For Employees

The interplay between social media and employment is often fraught with complexity and conflict. On the one hand, is an employee who is adamant that they have a right to a personal life which includes being able to express themselves on social media. And on the other hand, is an employer determined to protect their […]

Casual employees face a number of difficulties if their employment is terminated. First among these is meeting the minimum employment period of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) of 12 months for a small employer, or six months for all other employers to be eligible to make an unfair dismissal claim. Section 384 of the […]

Can your employer make you return to the office? In many cases, yes. An employer may be able to direct an employee to return to the office if the direction is lawful and reasonable, consistent with the employment contract, supported by workplace policies, and implemented fairly. However, this does not mean every return-to-office direction is […]

Half of all Australians live with a chronic disease. This can create a complex intersection with employment. Naturally, people battling a permanent or temporary condition are likely to need flexibility, understanding, and a significant amount of time off work. However, long-term absent workers are frequently labelled as ‘problem employees’ and find themselves being ‘case managed’ […]

If you have been referred for a medical assessment in relation to your fitness for work (often called an ‘Independent Medical Examination’ or ‘IME’), you are not alone. IMEs are quite common, but also naturally cause a lot of anxiety. This article is essential reading for any employee who has been referred to an IME. […]

A recent decision provides some guidance as to how the Fair Work Commission may deal with flexible working arrangement requests under its new arbitral powers.  

A seemingly small and simple section of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) is having a big impact.  

The federal government has announced that non-compete clauses for employees earning below the high-income threshold will be banned from 2027.