The employment law changes starting from tomorrow will lift business confidence by encouraging the hiring of new staff, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers & Manufacturers Association.

“Personal grievances and holidays’ laws have consistently been the two biggest reasons employers say they put off hiring, and the Government has addressed both,” Mr Lowe said.
“Employers are pleased the 90 day trial employment periods will now apply to all organisations.

“That’s a victory for commonsense as the evidence is clear that under trial periods employers have hired sooner than they otherwise would have, and the smaller employers to whom it previously applied have used the provision responsibly.
“We note the Australian union movement recommended their government adopt a 90 day trial employment period.
“Businesses will find the law changes encouraging as they give some flexibility to get on and run their businesses, rather than get tangled up in red tape.

“Successful businesses are important for everyone, and they need to be encouraged and valued.

“For years employees have been asking their employers to cash up some of their annual leave, and at long last the law makes it possible for businesses to agree to an employeeÕs request to do this.
“The date an employee can first ask to cash up annual leave starts on the anniversary date they started work, but this date is different for each employee and some will have to wait until 2012 before being able to make their first request.

“The law change to union access became necessary because of a few union officials who behaved badly or tried to disrupt a business, but employers are still bound by a reasonableness test.Ê Examples of the sort of behavior that needed curbing follows.”