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Workplace Law

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Melbourne workplace lawyers to help your business thrive

As a business operator, you know the meaning of hard work. You pour your time and energy into making your business a success: turning a profit, securing longevity, establishing a reputation. Your employees are critical to your operations. However, wading through the complexities of workplace law is time-consuming and often confusing. Workplace policies and employment contracts and agreements are essential to ensure sound employment practices in your business, but getting everything in order can be a headache.

Excellent employment legal advice is the answer, and we can help. We are Melbourne workplace lawyers with specialised capability in all areas of employment, industrial relations and workplace safety laws.

We offer sensible, commerical employment law advice balanced with a comprehensive understanding of your business.

Contact us to learn more

Expertise

Our workplace lawyers are skilled in working with businesses in various industries, including:

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail
  • Medical
  • Allied health

Services

We assist in all matters related to:

  • Employment documents such as:
      • employment contracts for small businesses
      • Executive service agreements
      • Enterprise agreements
  • Employment entitlements
  • Workplace policies and procedures
  • Independent contractor agreements
  • Unfair dismissal and adverse action claims
  • Constructive dismissals
  • Termination of employment
  • Discrimination
  • Bullying and harassment
  • Workplace safety
  • Union right of entry
  • Enterprise bargaining and industrial disputes
  • Sales of business and employment

Workplace Law FAQs

Am I a small business employer?

Suppose your business employs fewer than 15 employees (whether they are part-time or full-time). In that case, Australian workplace laws classify your business as a small business employer. Casual employees are included if they’re employed on a regular and systematic basis.

Contact us for small business employment advice.

As a small business employer, should I have employment contracts or agreements for my employees?

We recommend that you have small business employment contracts or agreements for your employees.  Even if your employees are permanent, you have obligations under the Fair Work Act and Victorian laws. For example, you must:

  • Pay at least the minimum wage
  • Comply with leave entitlements and requirements
  • Provide safe working conditions that meet legal requirements
  • Make superannuation contributions on behalf of your employees
  • Maintain workers compensation insurance

As part of our employment law advice, we can prepare employment agreements for your industry, with the proper termination clauses.

Get in touch to find out more.

As a small business employer, what are my obligations regarding termination of employment?

There are special requirements for small business employers regarding termination of employment. Small business employers must comply with the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code.

For more information about the Code and termination of employment, contact us.

My small business has grown from six to sixteen employees due to a new project. Is my business still considered a small business employer?

Small business employers have up to 15 employees (including full-time and part-time employees). Casual employees are included in this number if they are employed on a regular and systematic basis).

If your business has more than 15 employees, it’s considered a larger-sized employer under Australia’s fair work laws.

Some different requirements apply to larger-sized employers, for example:

  • Fairly and legally termination requirements; and
  • Redundancy payments to any eligible staff

Contact us for employment law advice.

How often should I review my business’s employment contracts?

Many businesses are diligent in getting employment law advice when first setting up employment contracts, but reviewing the contracts is sometimes a lower priority.

We recommend that you regularly review your small business employment contracts. You should also conduct a review whenever there are significant changes in your business’s circumstances, for example:

  • Growth of the business
  • Shrinking of the business
  • Change in the industry
  • Expansion into another industry
  • Change in the way you conduct your business
  • Change in the workplace laws which apply to your business

We can help you set up review triggers and systems for your employment contracts. Contact us to find out more.

We care about the success of your business

Our workplace lawyers in Melbourne and Victoria can help your business with customised, timely and affordable employment legal advice.

Meet the team

Workplace Law Articles

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Clock off and switch off: the right to disconnect from work
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What should I know about the 2023 legal changes to child employment in Victoria?
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What are workplace adverse action claims, and how do they work?
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Australia’s New Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave: Explained
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