Employment law affects all businesses with employees or contractors and is a complex area to navigate. In Australia, the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) governs employment matters. Employers generally need legal assistance in two key areas of employment: the drafting of employment and contractor agreements, and assistance with terminating employment contracts or dealing with the consequences of a termination.
Employment Contracts: It’s important that every employee in your organisation enters into an employment agreement. An employment contract will generally cover a range of matters, such as salary, leave and entitlements. Many employers will also want to include non-compete and non-solicitation clauses, to prevent employees from leaving and poaching clients and staff.
Employment Disputes: If an employment relationship doesn’t work out it can be necessary to terminate an employee’s employment. This needs to be done in accordance with all relevant laws, and working with an experienced employment lawyer in these circumstances is sensible. Businesses may also occasionally need assistance with unfair dismissal disputes.
