AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYMENT LAW

Employment law regulates all aspects of employment. This covers a wide variety of issues like superannuation, early retirement, occupational health & safety regulations, discrimination and sexual harassment. Employment law applies to employers, employees and independent contractors alike.

From selecting and interviewing employees to work disputes and termination of employment, employment law creates specific guidelines, which both employers and employees must follow. Employment lawyers typically work with companies to reduce their risk of employment litigation and how to comply with State and local laws. Employment lawyers can also help protect workers when their rights are being violated.

Both federal and State laws regulate employment discrimination, labor, and union issues. Generally, employment discrimination laws apply to all procedural steps of employment, including interviewing, hiring, advertising, giving raises, and firing employees. The laws State that an employer cannot discriminate on the basis of certain characteristics such as race, gender, age, national origin, disability and religion.

The majority of State laws say that employment is "at will," meaning the employer can terminate an employee from a position for any reason, so long as the reason is not an illegal reason. State employment laws also regulate employment contracts, and the clauses an employer or employee may find within employment contracts.

Employment attorneys help businesses with matters such as: compliance, employee handbooks, workplace rules, and other related matters. If you are an individual, an employment attorney can represent you on issues such as discrimination in hiring, wrongful discharge, breach of employment contract, workplace libel and slander, employee right to privacy, and advise on WorkSAFE matters involving employee health and safety.