How our workplace relations and safety team can help you and your business
Our Workplace Relations and Safety practice group, headed by partners, Peter Wright, a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Commercial and Business Law and Dean Schubert, a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Employment and Industrial Law, provide specialist workplace relations and safety advice to and advocacy on behalf of our clients.
We regularly assist leading national and international retailers, small businesses, franchisors and franchisees, human resources consultancy firms and other professional services firms, including accountancy practices, and high net worth individuals.
You can be secure in the knowledge that we have the technical expertise, "know how" and commercially-driven approach to tackle any challenge that you or your clients may face in the workplace relations and safety space.
The types of questions and/or issues we can assist you or your clients with include:
the advantages of having adequately drafted employment contracts and what should be included;
the advantages of having adequately drafted workplace policies, particularly in respect of the recent positive duty obligations via the Respect@Work laws;
what to do if an employee brings an employment-related claim, such as:
unfair dismissal claims;
general protection claims;
underpayment claims in respect of award-related entitlements;
discrimination, sexual harassment and/or bullying complaints;
the benefits of appointing an independent investigator (including a law firm that is not acting for you or your client in relation to the investigation) to investigate employee grievances, including discrimination, sexual harassment and/or bullying complaints;
how to navigate the redundancy process;
your options when an employee is underperforming;
what to do if you or your client becomes aware that a former employee has taken and/or misused confidential information, or wishes to compete with your business;
compliance with work, health and safety law (including assistance with SafeWork investigations and defending SafeWork prosecutions);
which modern award, if any, applies to you or your clients' employees, and what is required under the applicable award;
partnering with your human resources consultancy practice to provide advice and representation to you or your end clients, or to be a sounding-board on all workplace relations and safety matters, to assist you to assist your end clients; and
what to do if you or your client is being investigated by SafeWork and/or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Whilst the Fair Work Ombudsman is a good starting point for the provision of general information about employment-related issues, it cannot provide legal advice and prudent advisors and employers should seek expert legal advice, depending on the particular circumstances. If you would like to find out more about how we can assist, please reach out to Dean Schubert on (02) 9394 1048 or dxs@bwslawyers.com.au.
The material in this article was correct at the time of publication and has been prepared for information purposes only. It should not be taken to be specific advice or be used in decision-making. All readers are advised to undertake their own research or to seek professional advice to keep abreast of any reforms and developments in the law. Brown Wright Stein Lawyers excludes all liability relating to relying on the information and ideas contained in this article.
contact
Peter Wright
Partner
E pjw@bwslawyers.com.au
P 02 9394 1090
Dean Schubert
Partner
E dxs@bwslawyers.com.au
P 02 9394 1048