Jamelle Agbuis

With more staff cuts being announced every day around the country as organisations act to stem costs in the face of economic uncertainty, a leading workplace relations lawyer has warned employers to be careful when letting staff go.

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has come under fire from industry groups for failing to properly oversee the administration of flexibility clauses in the Fair Work Act. The bottom line is that small and medium-sized businesses need more guidance.

The Federal Government provides a variety of wage subsidies to eligible employers who hire job seekers with a disability or other barriers to employment.

The Thai sugar group Mitr Phol has acquired a controlling stake in four Australian sugar mills through the takeover of MSF Sugar. MSF Sugar was formerly known as the Maryborough Sugar Factory and is based in the far north of Queensland.

No buyback, but BHP Billiton remembered shareholders and lifted dividend 20% after a 5.5% dip in first half profits.

On the even of releasing its 2011 profit later today, Rio Tinto has confirmed that it is determined to continue growing its highly profitable iron ore business, despite a nasty blowout in costs in the past four months.

The slump in property development and not the sluggish home building sector took its toll on the Singapore-controlled developer Australand yesterday which revealed a 15% slide in 2011 earnings.

Borrowers may be jumping ship in droves should banks choose to raise rates following the RBA's cash rate hold.

Bankwest has tipped processing improvements it says will aim to cut its time to approval in half.

Some indiscriminate virus must have been around on 27 January: figures from an independent survey showed 170,000 more people than average called in sick on the work day which followed the Australia Day public holiday. Poor things.

New research has revealed that workers and managers at the coal face have both the skills and experience to innovate and navigate through change, but are seldom provided the opportunity to do so.

Mining and rail equipment manufacturer Bradken is on track to meet earlier guidance for a 40% lift in full year profit after a 65% jump in first half earnings.

Human Capital: As MD of FedEx Express Australasia, what do you expect from your HR team? What skills and traits do you value highly in that team?

As the market awaits ANZ's promised rate decision this Friday, NAB has vowed to beat its fellow majors on rates for the remainder of 2012, regardless of moves by the RBA.

Westpac has dismissed a Fairfax report insinuating that the bank was holding out on borrowers following last year’s rate cuts.

The Reserve Bank rendered moot much of the discussion surrounding bank funding costs this month when it chose to hold the cash rate steady.

The Reserve bank delivered the bad news to the banking sector yesterday, no rate cut and no chance to rebuild profit margins by hanging onto all or some of the widely expected 0.25% cut.

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) this week announced its seizure of over 700,000 chickens to safeguard their welfare at six broiler farms located in Northern Victoria, South West Victoria and West Gippsland.

New research about snackfoods and consumers’ snack food choices, ‘Healthy Snackers’, was released in the U.S on 2 February, 2012 by Mintel Research.

While Australian Food News yesterday reported the strong performance of Coles fresh produce division, the quarterly figures reported by parent company Wesfarmers show that Coles Express non-fuel sales declined by 1.4 percent for the quarter compared with Woolworths positive 4.9 percent increase from the previous year.

The Reserve Bank left its cash rate steady at $4.25% yesterday for the very good reason that there was no need to cut it.

NMB has witnessed a spike in SMSF lending interest, though managing director Gerald Foley said brokers need to understand the complexity of these products.

-BMW have launched the new M5 super saloon at Australia’s high-speed Phillip Island race circuit this week.

The prospects for top executives "cleaned out" of the industry through the GFC and mortgage market consolidation do not look bright, according to a top industry recruiter.

NAB has today announced new efforts to bring Homeside closer to the major bank brand, by creating a "stronger visual link" through a new re-branding campaign.

Perth-based infrastructure services group Cardno Limited certainly picked the right day to reveal a $100 million deal in the US and a fund raising of the same size.

Listed investment company Argo Investments has joined most of its competitors in revealing the impact of the weak stockmarket on its interim result.

The Reserve Bank makes its first decision for 2012 on the level of interest rates today.

1300 Home Loan has ramped up its rhetoric, jumping into discourse on upcoming RBA rate moves following its consumer marketing launch.