Workplace Law & Strategy

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By: Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Blog Authors

Amanda Cavanough
Amy Fox
Ameena Majid
Ben Dudley
Brad McLean
Chris Gardner
Cassie Howman-Giles
Cinzia Pietrolungo
Darren Perry
Emily Aitken
Erin Hawthorne
Emma Laurie-Rhodes
Geoffrey Beinart-Smollan
Georgia Simmonds
Henry Skene
Jane Hall
Justine Giuliani
Jo Flitcroft
Justine Turnbull
Karla Grossenbacher
Kelly Ralph
Laura Carrington
Luke Edwards
Ming Henderson
Mitchell Brennan
Michelle Cox
Mark Stokes
Michael Tamvakologos
Nick Neil
Paul Cutrone
Philippa Noakes
Rachel Bernasconi
Stephen Crilly
Sophia Gerakios
Sarah Goodhew
Sam Witton
Shomaice Zowghi
Tim Griffin
Thomas Sorrenson
Vanja Bulut
Will Marshall

Latest from Workplace Law & Strategy

Our clients care deeply about innovation and technology. We know this from our engagement with clients including discussions triggered by reflecting on the findings of the CSIRO’s Workplace Safety Futures report. Our clients care about “machines” (including “robots”, artificial intelligence, biometrics and the harnessing of big data) being developed as a result of innovation and technology because of the unprecedented efficiencies and improvements in safety they unlock. These benefits come with a potentially profound human…
Safe
It is widely proclaimed that we are in the midst of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (4IR). The leaps and bounds that are being made daily in information technology and biotechnology signal the end of homo sapiens or provide liberating freedom for the working masses, depending on which commentator’s view you believe. For us, the daily lived experience of the 4IR in working and home life is not yet as cataclysmic nor as emancipating as the…
Erin Hawthorne
We are excited to announce that Erin Hawthorne has been promoted to partner. Although we have grown through lateral partner appointments over the past few years, Erin is the first promotion to partner from within the team since the Australian offices of Seyfarth Shaw opened in Australia. “Erin has been a leader in our team since Seyfarth opened doors in Australia, and her promotion to partner recognises this”, said Australia Managing Partner, Darren Perry.…
5th birthday
On 12 December 2013 Seyfarth Shaw announced our Australian offices were officially open for business. Today marks five years since those doors opened. What better way to reflect than to ask ourselves, what have been the biggest changes in our specialist areas of law over those five years? “It has become increasingly difficult to make enterprise agreements that are compliant, genuinely enterprise-focused and fit for purpose due to increasing modern award complexity combined with the…
grass
After several years of reports and recommendations, the Australian Parliament has passed the Modern Slavery Act 2018—carrying an imperative for businesses in Australia to take action on their modern slavery risks and responsibilities. Updates to the legislation The Modern Slavery Bill generated impassioned debate in both the House and Senate, passing with bipartisan support and several amendments to the legislation: Explanations for failure to comply: If the Minister is reasonably satisfied that an entity has…
equality in the workplace
This week’s data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) shows some modest improvements in workplace gender equality in the entities required to report to WGEA (those with 100 or more employees). There was an ever so slight increase in the proportion of women in senior management roles. And I guess the “biggest single-year drop” of 1% in the gender pay gap is something to celebrate (at least it didn’t go up!) notwithstanding that…
annual leave
It’s no secret that Australians love their annual leave. In recent years, many companies have chosen to go above and beyond minimum standards by offering extra leave – reflecting the view that rested employees are generally happier and more productive at work. Some companies even let employees decide how much leave to take. For example in 2014, Virgin Group unveiled an ‘unlimited’ annual leave policy. Our 2014 blog observed that “time would tell” if the…
Locks (2)
An enforceable restraint of trade can be a key business asset. Some might think about it as an insurance policy. The capacity to preserve customer connections, protect confidential information and discourage key executives from setting up their own business or moving to a competitor can be critical to information rich businesses operating in a competitive market. This is the case now more than ever given that the Supreme Court of Victoria’s decision in Just Group …
alarm
Modern slavery legislation at the Commonwealth level in Australia is getting closer. The Modern Slavery Bill 2018 (Cth) passed the Lower House last week. The Opposition pushed for several amendments to the legislative framework including establishing an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to oversee implementation and enforcement of the legislation, the introduction of penalties on companies for non-compliance with their reporting obligations, and an obligation on the Minister to report annually on compliance by reporting entities. While…
A Senate Select Committee report on the Future of Work and Workers handed down this week after a year-long inquiry, gives some insight (which is likely to be startling to most employers) into the likely Labor legislative agenda in the workplace relations space if there is a change of government at the next election. The employment and IR related recommendations from the Committee’s majority (dominated by Labor, Greens and Independents) include the following that have…