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

How Old Do You Have To Be To Start A Business In Australia?
Young Australians are more entrepreneurial than ever. You might be helping your teenager sell products online, co-founding a venture with a 17-year-old, or fielding questions from a youth startup program. The big...

Repudiation of an Employment Contract in Australia: Employer Guide
When a working relationship goes off track, things can escalate quickly. One of the most serious risks is “repudiation” - where one party shows they don’t intend to be bound by the...

How To Pay Yourself From Your Company In Australia
Once your company starts trading and earning money, a big question arrives: how do you actually pay yourself? Getting this right is about more than transferring cash. The way you take money...

What Is the Award Rate in Australia?
If you’re hiring staff in Australia, one of your first compliance jobs is working out the “award rate” you must pay. Getting it right protects your business from underpayment claims and builds...

What Are Casual Work Hours In Australia?
Casual employees help small businesses stay flexible. You can scale shifts up in busy seasons, cover unexpected absences, and roster around customer demand. But when it comes to “casual work hours” in...

Fair Work Penalty Rates: What Small Businesses Need To Know
If you run a small business in Australia, chances are you’ll need to navigate Fair Work penalty rates at some point. These extra pay rates can apply when staff work outside “ordinary”...

Single Enterprise Agreements in Australia: Employer Essentials
Thinking about a single enterprise agreement for your workplace? If you’re growing, juggling multiple awards or looking for more predictable terms with your team, an enterprise agreement can be a smart way...

How To Design Incentive Programs In Australia
Incentive programs can lift performance, boost retention, and align your team behind clear goals. The right incentives can also help you attract great talent in a competitive market. But incentive programs aren’t...

SCHADS Award Resignation Notice Period for Employers in Australia
If you run a social, community, home care or disability services organisation, you know how critical workforce continuity is. When a team member resigns, getting the resignation notice period right under the...

Non-Solicitation Clauses in Australia: What Employers Should Know
If you’ve invested time and money building client relationships and training your team, the last thing you want is for an ex-employee to walk out the door and take customers or staff...

Do Directors Need To Pay Themselves Super In Australia?
As a small business owner, it’s common to wear multiple hats - founder, director, occasional bookkeeper and everything in between. One question we hear a lot is whether company directors need to...

How To Issue A Probation Period Termination Notice In Australia
Probation is a helpful tool for Australian small businesses. It gives you time to confirm a new hire is the right fit, and if not, to move on quickly. But “quickly” doesn’t...
Redundancy Rules In Australia: What Employers Need To Know
Restructuring is part of growing a business - and sometimes that means a role is no longer needed. If you’re considering a redundancy, it’s important to follow the right steps so you...

Compassionate Leave For Immediate Family In Australia For Employers
When a team member experiences a death in the family or a life‑threatening emergency, your first instinct is to support them as people - and that’s the right call. It’s also important...

Employee Share Purchase Plans (ESPPs) in Australia
If you’re growing a team and want a simple, motivating way to align everyone to the business’ long-term success, an employee share purchase plan (ESPP) can be a smart move. ESPPs let...

Cash Out Sick Leave in Australia: What Employers Need To Know
It’s common for employees to ask whether they can “cash out” unused sick leave instead of taking time off. As an employer, you want to support your team and run a compliant...

Swearing in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know in Australia
From busy warehouses and building sites to retail floors and office Slack threads, strong language can sometimes creep into day-to-day work. But where’s the legal line, and what’s a reasonable response if...

Resign or Be Terminated in Australia: What’s Better for Employers?
When performance, conduct or business needs change, you may find yourself weighing up a familiar question: is it better (for everyone) if an employee resigns, or should you proceed with termination? There...

What Are Award Wages In Australia?
If you employ staff in Australia, understanding “award wages” isn’t optional - it’s central to paying people correctly, staying compliant with the Fair Work system, and avoiding costly backpay and penalties. In...

Australia Day Penalty Rates: What Employers Should Know
Public holidays are great for customers and communities, but they can be stressful for small business owners trying to roster fairly, pay correctly and keep costs under control. Australia Day adds an...

Cliff Vesting in ESOPs for Australian Startups
Offering equity is one of the best ways to attract and retain great people in a growing business. But handing over shares on day one can backfire if someone leaves early. This...

Are Employers Required To Provide Payslips In Australia?
If you’re paying staff, one of the first compliance questions you’ll hit is payslips. Do employers have to provide payslips? What exactly needs to be on them? And how fast do you...

Suspension Without Pay in Australia: What Employers Need to Know
When serious issues arise at work, you may need to remove an employee from the workplace quickly. But can you lawfully suspend someone without pay in Australia? This is a common pressure-point...

Section 535 Fair Work Act: Employer Record-Keeping Requirements
Hiring staff is a big step for any small business - and with it comes legal obligations you can’t afford to ignore. One of the most important is record‑keeping under section 535...
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