Are you one of the 100,000 people who have rung the Small Business Helpline? The federal government says, that since its establishment in December last year 100,000 small business operators had rung the helpline seeking information on wages, awards and conditions of employment under the Fair Work Act. The majority of callers were from the hairdressing, beauty, hospitality, trade and construction sectors. Perhaps in response to the demand, the Fair Work Ombudsman has now also developed a Hiring New Employees Guide. It includes information on laws and awards, but also guides you through the decision-making process when thinking about hiring a new employee. Remember, small businesses are exempt from prosecution if they act on advice from the Fair Work Ombudsman that is later found to have been incorrect. This hopefully gives confidence to small business operators to seek advice from the helpline. You can ring the dedicated Small Business Helpline on 13 13 94.
About the Author
HerBusiness (formerly Australian Businesswomen’s Network) is a membership community that provides education, training, resources, mentoring and support for women business owners.
