Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for australian businesses.
Do I Need A Whistleblower Policy?
Creating a safe, lawful and ethical workplace isn’t just good practice - it protects your people and your business. A clear whistleblower policy is one of the most effective ways to encourage...
14 January 2025
What Is Wage Theft?
Wage theft is a big issue in Australia - and it doesn’t just affect large corporations making headlines. Small businesses can slip up too, sometimes without realising it. If you employ staff,...
12 January 2025
Writing An Anti-Harassment And Discrimination Policy For Your Business
Creating a safe, respectful workplace is not only the right thing to do - it’s also a legal requirement in Australia. An effective Anti‑Harassment and Discrimination Policy sets clear expectations, helps you...
11 January 2025
What Do Australian Businesses Need To Know About The GDPR?
If your business has a website, runs online ads, or sells services internationally, you’ve probably heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Even if you’re based in Australia, the GDPR can...
11 January 2025
It Wasn’t Me, It Was My Employee: What You Need To Know About Employers’ Liability
When you run a business in Australia, you don’t just wear the owner’s hat - you also carry legal responsibility for what happens in your workplace. That responsibility can extend to things...
11 January 2025
What Is Share Vesting And What Kind Of Contract Do You Need?
If you’re building a startup in Australia with co-founders, early employees or advisors, you’ve probably heard the term “vesting”. It’s one of the best ways to align incentives, protect your cap table...
11 January 2025
The Gig Economy And Australian Law: What’s Next?
The gig economy is now a normal part of how many Australians work and how businesses operate. From delivery platforms to creative marketplaces and professional freelancing, “on‑demand” has changed expectations around speed,...
10 January 2025
Pre‑Emptive Rights For Company Shareholders (Australia): A Practical Guide
Bringing in new investors or letting an existing owner sell their stake can be exciting for growth - but it can also change who controls your company. That’s where pre‑emptive rights come...
10 January 2025
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 in Australia: Legal Basics
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
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