A recent Fair Work Commission ruling confirmed that Australian workplace laws can apply to offshore virtual assistants (VAs). Even if your VA lives overseas, they may still be considered an employee under the Fair Work Act if the relationship looks like employment.

This landmark case, Pascua v Doessel Group Pty Ltd [2024] FWC 2669, has major implications for small business owners. In this blog, Emma Heuston from Ready to Boss Legal explains what the case means, how to avoid sham contracting penalties, and which legal templates you need to stay compliant.

As a mum, lawyer, business owner, and founder of Ready to Boss Legal, I’ve learned some of my biggest business lessons in the most unexpected places. One of the most recent lessons did not from a courtroom, business deal or a contract, but from watching my teenage son Oscar tear up the track at an athletics carnival.

And it reminded me of a fundamental truth that every small business owner needs to hear:

When you spread yourself too thin, you do things moderately well. But when you focus on the one thing you do best, you create something extraordinary.