AWL Bulletins

Not that long ago, a challenge to termination of employment for not complying with covid vaccination requirements was generally doomed to failure. Leading industrial law barrister Ian Neil SC summed it up in 2021 when he said that a direction for employees to be...

When an employee’s employment has been terminated, the choice of legal action is usually an unfair dismissal claim or a breach of general protections rights claim under the Fair Work Act (unless the Fair Work Ombudsman or a union is taking action). These are statutory...

So you have been offered a job by a new employer and you give notice to your existing employer of your resignation. All is looking bright until you get an email from your new employer advising that the offer is no longer open and thanking you for your interest. Apart...

Retirement is a special moment in every employee’s life. But, to take a cue from the current McCains Pizza ad, retirement really is “nothing special” legally in that it has no special legal status in employment law and does not give rise to any retirement specific...

Many employees have unrealistic expectations of workplace investigation processes and outcomes. Employees will usually be involved in a workplace investigation as the person making a complaint or as the respondent to a complaint. In most cases, the starting point for...

The Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review decision on 2 June 2023. There has been considerable interest in the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review given recent inflationary concerns expressed by the Reserve Bank Governor. The FWC Panel decided...

Lawyers are sometimes criticised for not being able to advise whether a potential claim will be successful or not. It is a case of “on the one hand, but on the other hand”. However, the reality is that each case is different. Not only does each case revolve around its...

There’s no doubt about it – senior executives often get the sharp end of the pineapple when it comes to procedural fairness. It is common for senior executives to get their marching orders at 4pm on a Friday afternoon with no warning. Alternatively, you might receive...

So you have been unfairly dismissed or had adverse action taken against you in breach of your workplace legal rights. Perhaps you have been discriminated against, bullied and harassed, underpaid or otherwise suffered unfair or unlawful treatment by your employer. You...

“The Times They are a-Changin” – so goes the Bob Dylan song. The same is true of workplace relations in 2023 with the federal government putting on its reform running shoes. Federal Workplace Minister Tony Burke recently said his strategy is to lift the floor for...