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SCHEME TO SUPPORT CAFES FEELING PANDEMIC HIT NEWS Seventy per cent of Australians are worried that cafes will never be the same as they were pre-COVID, according to a new report commissioned by Australian coffee roaster Harris Coffee. Conducted by YouGov Galaxy, the ‘Harris Caf Report’ surveyed 1,000 Australian caf-goers and small business owners, to uncover attitudes towards Australia’s caf culture and owners’ fears and hopes in a post-COVID-19 world. The absence of cafs was “sorely felt” by many during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Harris says that just under 10 million said they felt isolated from their local community during this time while 70 per cent declared their local caf as the centre of the community, ahead of amenities including the post office and hairdressers. To help, Harris has launched the ‘Harris Caf Recovery Project’, a new scheme for Australian caf owners nationwide to apply for a share in a $1 million support package that will assist them in rebuilding as they return to serving their local communities. Caf owners around Australia are invited to apply for the project, with up to 25 owners eligible to receive a share of the support package. Harris Coffee Head David Ansell says the bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic have hit cafes across Australia hard in recent months. “It has become clear how important cafes are to Australians and their communities,” he said. “As an Australian coffee roaster, we felt like we needed to do our bit to get cafes back on their feet and help keep doors open, returning them to being an integral part of their local area.” “Through our Harris Caf Report, we found that 80 per cent of small business owners in hospitality believe they won’t recover from recent hardships without support. Forty-three per cent also said they won’t be able to stay open longer than six months without the support.” FWO PLANS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) Sandra Parker has announced the regulator’s strategic priorities for the year ahead. “Our compliance and enforcement work will be informed by the dramatically changed economic conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the temporary amendments to the Fair Work Act,” she said. She adds that regulating Australian workplaces significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic requires a degree of flexibility in its approach. “Some of our priority sectors have been seriously impacted by the pandemic and are under considerable financial strain,” Ms Parker said. “We’re mindful that our regulatory efforts don’t negatively affect already struggling industries, while also being sensitive to the nuances of each sector and the challenges each will face when recovering from disruption.” The FWO agency, she says, will enforce workplace laws in a proportionate manner during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the compliance and enforcement policy has been updated to reflect this. “Due to the impact of COVID-19 on Australian workplaces, the number of employers and employees seeking our assistance has grown significantly,” she said. “In response, we’ve adjusted our services and prioritised allegations of serious non-compliance with workplace laws, including in relation to the JobKeeper scheme. “A business’s financial position and viability will be considered when deciding whether to commence litigation for serious non-compliance or determining the size of any contrition payment included in any enforceable undertaking.” Underpayments of staff in the corporate sector have also become a “significant issue” of public concern and will continue to be a priority for the FWO in 2020-21. “More than 60 businesses have come forward to self-disclose workplace law breaches with a total of half a billion dollars owed to workers – and that’s just what we know about,” Ms Parker said. “Earlier this year I wrote to the CEOs and boards of the top listed companies across Australia, calling for immediate action to assure themselves, their shareholders, workers and the community that their companies are meeting lawful obligations under the Fair Work Act. “Large organisations need to place a much higher priority on rigorously reviewing workplace relations systems to ensure that paying workers what they are entitled to becomes the norm.” The policy has also been updated to reflect the FWO’s approach to self- reported non-compliance, including the circumstances that require self- disclosure and information that should be provided. “Companies will benefit from early engagement and cooperation with the Fair Work Ombudsman, and we’ll take account of their financial circumstances in considering our response,” Ms Parker said. She says the agency will provide education, advice, tools and resources to small business and those hardest hit by COVID-19. The regulator will also uphold the integrity of the JobKeeper scheme through appropriate compliance activities that resolve matters quickly and efficiently. JUL/AUG, 2020 CONVENIENCE WORLD 5