The deceit of the policy manual
“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.” — Groucho Marx As an HR professional, you…
Read more
Publications
Keeping you up-to-date
With the latest legal developments, legislation changes and case precedents.
If you employ a worker for a particular project, can you terminate them at the end of that project?
IN BRIEF Today in the world of Australian property, contingent workers fit the bill. Contingent workers are the freelancers, or independent…
Read more
When is a contractor not a contractor? Is an ABN enough?
In brief Employment lawyers are constantly being told by their clients: “It’s okay, he/she has an ABN”. Employers often presume, as…
Read more
Can you still set off an employee’s salary against Award entitlements? It’s complicated!
In brief In the area of set offs in employment law, a word of warning to cut through some of the…
Read more
Can you extend probation?
In brief Probation periods are important to employers. The probation period allows employers to gauge an employee’s competence and character…
Read more
Redundancy — can an employer avoid payouts by getting their employees another job?
The Fair Work Act (the Act) contains a provision (s 120) which says that if an employer “obtains other acceptable employment”…
Read more
Redundancy — when don’t you have to pay it?
In brief There is increasingly an expectation amongst employees that they will be paid a lump sum – over and above…
Read more
Can you sack a worker by text message?
In brief Hutchison Ports’ recent dismissal of nearly 100 of its employees by a midnight text message has made headlines around…
Read more
When can employees behave badly and get away with it?
In brief One of the challenges for any employer is to manage workforce events such that the employees get to…
Read more
When a choice is not a choice
In Brief As a business owner you can choose whether or not to pay staff bonuses, right? “Discretionary” means … well…
Read more