In every organisation, HR is supposed to be the safe zone — the place employees can turn to when something goes wrong. But what happens when HR gets it wrong? And just for the record, this isn’t about “bad HR” as a profession.  Most HR people care deeply and do incredibly difficult work under pressure. But even good HR teams can make mistakes, and when they do, the consequences for employees and employers alike can be significant. I recently managed such a case, and the legal

Quick Answer: Your offset clauses are still valid, but they only work if your payroll covers Award entitlements every pay cycle. Keep time records and make top-up payments if needed. Background In 2021, the Fair Work Ombudsman took Coles and Woolworths to the Federal Court after uncovering large-scale underpayments of their salaried managers. The problem? Even though these employees were on “all-in” salaries with set-off clauses, the pay didn’t actually cover overtime, pena

In a recent Fair Work Commission decision — Karlene Chandler v Westpac Banking Corporation [2025] FWC 3115  — the Commission sent a clear message to employers: If you refuse a flexible work request, you must do more than point to policy. Deputy President Roberts found that Westpac breached the National Employment Standards (NES) by failing to properly handle an employee’s flexible work request under section 65 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Ms Chandler, a long-serving employee an

I had the pleasure of catching up with Jessica Mao, Director of ABG (Australia Biotechnology Group) , and seeing first-hand the innovation driving this exciting biotech start-up. ABG is making big strides in the herbal and pharmaceutical space, from natural wellness sprays and supplements through to their proudly Australian-made gummies. Gummies are still relatively rare in Australia, and ABG is leading the way with high-quality, compliant formulations designed to support im

A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a really effective tool for managing underperformance - it provides structure, sets clear...

"I didn't see them drinking". "They weren't slurring their words". "Someone told me they smelled alcohol on their breath". "I don't want...

I had the pleasure of visiting MJM Australia this week — a family-owned business with 60+ years of history, now delivering Disney,...

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting a very special client. They are a trusted name in workwear, corporate apparel and hospitality...

Attending the Cairns Business Women’s Club event was a powerful reminder of the strength and determination of small business owners and...

With the Closing the Loopholes Act 2024 , understanding the difference between an employee  and an independent contractor  has never been...

In the competitive business landscape of Australia, medium-sized companies find their edge through a robust Human Resources (HR) department.