AMP, a major Australian bank, has asked their staff to sign new contracts giving it the right to carry out “continuous, ongoing” video surveillance of employees, even when they’re working from home.
This comes after AMP has issued staff previously covered individual common law contracts, instead of negotiating a new Agreement with their employees following the automatic termination of their last Agreement which was negotiated shortly after the turn of the century. Pre-2010 workplace agreements, also known as ‘zombie’ agreements, were due to automatically terminate, or ‘sunset’, in December 2023 as per Fair Work legislation.
The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has blasted AMP, claiming staff were given one week to sign the “draconian” new contracts, which also give up rights including overtime, penalties and annual leave loading in exchange for a “flat rate” of pay.
The proposed contracts would also allow AMP to require employees to undergo a medical examination by a doctor chosen by AMP and to then access those medical records.
“This is the worst employment contract we have ever seen and it’s easily the worst contract in the finance sector,” said FSU national assistant secretary Nicole McPherson. Ms McPherson described it as “a draconian contract that features some very disturbing surveillance and medical privacy provisions”.
The union also alleges AMP is trying to “undermine the right to disconnect” with the inclusion of a clause in some contracts that requires employees to read and respond to contact from AMP and third parties outside ordinary hours.
“The right to disconnect is an essential entitlement to ensure that employees can keep their work and personal lives separate,” the union said.
“It is appalling that when this law has only been in place for a matter of months, AMP is already trying to avoid providing their employees with this basic right.”
Read more: FSU | Why you should NOT sign AMP’s new employment contract