Articles, Thought Leadership

2025 Workplace & Safety Guide: Navigating employment, industrial relations, and safety law

With evolving legislation and shifting workplace norms, keeping up with employer obligations and employee rights has never been more important. That’s why we’ve released our 2025 Workplace & Safety Guide — a comprehensive resource designed to help businesses and HR professionals navigate the complexities of employment, industrial relations, and safety law. Packed with practical strategies […]

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By : Jan 30, 2025 Comments Off on 2025 Workplace & Safety Guide: Navigating employment, industrial relations, and safety law
WK News

Wotton Kearney expands its property, construction, and employment practices in Christchurch with new appointments

Wotton Kearney is pleased to announce the appointments of Sam Hider, senior associate, and Ramses Hunt, associate, both based in our Christchurch | Ōtautahi office. This exciting development will help to strengthen our property, construction, and employment practices and to better service the growing needs of our clients in the South Island.  Sam Hider, Senior […]

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By : Dec 4, 2024 Comments Off on Wotton Kearney expands its property, construction, and employment practices in Christchurch with new appointments
Thought Leadership, Video

Trend Watch: Employment law class actions – what do employers need to know?

Employment law class actions have been on the rise in the last few years, particularly around underpayment and the failure to provide entitlements. In the fourth instalment of our Trend Watch video series, Head of Class Actions Amanda Beattie and Workplace + Safety partner Laura Gavan discuss growing trends for employers, impacts of new ‘Closing […]

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By : Oct 24, 2024 Comments Off on Trend Watch: Employment law class actions – what do employers need to know?
Articles

Parental leave – an outline of entitlements and obligations

By: Sian Gilbert, Grace Gunn, Dexter Cabal and Ellie Jongma At a glance Employees entitled to parental leave under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) may take up to 110 days of their 12-month unpaid leave entitlement in a flexible manner in the 24 months following the birth (or adoption) of their child […]

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By : Oct 15, 2024 Comments Off on Parental leave – an outline of entitlements and obligations
Articles

Understanding the right to disconnect and how it will affect your business

By: Sian Gilbert and Dexter Cabal At a glance From 26 August 2024, employees of organisations that employ 15 or more people will have a ‘right to disconnect’ outside of their normal working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable. Employees of small business employers will have the right to disconnect from 26 August 2025. Whether an […]

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By : Aug 28, 2024 Comments Off on Understanding the right to disconnect and how it will affect your business
WK News

Wotton Kearney strengthens workplace practice with addition of Melbourne partner

Leading insurance and risk law firm Wotton Kearney has strengthened its Workplace practice with the hire of partner Laura Gavan. Laura joins from HWL Ebsworth Lawyers and will head up Wotton Kearney’s employment law offering in Melbourne. Laura brings over 11 years of experience in workplace relations and safety law, with a focus on termination […]

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By : Jun 3, 2024 Comments Off on Wotton Kearney strengthens workplace practice with addition of Melbourne partner
Articles

Promoting diversity through flexible public holidays

By: Sian Gilbert, Dexter Cabal and Rebekah Johnson At a glance A growing number of Australian workplaces are now offering flexible public holidays to recognise the diverse backgrounds, cultures and values of employees. These holidays are offered in lieu of public holidays currently on the calendar. However, there are limitations around this initiative depending on the […]

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By : Mar 25, 2024 Comments Off on Promoting diversity through flexible public holidays
Articles

Working from home and the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Review

By: Sian Gilbert and Dexter Cabal At a glance Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have continued supporting working from home as part of the flexible working arrangements they offer. Others have been promoting return to office practices. The Fair Work Commission (Commission) is currently undertaking a review and consultation process to ascertain whether changes […]

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By : Feb 23, 2024 Comments Off on Working from home and the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Review
Case Alerts

First company and director convicted under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws

By: Chris Spain and Petra Kolovos At a glance Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws came into effect in 2020. The laws carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ jail for individuals and fines in excess of $19 million for companies. On 19 February 2024, the Victorian Supreme Court delivered the first sentences under the workplace manslaughter […]

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By : Feb 20, 2024 Comments Off on First company and director convicted under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws
Articles

A believed first: finding of breastfeeding discrimination of KFC employee

By: Sian Gilbert, Dexter Cabal and Sarah Moore   Complainant 202258 v Southern Restaurants (VIC) Pty Ltd (Discrimination) [2023] ACAT 57 At a glance On 25 September 2023, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal delivered what is believed to be the first finding in Australia of discrimination on grounds of breastfeeding in the workplace, in […]

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By : Nov 30, 2023 Comments Off on A believed first: finding of breastfeeding discrimination of KFC employee

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