Welcome to the gig economy. Subcontracting, outsourcing and freelancing are becoming ever more common as both workers and businesses chase flexibility. But having non-employees regularly work for you can open you up to a whole new range of liabilities. Over the past decade, advances in technology and a hankering for greater weight on the [...]
Trade credit insurance is an important tool in a small business’ arsenal to protect against the risk of debts not being paid. Australian businesses owe around $950 billion to other businesses. Which means it’s essential to have protections in place so that in the event a creditor does not meet its obligations, the business can still [...]
New Australian privacy laws came into force on February 22. Experts warn you may be left scrambling if your SME hasn’t locked down personal information and developed a response plan to deal with privacy breaches. Changes to the Privacy Act mean Australian businesses with annual turnover in excess of $3 million will be required [...]
It goes without saying that you want your business to grow and prosper. So how do you pay your staff in a way that motivates and rewards them for helping you achieve your business goals, and tap into additional revenue streams? Commissions could be the answer to both questions. Let’s take the issue of [...]
If your business has anything to do with goods that are transported by a heavy vehicle, it may face a raft of duties and penalties under the new HVNL. Whether your business consigns goods that are transported by heavy vehicles, packs the goods, loads or unloads the goods, it may soon have a duty [...]
Never-ending supplies are the subject of much fiction. Think: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, that iconic 1990s Tim Tam advertisement or children's classic The Magic Pudding. But, as with most things in life, reality bites. With that in mind, let's look at some practical tips to help ensure that your inventory never runs out. Why having the [...]
Following the UK Grenfell Tower fire, Australian insurers are wary of cheap cladding. Here’s what to do if it’s used on your building. More than 70 people died when fire spread rapidly across a 24-storey West London tower block in June 2017, with most pundits believing highly flammable, cheap Chinese cladding was to blame [...]
The UK's Grenfell Tower disaster has had widespread implications for professionals in Australia's construction industry. Here's how to help protect yourself if you're a contractor who's worked on any Australian building project. The UK Grenfell Tower disaster claimed the lives of 72 people on 14 June 2017. The tragedy unfolded on television and computer screens around [...]
Employers have a duty of care to maintain a safe workplace as far as is reasonably practicable. When it comes to COVID, this means employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent the spread of the virus in the workplace. This includes having a COVID-19 plan that promotes social distancing, hygiene and cleaning; [...]
It is a budget designed to support the economy“s path out of the pandemic. Cost of living and infrastructure are the focus. Businesses and consumers are still struggling after a number of difficult years. The Coalition government has issued a pre-election budget that focuses on infrastructure and the bush. This year’s federal budget confirms [...]