Hall Payne Lawyers appoints Dale Blackmore as Principal Solicitor
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dale Blackmore as Principal Solicitor at Hall Payne Lawyers.
Workplace entitlements based on length of service with your employer
The length of time you spend employed by your employer is also known as your length of service. Your right to access certain entitlements in relation to your employment, and the size of those entitlements, can depend on your length of service with your employer.
Help! My NSW worker’s compensation claim has been denied
Understanding the reasons your NSW worker’s compensation claim is rejected will help you determine what your options are to appeal that decision and have it reviewed.
Powers of Australian regulators and implications for employees involved in investigations
There are a number of regulatory bodies in Australia whose investigative powers intersect with workplace and work-related activities. It’s crucial for employees who are subject to, or anticipate being subject to an investigation by a regulator, to seek legal advice to protect their interests.
Additional hours – what is reasonable?
According to The Australia Institute, the average Australian worker performs 6 weeks of unpaid overtime a year, worth over $8,000 per worker, per year. Managers and professionals experience the highest rates of unpaid overtime and excessive or unreasonable hours.
Nurses denied pay for time spent self-testing for COVID-19 before every shift
In May 2023, the Fair Work Commission determined that a group of nurses and nursing staff, covered by an enterprise agreement, were not entitled, under that agreement, to overtime pay for the time they spent testing themselves for COVID-19 before each shift.
Appeal win for vulnerable first nations victim of vile workplace abuse
Since an initial worker’s compensation victory for this First Nations client’s severe exposure to racial abuse, we have weathered two appeals on behalf of our client, both made by the Northern Territory Department of Health. We are now delighted to report a favourable conclusion of these lengthy legal proceedings.
Psychological injury claims after employer implemented vaccine mandates
Two recent decisions in the NSW Personal Injury Commission (PIC) have awarded compensation to workers who suffered a psychological injury as a result of the employer’s implementation of the NSW government’s vaccination public health order.
Whistleblower protections in the private sector
A whistleblower may make a protected disclosure for a variety of reasons, including to expose wrongdoing or unlawful activity, or to prevent harm to the public or the environment.
Can I change jobs when on Workcover in Queensland?
If you’ve been injured at work in Queensland and you are in receipt of WorkCover benefits, you can change jobs but it may have an effect on your workers’ compensation claim.
Will I get reinstatement after a successful unfair dismissal claim?
While compensation (instead of reinstatement) of up to six months’ pay is a common alternative remedy for unfair dismissal, reinstatement remains the primary remedy under the Fair Work Act. However, even in successful unfair dismissal applications, the Fair Work Commission often does not order reinstatement.
Casual employees’ entitlement to unfair dismissal protection
Two Fair Work Commission decisions in 2022 considered the circumstances in which a casual employee will be protected from unfair dismissal. These decisions were influenced by recent High Court decisions on the importance of written employment contracts in determining the nature of an employment relationship.