Most Popular Q&As

Can I record conversations or meetings with my boss?

I recorded my termination meeting because I was fearful that the employer would say that I resigned and was not sacked if I later brought an unfair dismissal claim.

I have been given a warning letter I do not agree with. Do I have to sign it and how I do contest it?

You are not required to sign a warning letter and you should certainly not do so if you consider the warning to be unjust or unreasonable.

My employer has changed my regular hours of work. What are my legal rights?

If an employer is seeking to change your working hours, they must ensure they are acting within the confines of the law. This includes adhering to contractual obligations, engaging in appropriate consultation and ensuring that the change is not a result of any discriminatory reasons.

I have been placed on “garden leave” by my employer

Garden leave is the colloquial term used where an employer does not require you to attend the workplace but will still pay your usual remuneration during the period of garden leave. You remain an employee throughout the period of garden leave.

I did not sign an employment contract, what rights do I have?

You still have extensive rights and responsibilities as an employee, even if you have never signed an employment contract. The terms and conditions of your employment can be found in 4 places:

• The National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth);
• Any applicable industry modern award;
• An employer-specific enterprise bargaining agreement; and/or
• Rights under other pieces of legislation.

Can I get sacked because I have a personality conflict with a manager?

You might be bullied at work because you have a personality conflict with a fellow employee or a manager.

“What constitutes ‘reasonable overtime’ and can I say no?”

It is common for employment contracts to include a clause that an employee may be expected to work ‘reasonable overtime’ at no extra cost to the employer and without overtime rates. In many Modern Awards, the employee’s “ordinary hours of work” refers to their typical hours of work.

Am I able to record conversations with managers / other employees?

Advances in modern technology make it extremely easy to covertly record conversations in the workplace with managers or other employees. The Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic) and other legal precedence set limitations on when recordings can be used to support an employee’s case.

I set up a company, and now it has become deregistered. What should I do?

ASIC and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) If you decide to create a company in Australia, it is governed by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Am I entitled to an Annual Pay Rise?

In Australia, it is most common that an employer will have absolute discretion to decide whether an employee is entitled to receive a bonus or pay rise.

Can I take back my resignation?

Typically, an employment agreement exists between an employer and an employee, whether it is an oral or written contract. Employment terms can otherwise be found in awards or enterprise agreements.

Resignation is a termination of the employment agreement at the initiative of the employee.  A resignation will be valid where there is an unequivocal intention by the employee to no longer be bound by the employment agreement. This is best effected in writing and with appropriate notice as required by the agreement or industrial instrument.

Is micromanaging bullying?

Definition of micromanagement Micromanagement occurs when managers unnecessarily interfere with, involve themselves in and overly interact with you and your work on a regular basis.