We’ve almost completed another journey around the sun and a lot has changed this year. From minimum wage increases to the most drastic changes to Australian employment laws we’ve seen in many years, it’s all happened. This year has presented many different challenges and has significantly changed the way employers manage their businesses, people, and obligations.

So, whether you’ve got plans for a break, or your business is keeping its doors open throughout the holiday season, we hope that you do have the chance to take a well-deserved pause. If things slow down enough and you need some light reading over the Summer, we’ve compiled our top 10 articles of the year that our workplace experts have stamped as ‘must-reads’.

Find somewhere quiet, and get reading…

1. 3 common questions about sick leave answered

Personal leave or ‘sick leave’ can be tricky for employers to navigate because it covers a variety of situations. And although the Fair Work Act (Cth) clearly defines when the leave can be taken, there are still grey areas that can cause some confusion. Here we answer the three most common questions our experts receive about sick leave.

2. Travelling for work: expenses, reimbursements, and allowances

Not everyone enjoys commuting to work in the mornings, but for some employees, travelling for work is an inescapable part of their job. If you have employees who are required to travel from their primary place of employment for work-related purposes, you must be suitably compensating them for such work. Here we explain what travelling for work entails and the importance of getting expenses, reimbursements, and allowances right every time.

3. Changes to family and domestic violence leave: how best to support your employees

Domestic violence is an ever-present and serious concern within Australian society. As individuals and parties become more empowered to speak up and gain support, we must be constantly assessing how employers and our workplaces can play their part in supporting victims. Here we discuss what Family and Domestic Violence Leave is and provide an update on the changes to the entitlements.

4. The annual leave FAQs every employer should know

Did you know that annual leave begins accumulating from an employee’s first day of work and they can take leave as soon as it’s accrued? This article answers the three most frequently asked questions about this entitlement and explains why giving staff a chance to unwind, unplug, and relax is beneficial to both the business and the employee.

5. Biggest increase to the minimum wage in more than a decade

The Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) Minimum Wage Panel handed down its decision on the annual wage review on 15 June this year. This decision increased the minimum wage by 5.2 per cent – the biggest jump in more than a decade. This article explains the FWC’s decision and shares what this means for businesses.

6. New proposed laws for a fairer workplace relations system: a guide for employers

In October, the Federal Government introduced legislation which is promoted to deliver more secure jobs, better pay, and a fairer workplace relations system for Australian workers. This is the most significant proposed change to Australian industrial relations legislation for many years and will have direct implications for all workers. Here we explain what these changes are and how they affect employers and employees alike.

7. 12 HR policies all businesses should have

Human resources policies are an essential ingredient of any successful start-up or small business. Good policies will establish a clear understanding of expectations and standards, while also protecting the rights of employers. To help you get on the right path to creating business policies, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 HR policies all businesses should have inside this article.

8. What not to include in an employment contract?

It’s common for employers to have questions about what to include in an employment contract. However, an equally important question but less frequently asked one is: What should not be included in a contract? Here we answer this question, discuss the intricacies of these agreements, and why businesses must be mindful of the terms used.

9. Handling conflict with an employee

With an array of different personality types filling office desks, cash registers, and drivers’ seats around Australia, it’s only natural that from time-to-time workplaces experience conflict. This article shares our best-practice tips and advice for handling workplace disputes, explains what crucial conversations are, and why it’s vitally important you don’t infringe employment rights.

10. Top 4 facts employers need to know about jury duty

Jury duty plays a central role in our justice system and is a type of community service leave that applies to both casual and permanent staff. And while losing your employee for several days or weeks is always inconvenient, it’s important that businesses are aware of what they can and can’t do while their employee is away on jury duty.

Take a walk back to 2021 and see what were the most read topics of the year: Check out last year’s top 10 here .

If you’re an HR Assured client and have questions about any of the topics raised in this article or what they may mean for you, please contact our 24/7 Telephone Advisory Service.