On 31 October, Ai Group filed its submission and evidence in the FWC’s Family Friendly Work Arrangements Case after months of detailed and hard work. Ai Group’s main submission is about 350 pages long and, in addition, hundreds of pages of witness statements and other documents have been filed with the Commission.

Ai Group is playing the leading role in the case in opposing the ACTU’s unworkable claims and protecting the rights of Member companies to manage their businesses in a workable manner. If the unions succeed with their claims in this case, employees would have the right to dictate to employers what days, hours and times they work, with employers having no right to refuse regardless of the circumstances or the needs of their businesses.

Ai Group is arguing in the case that the existing ‘right to request’ arrangements in the Fair Work Act strike the right balance between the interests of employees and employers. The provisions give an employee the right to request part-time employment, with an employer having the right to refuse the request on reasonable business grounds.

The case is listed for hearing before a Full Bench of the Commission between 12 and 22 December 2017.

If you would like more information about the ACTU claim, please contact Ai Group’s Workplace Advice Service on 1300 55 66 77.

If you would like assistance in structuring employment arrangements to increase flexibility for employees, please contact your local employment, workplace and industrial lawyer in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne or Brisbane or email Ai Group Workplace Lawyers at info@aigroupworkplacelawyers.com.au.