Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action Archives - MDC Legal

Apprentice unfairly dismissed for refusing to work overtime

Posted by | additional hours, Articles, HR Advice & Support, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action, unfair dismissal | No Comments

By Renae Harg, Senior Associate and Madeleine Brown, Associate

The Fair Work Commission has ordered an employer to pay eight weeks’ wages to an apprentice after it found that an employee was unfairly dismissed for refusing to work additional hours on a Sunday. This decision is a reminder for employers to carefully consider whether requests to work additional hours are reasonable.

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Dismissing an Employee

Probationary Problems: Dismissing an Employee on Their Probation Period

Posted by | Performance Management & Misconduct Investigations, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Renae Harg, Senior Associate and Lauren Wright, Lawyer

Can you terminate an employee during their probation period?

Some employers proceed under the misapprehension that they can terminate an employee on probation without providing any reason for the dismissal, with the employee unable to pursue any legal claim against them. The recent decision of Pacheco-Hernandez v Duty Free Stores Gold Coast Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2019] FCCA 1295 has shown this is incorrect. Read More

dismissing an employee

Dismissal By Text is Out. Common Courtesy Prevails.

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By Renae Harg, Senior Associate

Communication made easier by text message but not made right

Although modern businesses use many communication methods to interact with employees and clients, consideration needs to be given to the communication methods used when dealing with employment and industrial relations issues. This is particularly relevant when dismissing an employee. Read More

how long do employers need to keep employee records

Record Keeping Requirements for Employers: What You Need to Know

Posted by | complaince, HR Advice & Support, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Gemma Little, Associate

Keeping employment records is your responsibility as an employer

Everyone knows that employers must keep employee records, right? Apparently not. Some employers have been caught out because they have either not kept adequate employee records, or not kept employee records at all. Read More

Terminating an Employee with Mental Health Issues

Terminating an Employee with Mental Health Issues – Federal Court Ruling

Posted by | disciplinary action, HR Advice & Support, redundancy, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Mark Cox, Director and Renae Harg, Senior Associate 

Federal Court Ruling Highlights the Complexity of Terminating the Employment of an Employee with Mental Health Issues

The Federal Court ruling in Robinson v Western Union Business Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1913 highlights the complexities in terminating the employment of unwell employees, including employees with mental health issues. Read More

Party Planning What to do before the Christmas Party

Posted by | Articles, HR Advice & Support, Performance Management & Misconduct Investigations, sexual harassment, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action, Work Christmas party | No Comments

By Joanna Knoth, Senior Associate and Lauren Wright, Lawyer

As we rapidly approach the end of the year, the office Christmas party can be cause for concern for many employers. There are two key issues that employers should turn their mind to when planning the party.

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Employer unfairly dismissed employee due to wrong view on student visa

Posted by | Articles, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action, unfair dismissal | No Comments

By Mark Cox, Director and Madeleine Brown, Associate 

An employee who was suspended indefinitely without pay after her employer decided that she had breached the conditions of her visa was unfairly dismissed, according to the Fair Work Commission in Devi v Doutta Galla Aged Services Limited [2018] FWC 4142.

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Travel extends the mind but not limitation periods: Wragg v Queensland Scaffolding Pty Ltd [2018] FWC 4986

Posted by | Articles, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action, unfair dismissal | No Comments

By Nikita Barsby, Special Counsel and Madeleine Brown, Associate

The Fair Work Commission has refused an application for an extension of time to file an unfair dismissal application, following a detailed examination of a travelling employee’s social media activities and text messages which demonstrated that he was not incapacitated by depression and grief following his dismissal.

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What’s in a name: The effect of a position title on Modern Award coverage

Posted by | Articles, complaince, Contracts, HR Advice & Support, modern award, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action, Training & Compliance | No Comments

By Mark Cox, Director and Ruth Collins, Lawyer 

It is a common misconception amongst employers that a senior position title and high income can exclude an employee from being covered by a modern award. Not so. Instead, employers must look to the principle purpose of the position the employee was performing to assess whether it is covered by the classifications of roles covered by the award.

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Maximum term employees may be entitled to make unfair dismissal claims and be paid redundancy

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By Mark Cox, Director and Lauren Wright, Lawyer

A maximum term contract is a contract which automatically ends at the expiry of a specified period while giving either party the right to terminate prior to the specified expiry by giving notice. This can be contrasted with a fixed term contract, which is also for a specified period but which does not make provision for early termination.

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What are your business’ New Year’s workplace relations resolutions?

Posted by | Articles, Contracts, Discrimination & Bullying, Dispute Resolution & Advocacy, HR Advice & Support, Industrial Relations, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Nikita Barsby, Special Counsel 

HRD Australia recently reported that the success rate of Australian employers in unfair dismissal cases has dropped below 40% for the first time – while these remain the claim of choice for employees, with an unfair dismissal claim lodged every three and a half minutes in Australia.1

We expect hot topics for workplaces will include managing poor performance and bullying and stress claims, avoiding award or NES breach claims (and the risk of huge new penalties) or discrimination claims.

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An interesting development in the Fair Work Commission’s Stop Bullying Jurisdiction

Posted by | Articles, Discrimination & Bullying, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Conor Fahey, Lawyer

In perhaps the most interesting development to date since the commencement of the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) anti-bullying powers, Commissioner Hampton, the Panel Head of the FWC’s anti-bullying jurisdiction, has issued an interim order to restrain an employer from dismissing an employee for alleged misconduct until the tribunal determines the employee’s anti-bullying application.

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Lying and theft justifies termination of flight attendant

Posted by | Articles, Performance Management & Misconduct Investigations, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By MDC Legal

Qantas has succeeded in its appeal to undo the unfair dismissal finding for a flight attendant who stole alcohol and lied during the investigation. The FWC Full bench overturned the ruling of unfair dismissal in Qantas Airways Limited v David Dawson [2017] FWCFB 41, finding that Deputy President Lawrence had failed to take into account the Qantas employee’s dishonesty during the investigation into allegations of theft.

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Employment lawyer with a briefcase

Choosing the Right Workplace Lawyer in WA

Posted by | Articles, Discrimination & Bullying, HR Advice & Support, Terminations, Unfair Dismissals & Adverse Action | No Comments

By Mark Cox, Director & Joanna Knoth, Senior Associate

Employment law covers a broad range of complex legal issues affected by layers of common law and statute across state and federal jurisdictions. These legal issues begin in business set up or acquisition stage, with transmission of business, recruitment of new employees, establishing suitable contracts, and complying with awards and National Employment Standards – establishing the employment relationship.

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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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