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Online resource aids small businesses with employment advice (FoodWeek Online 9/9/09)

Australia's small businesses now have access to a range of free online resources to help them better understand their rights when it comes to employing staff.   The Fair Work for Small Business website www.fairworkforsmallbusiness.com.au was officially launched by Federal Minister for Small Business, Dr Craig Emerson.

Fair Work for Small Business is being delivered by the Council of Small Business of Australia (Cosboa), together with Workforce Guardian and Telstra Business.  The website gives businesses free access to a wide range of information about the new Fair Work Act in easy-to-understand language.  The initiative is funded by the Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The site includes video guides to help businesses navigate the new laws, free summary papers that can be downloaded, regular live interactive web sessions and electronic newsletters to keep businesses updated.  CEO of the Council of Small Business, Jaye Radisich, said the website's launch came at an important time for small business, particularly in the current economic climate.

"When the new laws took effect on 1 July, 85 per cent of employees or employers around the country were potentially affected.  A recent Telstra survey indicated that four out of five small to medium businesses were unprepared for the new IR laws, "Radisich said.  "Anecdotal evidence from our member organisations supports the research."

"The site will allow small businesses to get across the key issues in a matter of minutes.  This is important because in most cases small businesses don't have the luxury of an in-house HR manager or lawyer that many big businesses have."  Workforce Guardian MD Adrienne Unkovich said the new workforce laws may be daunting to many small business owners, who fear the costs and uncertainty of failing to comply.

"Key concerns include knowing exactly what constitutes a small business under the new laws, what defines an 'unfair dismissal' under the new National Employment Standards, how to calculate redundancy pay (if applicable) and exactly how the new Modern Award system will apply."  Telstra Business Group MD Deena Shiff said the company would work with Cosboa and the Federal Government to promote the website to businesses around Australia.

"Telstra is pleased to have instigated this connection between the Council of Small Business and Workforce Guardian, to deliver this important project.  Further improvements to the site will make even more resources available, including information on the Act in Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Mandarin and Vietnamese languages," Ms Shiff said.