Dismissal review

AUSTRALIA’S Small Business Fair Dismissal Code needs to be revamped to ensure it is fair for business owners, former ACT Chief Minister and pharmacist, Kate Carnell, believes.

In her role as Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Carnell, said the current code was “ambiguous and open to interpretation”, and was adversely impacting business owners.

“We know that small businesses do not make the decision to end a worker’s employment lightly,” she said.

Among her list of recommendations, Carnell said an updated code was needed to provide clarity around the unfair dismissal process for both employer and employees, and give business owners information so they are aware of what is required to ensure a dismissal is fair.