Fair Work Information Statement

The Government has now released the new Fair Work Information Statement that forms part of the new National Employment Standards cominginto effect on 1st January 2010.

All employers covered by the national workplace relations system have an obligation to give each new employee a Fair Work Information Statement before, or as soon as possible after, the employee starts employment.

The Statement contains information about:

• the National Employment Standards (NES)
• the effect on an employee’s NES entitlements when there is a transfer of business
• modern awards
• agreement making under the Fair Work Act 2009
• individual flexibility arrangements
• the right to freedom of association
• termination of employment
• right of entry (including the protection of personal information by privacy laws)
• the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Australia
  

The Statement may be given to an employee by:

• giving it personally to the employee
• sending it by pre-paid post to the employee’s residential address or a postal address nominated by the employee
• sending it to the employee’s email address at work or to another email address nominated by the employee
• sending by email to the employee’s email address at work or to another email address nominated by the employee an electronic link to the page on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website where the Statement is located or an electronic link that takes the employee directly to a copy of the Statement on the employer’s intranet
• or to another email address nominated by the employee an electronic link to the page on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website where the Statement is located or an electronic link that takes the employee directly to a copy of the Statement on the employer’s intranet
• faxing it to the employee’s fax number at work, fax number at home or another fax number nominated by the employee
• another method (an employer will need to ensure this meets the requirement to give the Statement to the employee, eg. by courier where there is a signed acceptance by the employee of receipt of the Statement).
  

Whatever method is used to give the Statement to an employee, it is recommended that the you retain details of how the Statement was given.

Any employer who does not give the Statement to a new employee before, or as soon as possible after the employee starts employment, is contravening the terms of the NES. There are significant penalties for failing to give a Statement to a new employee.

Click here to access a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement

If you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact HR Navigation on 1300 669 747.