New resource hub to help small businesses get on top of IR changes

Industrial relations changes in Australia have become so confusing that a small-business umbrella group has taken to issuing an information program designed to help business owners wade through the minefield.

The good news is, the Federal Government is paying for it.

The Council of Small Business Organisations (COSBOA) launched the government-funded information program this week as a means to help small businesses navigate what it is describing as “complex IR changes”.

Named Small Business Peak, the program has been guided by a national research study into IR changes impacting Australian small businesses.

The research uncovered that 56 per cent of businesses are unaware of the changes happening in the IR space.

Only 7 per cent of research respondents had a comprehensive understanding of the IR changes that have occurred in the past three years.

The research also found 64.7 per cent didn’t know or were unaware of what’s required under the casual conversion IR changes that start from 26 August this year.

In addition, 63 per cent of respondents didn’t know or were unaware of what the new definition of a casual employee will be.

COSBOA chief executive officer Luke Achterstraat said the research highlighted the low levels of awareness of IR changes.

“This was true across all industry sectors, which demonstrates why Small Business Peak is so critical to the small-business community,” Mr Achterstraat said.

“Small businesses need to understand which IR changes apply to their operations, when they come into effect and how to ensure they meet their employer obligations and business reporting responsibilities.”

He said Small Business Peak ensured businesses didn’t need to decipher legal jargon to be able to understand the legislation.

The program simplifies the most intricate IR changes, making compliance a straightforward process for their business.

On 1 January, 2025, intentional underpayment of wages by employers will become a criminal offence under the new workplace laws.

Only 28.7 per cent of research respondents were currently aware of their requirements under the criminalising intentional wage underpayments IR changes.

In the worst-case scenario, individuals can face a penalty of a maximum of 10 years in prison if they are found to have committed wage theft under the new IR laws.

COSBOA’s Small Business Peak delivers:

• Free small-business materials such as information sheets, timelines and in-depth explanations of changing industrial relations legislation;
• Canva tool, which allows small businesses to customise IR materials to suit their brand and industry;
• Practical case studies providing guidance on how the IR changes apply in easy-to-follow scenarios; and
• An AI-powered chatbot capable of answering questions about the latest IR changes.

“The 24/7 chatbot functionality means busy small-business owners can receive speedy responses to their high-level questions with answers they can rely on,” Mr Achterstraat said.

“We hope our new resource hub will empower small business and support this engine room of our economy during these complex and uncertain times.”

The program will be rolled out in phases, with the first stage providing employers with a library of free resources about some of the IR changes under the Closing Loopholes, Secure Jobs, Better Pay and Protecting Worker Entitlements legislation.

Employers and their employees will have immediate access to information to better their understanding of wage underpayments, changes to casual employment, the minimum wage increase update and changes to the superannuation guarantee.

The second phase will see a portal for small-business owners to sign up and gain even more information and support to navigate the multi-faceted IR changes rolling out into 2025.

Applauding the passing of the legislation earlier this year, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said casual workers would now have a clearer pathway to permanent work, while gig workers and truckies would finally benefit from minimum standards under new laws.

“The new laws will end the concept of a forced permanent casual by providing a proper pathway for casuals seeking to convert to more secure permanent work and simplify the process for employers,” the Minister said.

Small-business owners can visit the Small Business Peak resource hub online to learn more about the program.