In Australian employment law, the “corporate veil” provides little protection for professionals. Under Section 550 of the Fair Work Act 2009, individuals can be held personally liable for company breaches. If you are “involved” in a contravention, the law treats you as if you committed the breach yourself. The Scope of Risk Liability isn’t restricted […]
In the current Australian economic climate, business as usual feels like a distant memory. As the cost of doing business climbs and the Reserve Bank continues to adjust interest rates, including the most recent increase, many employers are finding themselves backed into a corner.The unfortunate result? A significant rise in employee redundancies. However, there is […]
The conversation around flexible work in Australia is shifting from asking for a favour to exercising a legal right. While recent Fair Work Commission rulings like Fitzpatrick v UNSW and Chandler v Westpac (which we discuss in this blog) have started to define the limits of existing laws, the Victorian Government is set to fundamentally […]
A Tale of Two WFH Requests
16/03/2026Recent rulings in the Fair Work Commission have provided a critical wakeup call for both employees and HR professionals. Two landmark cases from 2025 and 2026 (Fitzpatrick v University of New South Wales and Chandler v Westpac Banking Corporation) clarify that while the right to request is expanding, it is not a free pass for […]
At Employee Matters, we are incredibly proud to partner with clients who don’t just talk about workplace culture but actively build it. Today, we are celebrating a major milestone with our client, Sentius, a Melbourne-based company that has just rolled out a comprehensive Menstruation and Menopause Policy. Sentius already has invested heavily in supporting their […]
At Employee Matters, we spend a lot of time supporting businesses through difficult conversations. In many cases, those conversations start the same way: “We didn’t think we’d ever need a formal policy for this.” Misconduct rarely arrives with a warning. It can start small, escalate quickly and leave managers unsure how to respond. A clear […]
Most business owners don’t start a company because they’re passionate about employment contracts, performance plans, or award interpretations. Yet, before long, HR becomes a regular part of the working week. A question from a manager turns into a compliance check. A performance issue becomes a time-consuming process. A simple decision suddenly feels high risk. This […]
The Australian workforce is undergoing a seismic shift. As Baby Boomers retire and Millennials move into senior leadership, a new force has risen: Generation Z. Born between 1997 and 2012, this cohort currently makes up approximately 15% of the Australian workforce, a figure set to grow rapidly by 2030. If your recruitment strategy still relies […]
When an employee leaves your business, it’s easy to focus on the logistics such as notice periods, handovers, and recruitment to fill the role. But every resignation is also an opportunity; exit interviews can give you invaluable insights into your culture, leadership, and employee experience, helping you build a better workplace for the rest of […]
Managing long or frequent employee absences can be complex. Once an employee has used all of their paid Personal/Carer’s Leave, your obligations shift – and so does your risk. Here’s what employers need to know when an employee’s sick leave runs out. What Happens When Paid Sick Leave Runs Out? Under the National Employment Standards […]