The Employment Relations Amendment Bill passed its third reading on Wednesday and will reverse a lot of the changes introduced by the National Government. Below are the key impending changes all employers and employees need to know about.
By Mary-Jane Thomas, Partner. 
Anyone that runs a business knows what its like to be bombarded with advice from experts about how important it is to look after and make staff feel valued. Well its tough being a boss too. Here is an edited (for language) email I sent out to my crew after last weekends corporate rowing regatta.
I don’t think any of you realise how distressful it is to be a partner in this firm.
This was my Saturday.
By Mary-Jane Thomas, Partner. 
This is a classic example of why wills should be prepared by lawyers, who can give proper legal advice and independent oversight.
A deceased woman’s so called ‘interim will’ was recently ruled invalid by the High Court. The document was prepared by her church in an effort to secure her assets for itself, with no regard to her adopted children.
Around twenty years ago when I started doing jury trials I remember that I used to smoke in the Crown room over at the court.
At some point the building was then made smoke-free so I used to hang out the window and smoke. When my boss, told me that there were complaints about me hanging out the window and smoking, I kept doing it but lit incense. (I was pretty anti-authoritarian back then and it has just dawned on me incense burning probably breached fire regulations.)
Volunteers are a valuable asset to our community. Those who give up their time and help others whether it be for a sporting, cultural , school, or charitable cause all contribute to a sense of community.