With the recent media reports around the rapidly decreasing level of productivity in australian businesses, and employer associations focused on unproductive political lobbying to have the Fair Work Act changed, one question springs to mind. Why are employers so afraid of IFA's? 

The intent around the use of IFA's is to allow the employee in essence to not only request, but to have a meaningful discussion around changing certain conditions of employment to facilitate a better work/life balance. Now although the Act precludes employers forcing employees onto these arrangements (which is what I think the employer associations are advocating), and the arrangements can be terminated as easily as providing a letter, the only other requirements are that they are not to be made a condition of the employment at commencement, and nor are the employees allowed to be "worse off" under the arrangement.

Given these fairly easily adhered too requirements, amongst others, employers are able to proactively negotiate individual arrangements directly with employees to the mutual benefit of the employer and employee/s. 

With the loss of Australian Workplace Agreements from the legislation, employers have increasing moved away from individual arrangements for fear of being cast into the abyss known as WorkChoices. Now entangled amongst the web of modern awards, and increased union bargaining power, employers are turning their attention, and bank accounts, to the employer associations in desperate attempts to change legislation.

This should not be the case. Employers can use the IFA provisions proactively, through establishing a consultative communication strategy, employers can achieve increased productivity, without the heartache.