Articles - Wotton + Kearney

Articles, Blogs, Case Alerts, Thought Leadership

Fair Work Commission releases first substantive COVID-19 decision

On 6 April, the Fair Work Commission handed down its first substantive decision regarding the COVID-19 crisis in Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical & Services Union v Auscript Australia Pty Ltd. Its finding that Auscript had breached its consultation obligations is not good news for employers seeking to implement rapid changes to their workforce. In this article, W+K […]

By : Emily Xue Apr 7, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts, Thought Leadership, W+K News

COVID-19 Resource Centre

Wotton + Kearney is committed to keeping our clients informed of the insurance and broader business implications of the coronavirus outbreak. With senior insurance law experts across major policy types and market sectors, we are well placed to provide advice and tailored support in product lines and claims areas we specialise in. On this page […]

By : Emily Xue Apr 2, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Blogs, Thought Leadership

Operational and consequential impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry

Between government-imposed social distancing measures and global supply chain disruptions, the construction industry is suffering. The sector is experiencing significant direct operational impacts, ranging from WHS issues and contractual exposures to the erosion of asset values. Professionals working in the industry are also struggling with the flow-on effects, including the challenge of discharging their obligations […]

By : Emily Xue Apr 2, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Blogs, Thought Leadership

Lockdown – what the Wage Subsidy Scheme means for NZ employers

The NZ economy has been severely hit by the impacts of the coronavirus, with many businesses now in lockdown. The Government has responded with a COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme to help businesses and affected workers in the short-term, as they adjust to the initial impact of COVID-19. For employers, the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme comes […]

By : Emily Xue Apr 1, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Blogs, Case Alerts

Preying on the vulnerable – cyber claims predicted to rise due to COVID-19

Insurers are likely to receive an increase in cyber claims due to the impact of the coronavirus. Most businesses have had to accommodate remote working rapidly, leaving many with a range of cyber security exposures. There are already phishing scams using COVID-19 related messages to lure anxious individuals and the number of these is expected […]

By : Emily Xue Mar 31, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

A practical guide on managing EPL exposures caused by COVID-19 for insurers, insureds and brokers

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a significant and immediate impact on the entire workforce. Unfortunately, there are daily stories of mass redundancies, closures of businesses and stand down of workers. This guide provides practical advice for EPL insurers, insureds and brokers on how they can meet the insurance challenges created by the virus. W+K EPL […]

By : Emily Xue Mar 25, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Case Alerts

COVID-19 and D&O Liability

The Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Bill 2020 (CERPO Bill) and recent ASIC statements have put focus on management liability issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis. The CERPO Bill provides some temporary relief for directors as they navigate the uncharted territory caused by COVID-19, particularly in addressing insolvency risk. In this update, Cain Jackson and […]

By : Emily Xue Mar 24, 2020 Comments Off

Articles, Thought Leadership

COVID-19: Implications for insurers – A Legalign Global Report

The significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic is being felt worldwide. For the insurance sector, the exposures created by the coronavirus are significant as an international event of this size and complexity carries a range of insurance risks, including first party and supply chain business interruption, event cancellation, travel and liability claims. Legalign Global’s alliance […]

By : Johnny Spiller Mar 20, 2020 Comments Off

Articles

Silicosis – it’s been around for ages, so why all the fuss now?

The NSW Government has accelerated its new silicosis exposure standard to commence on 1 July 2020, two years ahead of the nationally agreed start date. The legislative changes make silicosis a notifiable disease, so there is an increased prospect that SafeWork NSW will investigate OHS practices on site. Given this legislative change and the surge […]

By : Nat Jala Design Mar 10, 2020 Comments Off

Articles

NSW Court of Appeal overturns $238,000 payout over defamatory email

On 3 March the NSW Court of Appeal overturned an award of $238,000 in damages arising from an allegedly defamatory email announcing an ex-employee’s termination in KSMC v Bowden. The decision provides a useful guide from the NSW Court of Appeal on the difficulties faced by a plaintiff in seeking to defeat a defence of common […]

By : Emily Xue Mar 6, 2020 Comments Off