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Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for australian businesses.
Vesting Cliff: Key Considerations For Startups, Founders And Employees
When you’re building a startup, equity can be one of the most powerful tools you have. It can help you attract talented people before you can pay “big business” salaries, align your...
31 March 2026
How Much Sick Leave Per Year Can Australian Employees Take?
If you employ staff, questions about sick leave in a year come up all the time - especially when you’re trying to keep a small business running smoothly while also supporting your...
30 March 2026
8-Hour Shift Break Entitlements And Employer Compliance In Australia
As a small business owner, rostering an 8-hour shift can feel like the “standard” option - long enough to cover the busiest parts of the day, but not so long that fatigue...
30 March 2026
Australian Record-Keeping Retention Periods: How Long To Keep Documents
Running a small business means you’re constantly creating (and receiving) paperwork: invoices, employee records, contracts, customer messages, bank statements, screenshots, CCTV footage, and more. At some point, the question becomes practical as...
30 March 2026
Not-For-Profit Salary Sacrifice Amounts: Employer And Employee Rules
If you run a not‑for‑profit (NFP) organisation, you’ve probably heard that salary sacrificing (also called salary packaging) can help you attract and retain great people - without necessarily increasing your cash salary...
30 March 2026
Minimum Hours For Casual Hospitality Staff In Australia
If you run a café, bar, restaurant, catering business or pub, you already know hospitality staffing is rarely “set and forget”. Trade changes with the weather, weekends can be unpredictable, and last-minute...
30 March 2026
Can Employees Use Annual Leave For Sick Leave?
When you’re running a small business or startup, leave requests can feel like a constant balancing act. On the one hand, you want to support your team when they’re unwell. On the...
30 March 2026
Maternity Leave: What Australian Employers Need To Know
If one of your employees tells you they’re pregnant (or their partner is pregnant), it’s often a genuinely happy moment for your team - and it can also trigger a long list...
29 March 2026
No-Show Fees: Setting, Enforcing And Communicating Them Legally In Australia
If you run a service-based small business, no-shows can be more than just frustrating - they can seriously impact your cash flow, staff rostering, and day-to-day operations. Whether you’re a clinic, salon,...
29 March 2026
Employment Deed of Release: What Employers Need To Know When Ending Employment
Ending employment is one of those parts of running a business that can feel surprisingly high-stakes - even when you’re trying to do the right thing. You might be dealing with a...
29 March 2026SCHADS Award Redundancy: Employer Requirements For 2023
Redundancy is one of the toughest parts of running a small business in the community services space. Even when you’ve done everything “right”, it can still feel personal - because your team...
28 March 2026
Managing Former Employee Risks: Confidential Info, IP & Access
When someone leaves your business, it’s easy to focus on the practicalities: final pay, handing over projects, returning keys, and moving on. But for many small businesses, the bigger risk sits quietly...
28 March 2026
How To Hire Employees In Australia: Legal Steps For Startups And SMEs
Hiring your first (or next) team member is a big moment for any startup or small business. It usually means your business is growing - but it also means you’re stepping into...
28 March 2026
Unfair Dismissal vs General Protections: What Employers Need To Know
Terminating someone’s employment is one of the most legally risky things you’ll do as an employer. Even when you’re confident you’ve acted fairly, a former employee may still lodge a claim. In...
28 March 2026
Unlawful Termination In Australia: Risk Reduction For Small Businesses
Ending someone’s employment is one of the highest-risk decisions you’ll make as an employer. Even when you have genuine performance, conduct, or operational reasons, a termination can quickly turn into a legal...
27 March 2026
Risks And Legal Pitfalls Of Casual Employment In Australia
Casual employment can feel like the “easy” hiring option when you’re busy, growing, or dealing with unpredictable demand. You can roster people up and down, fill gaps quickly, and (in theory) avoid...
27 March 2026
Fair Work Warning Letter: Process, Legal Risks & Best Practice
Giving an employee a warning is one of those management tasks that can feel deceptively simple. You might think: “I’ll just put it in writing so it’s clear.” But if the situation...
27 March 2026
How To Witness Documents In Australia
If you run a small business, you’ll probably sign a lot of documents - customer contracts, supplier agreements, shareholder paperwork, leases, employment documents, and (sometimes) deeds. In many cases, you can sign...
27 March 2026
Can Employees Use A Statutory Declaration Instead Of A Medical Certificate?
When one of your team calls in sick, the next question often isn’t about rostering - it’s about evidence. Many small business owners ask the same thing: can an employee provide a...
27 March 2026
Managing a Drunk Employee at Work: Legal Risks and Fair Dismissal Steps
Finding (or suspecting) that an employee is intoxicated or drunk at work is one of those situations that can throw even experienced business owners off. You’re balancing safety, fairness, your other staff’s...
26 March 2026
Subcontractor Definition In Australia: What It Means For Your Business
If you run a small business, there’s a good chance you’ve either engaged subcontractors already or you’re thinking about it. Maybe you’ve landed a big job and need extra hands. Maybe you’re...
26 March 2026
How To Implement A Performance Improvement Plan In Australia
When someone on your team isn’t meeting expectations, it can feel like you’re stuck between two bad options: tolerate the issue and hope it improves, or move quickly to termination and risk...
26 March 2026
Why Casuals Get Paid More: Casual Loading Explained
If you run a small business, casual employment can feel like a practical way to stay flexible. You can roster up during busy periods, cover unexpected leave, and bring in help for...
25 March 2026
How To Write An Unsuccessful Probation Letter In Australia
Probation periods can be a really useful tool for small businesses. They give you time to confirm whether a new hire is the right fit, and they give your employee a chance...
25 March 2026
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