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SME? How Employment Law Applies to You

Posted by | Articles, Contracts, Discrimination & Bullying, Industrial Relations | No Comments

By MDC Legal

The relationship between employer and employee is subject to a multitude of Australian state and federal laws and is key to the success of any business. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face a number of challenges when managing their employees. Many businesses lack a dedicated human resources department, leaving HR responsibilities to busy owners or senior managers.

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Employing “permanent” casuals: what are the benefits and risks for your business?

Posted by | Articles, Contracts, HR Advice & Support | No Comments

By Nicholas Parkinson, Lawyer

If employees are inappropriately classified as casuals, they may be able to bring claims against their employer for breaches of Modern Awards or the Fair Work Act 2009. They may also be able to claim that their employer has misrepresented their workplace rights. In these circumstances, employees will be entitled to seek compensation as well as penalties of up to $54,000 against the employer for each breach or misrepresentation.

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Cutting Costs Can Cost You More: The Cautionary Tale of Roussety v Castricum Brothers

Posted by | Articles, HR Advice & Support, Training & Compliance | No Comments

By Ruth Collins, Lawyer 

In the recent case of Joseph Roussety v Castricum Brothers Pty Ltd the Supreme Court of Victoria was called upon to consider an employee’s negligence claim for overwork causing psychiatric injury. This case serves as a salient reminder that an employer owes a duty to take reasonable care to avoid any foreseeable risk of injury arising from an employee’s circumstances of employment. In particular, it warns of the dangers of cost cutting without having regard to the effect on existing employees.

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MDC Legal Win for Employer Against Large Bonus Claims

Posted by | Articles, Contracts | No Comments

By Ruth Collins, Lawyer 

MDC Legal has successfully defended an employer against an employee’s claims for unpaid visa expenses and bonuses exceeding $200,000. The applicant, Mr Bradley, was employed by the respondent, Binder Group Pty Ltd, as their WA Industrial Sales Manager and later as its National Sales Manager from July 2011 to April 2015. After resigning from his employment, Mr Bradley brought proceedings in the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (Commission) against Binder Group alleging that he was owed contractual benefits. All of Mr Bradley’s claims were rejected by the Commission.

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Disciplining Employee Out of Hours Behaviour: A Blurred Line

Posted by | Articles, HR Advice & Support, Performance Management & Misconduct Investigations, Training & Compliance | No Comments

By MDC Legal

Not so long ago, there was a clear line between work and play – between conduct at work and employees’ private lives, with the latter being none of the employer’s business. Now, due to advances in technology (particularly information technology), the expansive reach of social media, and because employees are increasingly working from anywhere, the boundary between work life and private life has blurred.

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Take Care When Making Employees on Parental Leave Redundant

Posted by | Articles, Business Restructures & Redundancies, Contracts, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Nikita Barsby, Special Counsel 

In the recent case of Heraud v Roy Morgan Research Ltd [2016] FCCA 185, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCCA) found that Roy Morgan Research Ltd (RMR) contravened provisions of the Fair Work Act (FW Act) by refusing an employee’s request for flexible working hours and making her redundant while she was on maternity leave.

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