Fair Work Ombudsman to visit Ayr, Bowen and Cannonvale next week

The Fair Work Ombudsman will visit Ayr, Bowen and Cannonvale, in Queensland, next week to help employers and workers learn more about their workplace rights and obligations.

Fair Work Inspectors will be available at Centrelink offices in each town to answer questions from employers and employees about pay, conditions and other aspects of workplace laws.

They will be available between 9 am and 11.30 am at:

• Ayr Centrelink, 100 Macmillan Street, on  Tuesday, 27 August,
• Bowen Centrelink, corner of Sinclair & Williams streets, on Wednesday, 28 August, and
• Cannonvale Centrelink, 224 Shute Harbour Road, on Thursday, 29 August.

Information on a range of topics including wages, flexible work arrangements, leave entitlements, workplace discrimination, hours of work and other entitlements will be available.

The Fair Work Ombudsman encourages anyone with a question about their workplace rights or responsibilities to drop in and seek advice from an Inspector. Appointments are not required.

Fair Work Inspector, Jeff Tillitzki, said the visits to the towns aimed to raise awareness amongst employers and employees of national workplace laws. 

“A big part of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s role is to educate the community about Australian workplace laws and to help create fairer workplaces,” Mr Tillitzki said.

“These visits are a great opportunity to connect with the local community and to help increase their knowledge about their workplace rights and obligations.

“We’ll also be informing people about the range of free tools and resources available to help them understand and comply with national workplace laws.”

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website - www.fairwork.gov.au - contains a variety of best practice guides on topics such as effective dispute resolution and employing young workers.

Other website tools include templates for time-and-wages records, a leave calculator, Award Finder and PayCheck Plus to help determine the minimum pay rates for employees.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has also recently launched an online learning course on how to have difficult conversations at work. The course is available at www.fairwork.gov.au/learning  and there is a version designed specifically for employers and managers and one for employees.

Employers and employees seeking further information and advice can call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.

Source:  Fair Work Ombudsman - 21 August 2013