Nearly 100 submissions were made to the Victorian state government’s On-Demand Workforce inquiry into industries such as food delivery and ride sharing.

Last year, the Victoria government announced that it would investigate the practices of the gig economy and on-demand workforce, amid claims that workers are being underpaid and exploited. Among those that made submissions include gig economy workers, the Transport Workers Union, the Recruitment Consulting and Staffing Association of Australia (RCSA), staffing firm Randstad, the Fair Work Ombudsman, Uber as well as other Australian trade unions

The Transport Workers Union submitted survey data to the inquiry which polled 259 food delivery riders in Sydney and Melbourne. It found that 1 in 4 riders work full time, while 3 in 4 earn less than minimum wage.

In its submission, the RCSA stated, “Whilst on-demand work has had a positive impact for some skilled workers in industries with high levels of human capital and professionalism, it exposes many vulnerable workers engaged in low-skilled work to significant risk.”

Randstad stated, “Randstad submits that it does not make sense for both industries which are primarily concerned with supplying labour to be subject to different levels of regulation. A fair market shouldn’t allow actors to complete on the safety of workers or below minimum wages. Minimum standards for payment and safety should apply regardless of how a worker is engaged. Randstad believes that doing so will provide all workers with more consistent access to rights and provide the market with a level playing field.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that State Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas say the government is worried by the initial responses to the inquiry.

The Victorian state government says the inquiry will not be wrapped up until the end of 2019.

Workplace compliance mistakes can lead to costly litigation for California employers. So what are employers doing wrong? Here are five big mistakes that employee-side attorneys say businesses make when it comes to preventing lawsuits.

Stress, pay and prospects for job growth were among the attributes Carlsbad, Calif.-based job search portal CareerCast considered when creating its 2019 lists of the best and worst jobs. Yet some workplace experts point out that other characteristics—such as a sense of purpose and wanting to help people—can make a seemingly undesirable job perfect for the right person. And, they note, some people are well-suited to stressful jobs.

The California labor commissioner fined a Southern California car wash for more than $2.36 million for alleged wage and hour violations. These fines included both civil penalties and wages owed to employees.

It is not unreasonable for an employer to deny an employee’s request to work from home if the employee’s medical limitations do not prevent him or her from going to the workplace, and the job description requires work in the office.

Tech buyers face a variety of common obstacles after they purchase and implement a new platform. Many people are reluctant to change how they work and loath to try new technologies.

In an effort to help businesses, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave extended both the deadline to notify employees about the state’s paid family leave act and the deadline for employers to apply for a private-plan exemption.

Small employers who want to provide health care coverage for their employees but find it too expensive can consider qualified small-employer health reimbursement arrangements (QSEHRAs)—tax-free employer-funded accounts workers can use to purchase insurance or pay medical costs.

Employers that can demonstrate that their business is at risk of failing without an infusion of foreign seasonal workers will have the chance to petition for extra help this summer.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorizing 30,000 additional H-2B visas for use in fiscal year (FY) 2019, which runs through September 30.

With research suggesting that companies can save money, boost morale and attract top candidates by offering work-at-home options, why are some employers calling their telecommuters back into the main office?