MPs now partially responsible for their staff

Stuff reports:

MPs are on notice after a new employment law has placed them directly responsible for their staffers.

Politicians have previously been somewhat insulated from employment matters, as staffers are technically not employed by MPs, but by Parliamentary Service, the administrative arm which runs services at parliament.

But a new law designed to allow contracted employees, such as labour hire workers, to allege personal grievances against the business or organisation controlling them has rewritten the employment boundaries in Parliament. …

Under the new law, staffers could apply to the court to include the MP in any personal grievance complaint

“Technically MPs are now considered a ‘controlling third party’, and if they treat their staff poorly and a personal grievance is pursued – whereas in the old days, you could have only ever taken it up with Parliamentary Service – now an MP can be brought into that mix.”

This is a move in the right direction. While most MPs are very good employers, a few are not. Having Parliamentary Service just pay staff to leave isn’t the best way to fix the problem.