April 2004
ISSN 1447 9362
Two Rivers is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit of the Office of Industrial Relations to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with information, stories and updates on happenings within the world of industrial relations.
Information forum in Armidale
The forum in Armidale in March brought together Aboriginal organisations from all over the region, travelling from Dorrigo, Guyra, Kempsey, Lismore, Ashford, Macksville, and Gunnedah. Participants found the information provided by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal advisers invaluable.
Comments from participants included:
"It was an eye opener"
"More Aboriginal organisations should have been at these workshops"
"It is fantastic to have these forums/workshops to inform our communities"
"Very useful, great idea"
"Presenters were excellent, and were easy to understand"
"I found that this conference was very important to take back to my organisation"
From left: Donna Samson and Lea McKenzie
from Gunida Gunyah CDEP enjoying the Armidale forum.
The OIR Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit will be undertaking a follow-up visit to Gunnedah to assist a number of organisations with issues raised at the forum.
Registration
It is important that you register for the forums with the OIR Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit by the registration date as this will help us make the decision to proceed with the forum. To date, only the forum in Orange has been cancelled due to a lack of interest.
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Hunter Region Information Forum
29 and 30 April 2004
Newcastle Leagues Club
17 National Park Street
NEWCASTLE NSW 2302
Riverina Information Forum
13 and 14 May 2004
Wagga Wagga Leagues Club
Gurwood Street
WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, managers and employers in the area are invited to these free information forums to get information and advice about their rights and obligations on:
- harassment and discrimination
- workplace safety and workers compensation
- employment and industrial laws in NSW
- tax and superannuation
- consumer rights and fair trading
Please register for these forums two weeks before the forum.
Please call Rae Hamilton or Chris Capper on 1300 361 968 to register or for more information about other forums.
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The fifth edition of the booklet Maternity at Work is now available.
This plain-English booklet outlines maternity leave provisions under the NSW Industrial Relations Act 1996, and the obligations of female employees and their employers.
The booklet also contains some important information about occupational health and safety for pregnant and breastfeeding employees in the workplace.
For copies of the Maternity at work booklet, please contact either Rae or Chris on 1300 361 968.
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Check Your Pay is an online service that helps employers and employees to calculate wages and other entitlements under four awards:
- Clerical and Administrative Employees (State) Award
- Hairdressers &c (State) Award
- Restaurant &c Employees (State) Award
- Shop Employees (State) Award
Check Your Pay allows you to calculate the minimum pay rate applying to the work described under the Award, check your pay against hours worked and include allowances, penalties and loadings for a specific pay period. You can also calculate long service and annual leave entitlements.
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We continue our series on rights of employers and employees at work.
Starting Work
Induction
This step in the recruitment process introduces the new employee to the business, their supervisors, their co-workers and to their jobs.
Benefits of an induction program
A good induction program will give your new employee an effective introduction into your work place. Creating a good first impression will enable a positive start to your working relationship. A good induction program can:
- help the new employee to settle in and become productive more quickly
- reduce the stress and anxiety associated with a new job
- improve employee morale
- decrease levels of absenteeism and staff turnover
- lower recruitment and selection costs due to reduced turnover.
As part of the induction process, have the employee complete the necessary forms and documentation, such as:
- tax declaration form
- salary banking form
- superannuation contribution form
- deductions for union membership
- uniform and equipment allowances
A good induction program should cover the following -
- a tour of the workplace and introduction to key staff, particularly the new employee's supervisor and immediate work colleagues
- clarification of the duties and responsibilities of the job, including the terms of employment including award or enterprise agreement coverage
- hours of work including starting and finishing times, tea breaks, lunch breaks and completion of time sheets
- work conditions including telephone use, internet use and dress requirements
- who to contact with questions or concerns
- method of salary payments and who to contact with questions
- grievance procedures- who to contact and what is the process
- leave provisions including Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Long Service Leave and any other leave, including who to contact if unable to attend work
- car parking or travel arrangements
- the company's policies
- occupational health and safety policies and procedures including what to do in the cases of accident or injury, location of first aid kit, first aid officers and fire extinguishers.
Monitor performance and provide feedback
Monitor and assess the new employee's performance during the first few months of their employment. Provide them with feedback about how they're performing against set performance targets. This ensures that you address any performance deficiencies early and facilitates the employee's integration into the workplace.
Regular performance monitoring and feedback ensures that performance is sustained.
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For information about your pay, or back issues of this newsletter, please contact Rae Hamilton or Chris Capper on 1300 361 968 (local call cost) or e-mail Rae.Hamilton@oir.commerce.nsw.gov.au.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit, PO BOX 847, Darlinghurst NSW 1300
Phone: 1300 361 968 Fax: 02 9020 4734
e-mail: atsi@oir.commerce.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 131 628
| Award Enquiries
©Office of Industrial Relations, NSW Department of Commerce
