15 September 2009

Small business now have access to a range of free online resources to help them better understand their rights when it comes to employing staff.

The Fair Work for Small Business is delivered by the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), the Workforce Guardian and Telstra Business.

The website gives businesses free access to a wide range of information about the new Fair Work Act in plain language.

The site includes video guides to help businesses navigate the new laws, free summary papers that can be downloaded, regular live interactive web sessions and electronic newsletters to keep businesses updated.

Jaye Radisich of COSBOA said the website is timely particularly in the current economic climate.

“When the new laws took effect on 1 July 2009, 85 per cent of employees or employers around the country were potentially affected.

“A recent Telstra survey indicated that four out of five small to medium businesses were unprepared for the new IR laws,” Ms Radisich said.

“Anecdotal evidence from our member organisations supports the research.”

“The site allows small businesses to get across the key issues in a matter of minutes.

“This is important because in most cases small businesses don’t have the luxury of an in-house HR manager or lawyer that many big businesses have,” she said.

Fair Work for Small Business is live online at www.fairworkforsmallbusiness.com.au.