Employment Law Articles

Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for australian businesses.

How Many Modern Awards Are There In Australia, And Which Applies?

How Many Modern Awards Are There In Australia, And Which Applies?

If you employ staff (or you’re about to), you’ve probably heard someone say: “Make sure you’re paying under the right Award.” That advice is spot on - but for many small business...

25 March 2026
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Shift Loading Rates in Australia: What Employers Need to Know

Shift Loading Rates in Australia: What Employers Need to Know

If your business operates outside a standard Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 pattern, shift loadings can quickly become one of your biggest payroll variables. Whether you’re running a café with weekend trade, a growing healthcare...

25 March 2026
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Legal Checklist: Hiring And Managing A Real Estate Receptionist In Australia

Legal Checklist: Hiring And Managing A Real Estate Receptionist In Australia

A great real estate receptionist can be the difference between a busy front desk that runs smoothly and one that becomes a bottleneck for your whole agency. They’re often the first voice...

24 March 2026
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NSW Long Service Leave: What Employers Need To Know About Casuals

NSW Long Service Leave: What Employers Need To Know About Casuals

Long service leave (LSL) is one of those employment obligations that can feel “set and forget” - until a long-term team member asks about it, resigns, or you’re reviewing payroll and realise...

24 March 2026
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Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Key Requirements In Australia

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Key Requirements In Australia

When you’re running a small business, it can feel like you’re wearing every hat at once - sales, ops, hiring, payroll, customer complaints and everything in between. In the middle of all...

23 March 2026
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Employee Entitlements When Selling a Business In Australia

Employee Entitlements When Selling a Business In Australia

Selling a business is a big milestone. You’re negotiating price, stock, leases, handover arrangements, and sometimes finance. But for many small businesses, one of the most sensitive (and easy to underestimate) parts...

23 March 2026
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How To Make An Employee Redundant In Australia

How To Make An Employee Redundant In Australia

Even in a growing business, there are times when you need to change your structure, reduce costs, or stop offering a particular service. If that change means you no longer need a...

23 March 2026
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Goodwill In Business: Meaning, Valuation & Why It Matters

Goodwill In Business: Meaning, Valuation & Why It Matters

If you’ve ever heard someone say a business is “worth more than its equipment and stock”, they’re usually talking about goodwill . For many Australian small businesses, goodwill is the difference between...

23 March 2026
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What Does Industrial Action Mean In Australia?

What Does Industrial Action Mean In Australia?

If you employ staff, sooner or later you may hear the words “industrial action” in a workplace context. It can be unsettling - especially if you’re running a small business where one...

23 March 2026
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Casual Employee Termination Letter: Employer Guide (Australia)

Casual Employee Termination Letter: Employer Guide (Australia)

Ending a casual employment relationship can feel straightforward - but it’s still a legal process, and it’s still a “people” process. As a small business owner, you’re usually trying to balance three...

22 March 2026
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Do Casual Employees Need A Separation Certificate?

Do Casual Employees Need A Separation Certificate?

When a casual employee leaves your business (or you end their engagement), it’s common to get a message along the lines of: “Can you send me a separation certificate?” For many small...

22 March 2026
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Directors Resolution Template: How To Draft A Compliant Board Resolution

Directors Resolution Template: How To Draft A Compliant Board Resolution

When you’re running a company, there are plenty of moments where you can’t (and shouldn’t) rely on “quick verbal approvals” or a casual message in a group chat. In Australia, directors are...

22 March 2026
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Part-Time Employment Contract Template in Australia: Drafting for Employers

Part-Time Employment Contract Template in Australia: Drafting for Employers

Hiring part-time staff can be a smart way to grow your business without taking on the cost and commitment of full-time headcount. But there’s a catch: if the paperwork doesn’t match how...

22 March 2026
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Are Unpaid Work Trials Legal in Australia?

Are Unpaid Work Trials Legal in Australia?

Work trials can feel like a practical way to hire with confidence. You get to see how someone communicates with customers, whether they can actually use your systems, and how they fit...

21 March 2026
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What Is Casual Employment In Australia?

What Is Casual Employment In Australia?

If you’re hiring for the first time (or scaling quickly), casual employment can feel like the obvious choice. It’s flexible, it helps you manage variable demand, and it can be a great...

21 March 2026
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Casual Employment Contract Template (NSW): Required Clauses

Casual Employment Contract Template (NSW): Required Clauses

If you run a small business in NSW, hiring casual staff can be a practical way to cover peak periods, manage seasonal demand, or build a flexible team while you grow. But...

21 March 2026
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Employment Handbook: Legal Must-Haves And Drafting Tips In Australia

Employment Handbook: Legal Must-Haves And Drafting Tips In Australia

If you employ staff (or you’re about to), an employment handbook can be one of the most useful “set-and-forget (but review regularly)” tools you put in place. In plain terms, it’s where...

21 March 2026
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Is Super Payable On Termination Payments? ATO Rules For Employers

Is Super Payable On Termination Payments? ATO Rules For Employers

Ending an employment relationship is rarely just about “wrapping things up”. For most small businesses, termination is when payroll becomes high-stakes: you’re calculating final pay, paying out leave, possibly handling redundancy, and...

21 March 2026
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Sex-Based Harassment In The Workplace: Examples And Employer Obligations

Sex-Based Harassment In The Workplace: Examples And Employer Obligations

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats. You’re thinking about customers, cashflow, hiring, culture and keeping your team productive. But there’s one area that can’t be left to “we’ll...

21 March 2026
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How To Safely Extend A Fixed‑Term Contract In Australia

How To Safely Extend A Fixed‑Term Contract In Australia

Extending a fixed-term employment contract can feel like a simple admin task: the end date is approaching, the employee is performing well, and you want to keep them on. You issue an...

21 March 2026
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Award Wages Explained: What Employers Need To Know About Award Salaries

Award Wages Explained: What Employers Need To Know About Award Salaries

If you employ staff in Australia, chances are you’ve come across the phrase “wage awards” (or you’ve had a moment of panic when you realised you should have). Award rules can feel...

20 March 2026
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Can a Director Be an Employee in Australia? Director vs Employee Status

Can a Director Be an Employee in Australia? Director vs Employee Status

If you run a small business through a company, you’ve probably worn more than one hat at the same time. You might be the sole director, you might also be the person...

20 March 2026
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Small Business Fair Dismissal Code: Employer Guide (Australia)

Small Business Fair Dismissal Code: Employer Guide (Australia)

If you’re running a small business, you’ve probably felt the tension between “I need to act quickly” and “I don’t want this to turn into a legal nightmare.” Ending someone’s employment is...

20 March 2026
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WHS vs OHS: Key Differences And Workplace Safety Duties

WHS vs OHS: Key Differences And Workplace Safety Duties

If you run a small business, workplace safety probably sits in that “important but easy to put off” basket - until something goes wrong. And if you’ve ever searched for “WHS or...

19 March 2026
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