Employer Newsletter: Recent changes, ending employment, our specialist Library and more

A summary of the latest changes to workplace laws. [] Having issues? [View the online version]( [Australian Government - Fair Work Ombudsman]( In this issue [Reminder: Changes to the Fair Work Act]( [Your obligations when ending employment]( [Find specialist advice in our Library]( Hi {NAME}, [calendar icon with text: Important changes (reminder)] Reminder: Changes to the Fair Work Act Do you engage independent contractors, casual employees or need to contact staff outside normal hours? Some major changes took effect last month as part of the [‘Closing Loopholes’ laws]( that could impact your business. These changes included: - [new definitions]( of ‘employee’ and ‘employer’ - changes to [casual employment]( and converting to permanent employment - a new [right to disconnect]( (this change takes effect for small businesses on 26 August 2025) - new [minimum standards]( and protections for ‘employee-like workers’ in the gig economy and contractors in the road transport industry (regulated workers) - additional rights for [workplace delegates]( who are regulated workers. We now have tailored resources for [contractors in building and construction]( that outline the new laws, including case studies. Our [information statements]( have been updated so make sure you’re using the latest versions from our website. For a visual overview of all the Closing Loopholes changes, check out our [easy-to-read timeline](. [calculator with words, final pay] Your obligations when ending employment However an employment relationship ends, it’s important that you follow the rules about ending employment, notice and [final pay](. If you make an employee’s job redundant, you may need to pay the employee severance or [redundancy pay](. We have a suite of tools and resources to help you meet your obligations including: - a Notice and Redundancy [Calculator]( - termination of employment [downloadable templates]( - the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code [Checklist]( - guidance on when [notice periods]( don’t apply - notice case studies in a [Library]( article. [hand taking book off a shelf] Find specialist advice in our Library Our [Library]( has an extensive collection of articles that provide advice on common and specific issues, including award coverage and how particular award entitlements operate.   Use the Library's search function or browse the lists of new and popular articles to find the information you need. Here’s a snippet of the topics covered: - [calculating annual leave loading]( - [missed meal breaks in the Hospitality Award]( - [apprentice pay in awards with no apprentice rates]( - [split shift allowance in the Restaurant Award]( - [difference between stand down, unpaid leave and shutdown](. In this issue [Reminder: Changes to the Fair Work Act]( [Your obligations when ending employment]( [Find specialist advice in our Library](     Upcoming webinars Register for our free online webinars. - [Working and employing during the holiday season? What you need to know, including FAQs]( - [Workplace essentials for Small Business](  Hiring Outside the Box webinar 9 October  The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ next Hiring Outside the Box webinar will be on why mental health matters in the workplace. Learn more and [register here](. Build your networks October is [NSW Small Business Month]( and [NT October Business Month](. We’ll be attending expos in Sydney, Newcastle and Alice Springs so come say hi! Latest news - [Celery producers penalised nearly $167,000 over migrant exploitation]( - [Record penalties of $15.3 million for exploitation of migrant workers at sushi outlets]( - [Report concerns about the CFMEU]( - [Nearly $200,000 in penalties for sham contracting involving workers with disability]( - [$217,000 recovered for Cairns food workers](       [Copyright](  | [Disclaimer](  | [Privacy](  | [Unsubscribe](     [Twitter](    [LinkedIn](    [Facebook](    [Instagram]( [www.fairwork.gov.au](