Our Workplace Relations and HR Services Team provides a broad range of advice and representation on industrial relations matters including:

• Advising employers on the impact of the Workchoices legislation, reviewing and advising on your existing agreements, and drafting new agreements that are compliant with the new laws
• Assisting employers to develop and implement effective strategies for achieving major workplace change, including those arising from restructuring, outsourcing and divestments and acquisitions
• Unfair dismissals, unlawful terminations and contract disputes
• Award interpretation and application
• Leave entitlements
• Interpreting and drafting employment contracts and subcontractor agreements
• Resolution of workplace disputes and grievances including harassment, bullying and discrimination matters
• Employee counselling and disciplinary matters
• Termination of employment, redundancies, recruitment
• Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA’s)
• Transmission of business issues
• Conducting cases before industrial tribunals and courts

Our Workplace Relations and HR Services Team also includes a Human Resources specialist who can advise on the development and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and practices particularly in relation to:

• Drafting and advising on Policies
• Advising on remuneration and benefits issues
• Recruitment and Induction
• Termination procedures
• Employee performance counselling
• EEO, Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination
• Code of Conduct/Employee Handbook
• Performance Management
• Succession Planning
• Position Descriptions
• Change management
• Occupational Health & Safety

We work with clients with the aim to provide long-term strategies to achieve the best industrial and employment relationships, having regard to workplace culture, commercial outcomes and the need to maintain constructive and beneficial relationships.

Our Team realises that employee turnover and mobility affects every business, and exposure to risk is greater than it has ever been. We believe managing this risk involves making correct and timely decisions at every stage of the employment relationship, from the first interview and contract negotiations to managing performance and termination of an employment contract.

Our Team prides itself on taking a proactive and commercial approach. The Team regularly provides services to businesses of various size from the sole proprietor to large corporations.

We have:

1. Reviewed the existing workplace contracts in place for a major client and made recommendations to revise these contracts so as to comply with the Workchoices legislation. We have also drafted workplace agreements for their Award staff.
2. Prepared a comprehensive policy and procedure manual dealing with matters such as drugs and alcohol, email, discrimination and harassment.
3.  Negotiated a commercial settlement for an employer defending an unfair contract claim under Section 106 of the Industrial Relations Act.