Christmas holiday help for your business - Employer Newsletter December 2020

[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.]( [Upcoming public holidays]( Believe it or not, Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. Whether you’re continuing trade or shutting down over the end of year period, you’ll need to be across public holiday entitlements for your employees. With Boxing Day falling on a Saturday this year, most states and territories will get a substitute public holiday or an additional public holiday on the following Monday. Check upcoming dates and penalty rates on our public holiday info page. [Find out the upcoming public holidays in your state or territory]( [In-language resources for franchisees]( We’ve made it easier for you to access info about workplace laws in your language. Our short videos cover a range of important topics including: - How the Fair Work Ombudsman can help you and your franchise - Awards - National Employment Standards - Pay slips and record-keeping for franchisees - How to avoid common mistakes made by franchisees - Getting workplace laws right in your franchise. Watch the videos in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic and English. [In-language videos for franchisees]( [Know the differences between employees and independent contractors]( It’s important for employers and business owners to be confident about how they have classified their working relationship with the person they’ve hired. This is because they have different obligations to the person depending on whether the person is a contractor or an employee. Whether or not the person is a contractor, or an employee is based on the objective nature of the relationship, not what the business owner calls the arrangement. For example, a worker isn’t automatically classed as an independent contractor just because they’ve got an ABN. There are some common indicators that can help you tell an employee from an independent contractor. Learn the differences before you engage someone as a contractor. [Know the difference between employees and independent contractors]( [Tax InVoice podcast - JobKeeper Extension part 2, keeping JobKeeper Fair]( The ATO’s latest Tax inVoice episode discusses the JobKeeper payment extension, its impact on industrial relations and the roles played by the Fair Work Ombudsman and ATO in the rollout of the scheme. In the episode, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker joins ATO Deputy Commissioner James O’Halloran and Assistant Commissioner of Marketing and Communications Sally Bektas to answer common questions about the JobKeeper extension and what employers and employees need to do. [Tax inVoice podcast: JobKeeper payment extension and industrial relations issues]( [ATO support for employers as JobKeeper dates extended]( The ATO knows it’s a busy time for businesses, with many people taking leave and a number of public holidays over Christmas and into the New Year. To help, the ATO has given extensions to employers to meet their JobKeeper Payment obligations to complete their business monthly declarations to claim for December payments, and have extra time to pay their employees and meet the JobKeeper wage condition. [ATO support for employers as JobKeeper dates extended]( [New tool to help your business]( There are temporary different workplace rights and responsibilities to bear in mind during coronavirus. Our easy-to-use online tool has info to help you reopen, scale up or adapt. [Free, confidential legal advice]( Our Workplace Legal Advice Program helps employers deal with some of the unique challenges arising out of the coronavirus outbreak. Check your eligibility for the Program, T&Cs and apply here. [Pay Calculator]( Use our Pay Calculator to calculate employee pay and entitlements, including award base pay rates, allowances and penalty rates like overtime. 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). 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