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Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for australian businesses.
What You Need To Know About Sales Commissions
Sales commissions can be a great way to motivate your team, reward performance and grow revenue. But in Australia, there are important legal rules around how you structure, document and pay commissions...
9 January 2025
ESOP Or ESS: Which One Is Right For My Business?
Offering equity to your team is one of the most effective ways to attract, motivate and retain great people without draining cash. In Australia, you’ll often hear two terms used for this:...
9 January 2025
An Employer’s Guide To Voluntary & Forced Redundancies
When your business needs to restructure, reduce costs or change direction, letting people go is one of the hardest decisions you’ll make. Redundancy is sometimes the right step, but it has to...
8 January 2025
What Is Employee Stand Down?
If you’re facing a sudden stoppage of work - think a natural disaster, a critical supply chain failure or an unexpected power outage - you might be wondering whether you can lawfully...
8 January 2025
Wrongful Dismissal Vs Unfair Dismissal: What’s The Difference?
If you’ve just lost your job, the terms “wrongful dismissal” and “unfair dismissal” can sound similar - but in Australian law they mean different things and lead you down very different legal...
7 January 2025
Contractors Vs Sub-Contractors: What’s The Difference?
If you’re growing a business in Australia, chances are you’ll work with contractors at some point. As your projects scale, you may also hear people talk about “sub-contractors” - and it’s totally...
6 January 2025
How Do Company Directors Get Paid?
If you’re running a company in Australia, a common early question is how directors should be paid. Do you pay them a salary like an employee, or fees like a contractor? What...
6 January 2025
This Recent Ruling On Casual Workers Could Affect Your Business
If you engage casual employees, a recent ruling has sharpened the focus on what “casual” really means in Australia - and the consequences if the arrangement doesn’t stack up. In short, tribunals...
6 January 2025
How To Hire Foreign Workers In Australia
Hiring foreign talent can be a smart way to fill skill gaps, scale your operations and bring new perspectives into your business. Whether you’re recruiting an expert engineer from overseas or bringing...
5 January 2025
Setting Up A Virtual Internship? Here’s What You Need To Know
Virtual internships can be a smart way to build your talent pipeline, diversify your team and support students across Australia without the overheads of a physical office. They’re flexible, scalable and attractive...
4 January 2025
Working As A Contractor In Australia: Legal Setup, Obligations And Contracts
Thinking about working as a contractor in Australia? It’s a flexible way to build your career and your income on your terms, but it also comes with responsibilities you don’t have as...
4 January 2025
What Is A ‘COVID-Safe’ Workplace?
COVID-19 is no longer new, but it hasn’t disappeared. As an employer in Australia, you still have a duty to keep people safe at work, manage health risks, and respond quickly if...
3 January 2025
Can I Pay My Employees Commission Only?
Commission can be a powerful way to motivate sales teams. It rewards performance, helps align incentives, and can feel fair for roles where revenue is directly tied to effort. But in Australia,...
3 January 2025
What Is The Better Off Overall Test?
If you’re bargaining an enterprise agreement in Australia, you’ll hear the term “Better Off Overall Test” (or BOOT) very quickly. It’s a simple idea with big consequences: before the Fair Work Commission...
2 January 2025
Ultimate Guide To Diego v Deliveroo: The Evolving Gig Economy
The gig economy has transformed how people work and how businesses deliver services. Food delivery, rideshare and on‑demand platforms have reshaped customer expectations - and the law has been working hard to...
1 January 2025
Sub-Contracting And Head Contracts: Here’s What You Need To Know
Whether you’re a principal engaging a head contractor, a head contractor building a delivery team, or a subcontractor stepping onto a new project, the contract chain is where risk is managed -...
1 January 2025
National Employment Standards For Business Owners
If you employ people in Australia, the National Employment Standards (NES) are the foundation of your workplace obligations. They set the minimum entitlements most employees are guaranteed under the Fair Work Act...
25 September 2024
How To Navigate International Contractor Management For Australian Businesses
Hiring talent across borders can be a game-changer for Australian businesses. You can access niche expertise, work around the clock, and scale faster without adding permanent headcount. At the same time, managing...
25 September 2024
What Is Time In Lieu?
If your team sometimes works beyond their ordinary hours, you might be wondering whether you need to pay overtime or whether you can offer “time in lieu” instead. Time in lieu (often...
6 August 2024
How Paid Parental Leave Functions: A Comprehensive Employer's Guide
Paid parental leave is one of those topics every Australian employer will face sooner or later. It’s great for retaining talent and building a supportive culture, but it can feel complex if...
23 July 2024
Modern Slavery: An Australian Perspective
Modern slavery isn’t just something that happens overseas or in extreme circumstances. It can appear in everyday supply chains - from raw materials to packaging and logistics - and often hides behind...
5 June 2024
Closing Loopholes No. 2: What’s New In The Second Act Of The Fair Work Changes
The Fair Work landscape has shifted again. The second tranche of the “Closing Loopholes” reforms (commonly referred to as Closing Loopholes No. 2) builds on last year’s changes and introduces new rules...
28 February 2024
Who Does The Fair Work Act Apply To?
If you employ staff in Australia (or plan to), you’re likely wondering whether the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) applies to your business - and what that actually means day to day....
14 February 2024
Set Off Clauses In Employment Contracts
Paying a “loaded” or all‑inclusive rate can make payroll simpler and help you attract great talent. But if you’re relying on that higher rate to cover things like overtime, penalties or allowances...
17 October 2023
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