pay $8 million to around 8,000 current and former staff who were not paid long service leave entitlements.