CURRENT CIRCULATION: DATE: ISSUE NO:
7735 December 15, 2009 168
Welcome to Health & Life’s free email newsletter service. Tell a friend that we would be happy to add their email address to the distribution list. This service is to provide Health and Life’s clients and those who attended our presentations with up to date information on key financial and practice management issues that may affect your practice. Please do not use this as a substitute to seeking professional advice. Writer in charge: Mr David Dahm BA.Acc, FCPA, FTIA, Ffin, FAAPM, GLFG.
2010 Award Compliance Program, Template Quote & Xmas Shut Down
1.0 Confused? No Relief from the 1st January 2010 Deadline? Is there an easier way? As most of you would know, Health and Life have recently produced 2010 Award compliant employment contract templates for administration, nursing and medical staff which can specifically absorb over award payments in order to avoid the new penalty rates and allowances. Unless these agreements are in writing with the employees consent, any above Award payments will still make employers liable for additional penalties and allowances. Our templates have been carefully worded so they are in line with the new Awards which come into effect on January 1st 2010 irrespective of the transitional rules that may apply to your practice. We will explain this big issue in the New Year – sorry we ran out of time to tell you some of the sleeper issues we have come across. One extremely important example is you need to consider converting regular casual staff to permanent employees by 1.1.2010 and not later. We are advising all clients please make sure you have the right contracts in place to avoid the $33,000 penalties if there is a breach. We are very concerned that employer organisations are publishing inconsistent advice and incorrect interpretations of the law which is not legally correct and only creating more confusion. Unfortunately this only makes everyone’s work more stressful than is necessary. There are many issues not necessarily detailed in the Award that may affect the practice. The Health and Life Employment Template Kits go a long way to saving practices a lot of time, money and worry and we appreciate many of you have already purchased the documents and have provided excellent feedback.