Fixed term contracts, or time-limited contracts as they are also known, may be an increasingly viable option for employers in the current COVID-19 environment. As we explain in this blog, employers must be wary of the hidden termination risks created by these...

The primary remedy under the Fair Work Act 2009 for an unfair dismissal is reinstatement. In employment relationships where the Act does not apply the usual remedy for wrongful termination of employment is damages. Schneider v Warrnambool City Council [2021] VSC 337...

Discrimination law has been something of a hot topic in Australia in recent months. The legality of workplace-mandated vaccines and ‘no jab, no job’ policies has sparked heated debate. More recently the Federal Government’s Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at...

After much anticipation, the High Court has decided in WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2021] HCA 23 (High Court’s Decision), that Mr Rossato was a casual employee and not entitled to the benefits of a permanent employment even though he had an expectation of regular and...

There are a number of ways in which an employee might be underpaid. It may be the case for example, that there has been a complete failure to pay your wage, superannuation entitlement or an amount owed for a period of leave (including annual, long service or personal...

Are works employees or independent contractors? The controversy as to whether workers in the gig economy are employees or independent contractors continues with the recent decision in Franco v Deliveroo Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FWC 2818. In that decision handed down...

On 13 April 2021 Justice Murphy refused to strike out a further amended statement of claim in a class action on the basis that it did not disclose a cause of action: Gall v Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Limited No. 2 [2021] FCA 345. Apart from making a claim for...

With recent amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), it is now time for employers to review the status of their casual employees. From 27 March 2021, as a result of the amendments, there is now: a definition of casual employment, which applies retrospectively; the...

As the ending of JobKeeper looms, support for the Commonwealth Government’s argument that it has been discouraging people from working can be found in the decision of Howard v Pinnacle People [2020] FWC 6975. Pinnacle is a labour hire agency specialising in the supply...

While many of us are celebrating a gradual return to the workplace and some semblance of a pre-COVID normality, this is not necessarily a sentiment shared by all. Whether by reason of health concerns, adaptation in lifestyle or relocation, a number of Australians will...

Unlike the United States, Australia has no constitutional guarantee of the right to freedom of speech but instead enjoys freedoms by virtue of common law. Such freedoms include freedom of religion, movement, speech and association. In the absence of such...

After public health advice resulting in a minor delay of the initial plan, Victorian workplaces are now returning to offices today, Monday, 18 January 2021. As of Monday, a capacity of 50% of employees are permitted in private office buildings, and 25% for public...

With the UK vaccinating against COVID-19, and this predicted for Australia in early 2021, employers may soon find their employees questioning whether they can be directed to be vaccinated. Crucial to any employment relationship is that employees must comply with any...

In Seo v Bindaree Food Group Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 6468 the issue of whether preparing for work can be categorised as work arose. Mr Seo’s complaint was that having to remove personal protective equipment and clean himself before he entered the break room meant that he...

On Thursday, 26 November 2020, the High Court of Australia granted labour hire company, WorkPac, special leave to appeal the recent Full Court decision of WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2020] FCAFC 84 (Rossato). Rossato Prior to the Rossato decision, casual workers had...

On 20 May 2020 the Full Court of the Federal Court gave judgment in WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2020] FCAFC 84. In contemporary times few decisions on employment conditions have excited as much media attention and commentary as WorkPac did. The reaction to it was...

Night shift has been the subject of comedy but it was no laughing matter for hospital employees who were sacked after spending work time in a tearoom sometimes with the lights off when they should have been working. The employees in question worked for the Royal...

Under section 120 of the Fair Work Act an employer can seek to reduce the redundancy payment to employees it is terminating. In considering whether to reduce a redundancy payment, Fair Work Commission must be mindful of why redundancy payments exist in the first...