FWO’s new methods resolve workplace disputes before they escalate

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) says it is saving business operators and workers time and money - and preventing some jobs from being lost altogether - by increasingly using new methods to resolve workplace disputes before they escalate.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) says it is saving business operators and workers time and money – and preventing some jobs from being lost altogether – by increasingly using new methods to resolve workplace disputes before they escalate.

The number of formal allegations of non-compliance lodged with the FWO dropped to 18,468 in the 2014/15 financial year, down from more than 24,000 in 2013/14.

The figures are revealed in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s 2014-15 annual report, released late October.

The big decrease is largely due to the FWO’s success in resolving more than 7000 workplace disputes through its new early intervention program.

Early intervention involves the FWO assisting employers and workers to resolve disputes quickly and co-operatively, without the need for formal allegations or investigations.

Most early interventions occur after workers contact the Fair Work Infoline in relation to wages and other entitlements they believe have been underpaid.

The FWO’s trained dispute resolution specialists offer individually tailored solutions, which can include steps such as coaching parties about the workplace laws that apply to their situation, facilitating discussions between the parties and working through examples of effective workplace conversations.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says the aim is to maintain positive working relationships by keeping the matter in the hands of the parties and supporting them to resolve the issue so the business can be compliant and productive in the future.

“Through early intervention, we’re resolving disputes before they escalate, saving time and money for all parties and preserving employment relationships,” Ms James said.

“This can often involve preserving an employment relationship that might otherwise have ended.

“There will always be cases of serious non-compliance that require us to take formal compliance action, but we find that assisting employers and workers to resolve disputes themselves is often the most efficient and preferable option for all parties.”

The FWO recovered $22.3 million in wages and entitlements for 11,613 underpaid workers nationally in 2014/15, with more than $3 million achieved through early interventions, which were finalised in an average of six days.

Ms James said the Agency was also increasingly effective at using mediation services to resolve formal allegations of non-compliance. Mediation involves assisting parties to discuss their dispute and find a mutually acceptable settlement.

In 2014/15, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s team of accredited and impartial mediators finalised more than 6000 workplace disputes, assisting 2117 employees to receive almost $7.7 million in back-payment.

Ms James says the FWO continued moving towards a modern, efficient, customer-focused service model that best suits a 21st Century workforce.

“By providing practical advice that is easy to access, understand and apply, employers and workers can confidently make good workplace decisions,” she pointed out.

“This is why we have focussed on delivering our services in a way that best matches our customer needs and preferences and is effective in achieving compliance in a sustainable way.”

www.fairwork.gov.au

 

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required