ARTICLES

From Flat White to Flat Out of a Job A 66-year-old employee (with 27 years’ service) was invited by his manager for a coffee at their usual café, only to be told, in public, that his employment would end on 31 December (six months later). The...

Eligible casuals can provide their employers with written notice that they want to change to full time or part time employment. Employers should acquaint themselves with the changes, as they can only refuse a request for certain reasons. The Fair...

What trend am I seeing out there in the workplace world? More and more employers are reluctant to have crucial conversations – fearful of Fair Work or stress claims. This is understandable given the record number of filings with the FWC and mental...

Employer’s Pressure to Sign New Contract Amounts to Unfair Dismissal An employee with over 9 years of service and a clean record was presented with a new job description and contract which included higher sales targets and post-termination...

Issue Taking Many Clients By Surprise - Super Obligations For Independent Contractors There is a common misconception that companies do not need to pay super for contractors who have an ABN - i.e. sole traders who do not operate under a “Pty Ltd”....

A boilermaker was alleged to have used a die grinder to draw a picture of a penis and words into the paint work on the roof of a tanker. His employer determined that he did so and summarily dismissed him on the basis that he had admitted to the...

The NSW Parliament recently passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2024 into law. The new legislation provides for an industrial manslaughter offence punishable by gaol terms of up to 25 years for individuals and...

A bar supervisor at the Dolphin Hotel in Sydney was sacked after she criticised her employer in a WhatsApp group chat with her colleagues. The employee claimed that her dismissal was unfair because she thought her gripes were being aired in a...

A café owner under financial stress sent a WhatsApp message to a full-time staff member telling her that her position would be converted to casual with immediate effect. The employee felt her rights were violated, and her job security threatened....