Category: Industrial & Employment Law

My employer has introduced unattainable KPIs. What options do I have?
Sometimes, KPIs are unreasonable and used by employers who seek to subject their staff to unrealistic workloads or to create an artificial reason to take disciplinary action.

What is the high income threshold and how might it affect me?
The high income threshold is one factor that may prevent an employee from being able to pursue an unfair dismissal application. Currently, if you earn more than $145,400.00 per year...

I've got a new job. What should I be looking out for in my employment contract?
Starting a new job can be a daunting and exciting experience and it is easy to get caught up in the prospect of starting rather than focusing on your employment entitlements which underpin an employee’s employment.

Over $198,000 backpay for mine workers plus fines for Rio Tinto
Regular readers of the Hall Payne blog will recall our April 2018 article “Rio Tinto fined again for breach of Hail Creek enterprise agreement”. That story related to breach of…

Are you a casual employee? You may not be according to this recent decision
Debate is raging in Parliament, businesses, unions, households and in the media regarding current levels of workplace security. The union movement is strongly pursuing a campaign called ‘Change the Rules’…

Is your boss a workplace bully?
Do you ever feel like your boss is targeting you? Do you feel like you’re being treated unreasonably or unfairly? It is important to know the difference between what is…

City of Darwin loses bid to suppress bullying report
The law recognises the severe impact that workplace bullying and harassment can have on workers’ health and wellbeing. For example, victims are now able to apply to the Fair Work…

Hall Payne wins reinstatement for labour hire worker in the mining industry
Hall Payne Lawyers has a proud history of working collaboratively with trade unions and their members to achieve exceptional results for Australian workers. Our commitment to fighting for workers’ rights…

Hall Payne Lawyers & ETU catch employer out for two breaches of agreement
In a type of case rarely seen before the court, the Federal Court ruled last week on two breaches of the enterprise agreement by Walz Group at the Rocklands Copper…

Hall Payne regains right of entry permit for CFMMEU official
Through employing a planned and comprehensive strategy, Hall Payne Lawyers were recently able to assist a CFMMEU official with regaining his federal right of entry permit. An unrestricted right of…

Significant Underpayment Ruling for Bacon Factories’ Union
Hall Payne Lawyers recently acted for the Bacon Factories’ Union of Employees, Queensland in a dispute with Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory over the payment of shift penalties. The heavily casualised…

Historic win for contract workers employed by Spotless
In a significant win for contract workers, the Federal Court recently found that Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd, a part of the Spotless Group, contravened sections 117 and 119 (and therefore…