Planning for public holidays, help for small business and more

[We're here to give you information and advice about your workplace rights and obligations.]( Having trouble viewing this email? [Try opening it in your browser.]( [It’s time to check public holiday rules]( Christmas to New Year may be a peak period for your business or you may be shutting down for the holidays. Either way, now’s the time to make sure you’re getting public holidays right. [$21,760 penalty for HR manager]( In 2016-17, $1.1 million in penalties were ordered against individuals named as accessories. This recent case confirms that HR managers can be personally penalised for their role in underpayments. [Help for small business]( We have a wealth of free advice and easy-to-use educational resources to help small businesses meet their workplace obligations. Check them out today for information you can trust. [Operating hours over the holiday period]( Our offices will be closing from 22 December 2017. If you have questions or need advice during this time, it’s best to check www.fairwork.gov.au for the answers first. You can also send us an online enquiry for non-urgent questions. If you need advice urgently, our Infoline is available between 9am and 5pm (AEDT), but with limited staffing so you may experience longer wait times. We’ll be up and running again in the new year from Tuesday, 2 January 2018. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. [Closing for Christmas?]( Don’t forget to check the rules that apply if you’re planning to shut down over the holidays. [Fair Work Act changes]( ICYMI: get up to speed with the Protecting Vulnerable Workers reform and how it affects your business. [White Ribbon Accreditation]( 2 in 3 Australian women experiencing domestic violence are in paid employment. Find out how your business can help stop violence against women. Get the latest information: [Fairwork Ombudsman]( Ombudsman Facebook]( Ombudsman Twitter]( Ombudsman on YouTube]( Ombudsman Linkedin]( You are receiving this email because you subscribed to updates from the Fair Work Ombudsman. You can update or cancel your subscription at any time by clicking on the links below. [Change my preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( Got this as a forward? [Sign Up]( to receive our future emails. Read through our [Privacy Policy.]( This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](. To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book. [Fairwork Ombudsman Facebook]( [Fairwork Ombudsman Twitter]( [Fairwork Ombudsman Linkedin]( [tracker] This email is sent by the Fair Work Ombudsman (ABN 43 884 188 232). The information contained in this email message and any attachments may be confidential information and may also be the subject of client legal - legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, interference with, disclosure or copying of this material is unauthorised and prohibited. This email and any attachments are also subject to copyright. No part of them may be reproduced, adapted or transmitted without the written permission of the copyright owner. If you have received this email in error, please immediately: (1) notify the Fair Work Ombudsman by calling 13 13 94; (2) notify the sender by return email; (3) delete the message and any attachments from your system; (4) destroy any printed copy; and (5) do not disclose or use any of the information contained in the message or the attachments. This notice should not be removed from this email message. There is no warranty that this email is error or virus free. The Fair Work Ombudsman respects your privacy. Our privacy policy can be accessed from our web site www.fairwork.gov.au. Please consider the environment before printing this email.