Currently, the Fair Work Act enables an employee with caring responsibilities to request part-time work or other flexible working arrangements. The employer must genuinely consider the request and can only refuse on reasonable business grounds.
The unions are seeking variations to all awards to give employees the right to dictate to their employer what hours and days they work, with the employer having no right to refuse regardless of the circumstances. The unions' proposals are clearly unfair and unworkable.
Ai Group is playing a leading role in representing the interests of employers in the Fair Work Commission's Family Friendly Provisions Case, which is considering the ACTU's claims," Mr Willox said today.
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