Australia’s accommodation industry has attacked the current workplace relations scheme, claiming it has failed to consider small accommodations businesses.

Accommodation Association chief Richard Munro was displeased with the results of the Fair Work Act Review.

“While we are still digesting the detail of the report, the Accommodation Association notes that there’s no recommendation to change the definition of a small business which currently stands at less than 15 staff (total number),” he said.

“In our submission, we called for the definition to be changed to being one which has 20 or less full-time equivalent employees.”

Mr Munro was pleased that the Fair Work Act Review had had some success with individual flexibility arrangements, unfair dismissal and adverse action claims.

“Recommendations that there is scope for greater cost recovery in unfair dismissal cases in certain circumstances, and that the intention of the employer in adverse action claims will be taken into account, will assist,” Mr Munro said.

“Employers will also benefit from the Fair Work Ombudsman being notified of the existence of individual flexibility arrangements and having a defence available if they believed on all reasonable grounds that the legislative requirements of these arrangements had been met.”