PROVIDING THE LATEST LEGAL UPDATES AND GUIDANCE FROM AUSTRALIA’S TOP EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS

28 November 2023, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
#HRDEmploymentLaw

ABOUT


The Employment Law Masterclass is an unmissable event designed to provide busy HR professionals with a comprehensive programme focusing on the latest legal updates and developments affecting workforce obligations.

The last two years have had a lasting impact on organisations everywhere and legislation and standards are evolving to meet Australia’s new way of working.

This masterclass will answer the critical questions HR leaders need answers to: How is the definition of casual employment changing? What can HR departments do to prevent psychiatric injuries and safeguard against claims? How can organisations protect their hybrid workers and is there a responsibility to do so?

Join us this November and get the answers you need from the senior legal specialists that know best.

SPEAKERS


Drew Pearson
Drew Pearson

Partner
Herbert Smith Freehills

Veronica Siow
Veronica Siow

Partner
Allens

Cilla Robinson
Cilla Robinson

Partner
Clayton Utz

Gareth Jolly
Gareth Jolly

Partner
MinterEllison

Karen Ansen
Karen Ansen

Founder and Workplace Lawyer & Human Resources Consultant
Ignite HR and Employment Law

Stephen Hardy
Stephen Hardy

Partner
K&L Gates

Brigid Clark
Brigid Clark

Special Counsel
Maddocks

Alexandra Shields
Alexandra Shields

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright

AGENDA


  • Opening remarks from the chairperson
    Karen Ansen
    Karen Ansen

    Founder and Workplace Lawyer & Human Resources Consultant
    Ignite HR and Employment Law

  • Key changes to Australian employment law in 2022 

    There have been several amendments to employment law over the past year and HR managers must navigate these developments to remain compliant and understand the implications to their organisation. This session will discuss recent and upcoming changes in employment law in 2022 and beyond.

    • Minimum wage increases from 1 July 2022
    • Potential reform to the paid parental leave system
    • Changes to superannuation guarantee and eligibility threshold
    • Increases to the high-income threshold and compensation cap for unfair dismissal
    Karen Ansen
    Karen Ansen

    Founder and Workplace Lawyer & Human Resources Consultant
    Ignite HR and Employment Law

  • Keeping it casual: clarity on definitions of casual employees

    We have seen developments in the Fair Work Commission’s definition of casual employee over the past year, with anticipated changes from the Albanese Government to follow. This session will provide further clarity on the rights and obligations relating to casual employment.

    • Amendments to the definition of “casual employment” and the employee relationship
    • Requirements of casual conversion and implications of employee dismissal
    • Understanding the two-limb test to determine the period of service
    • Lessons from Liting Gu v Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative [2022]
    Gareth Jolly
    Gareth Jolly

    Partner
    MinterEllison

  • Morning tea and refreshment break
  • Updates to workplace health and safety (WHS) laws

    With changes to workplace health and safety laws being announced and employers facing ongoing safety issues related to COVID, this session will provide an overview of the current safety landscape in Australia.

    • Understanding key amendments to the model WHS Act and regulations
    • Are employees eligible for workers’ compensation covering injuries while working from home?
    • Lessons from Mariam Gharib v Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd [2022]
    • Lessons from Jason Lubiejewski v Australian Federal Police [2022]
    Stephen Hardy
    Stephen Hardy

    Partner
    K&L Gates

  • Psychiatric injury at work: employer’s obligations

    Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect employees from mental injuries. What happens when the psychiatric health of employees is affected by their role? What are the legal risks involved when psychiatric injury claims arise?

    • What constitutes a psychiatric injury at work?
    • Managing complex performance management issues and conduct relating to psychiatric injury
    • Revising compliance and training for WHS staff in a hybrid work setting
    • Lessons from Kozarov v Victoria [2022]
    Brigid Clark
    Brigid Clark

    Special Counsel
    Maddocks

  • Networking lunch
  • Preventing and investigating bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace

    New anti-sexual-discrimination laws in Australia have widened the scope of harassment and bullying in the workplace. What are the obligations of employers to actively prevent bullying and harassment at work?

    • Updating prevention frameworks and policies to mitigate risk
    • Examples of comprehensive compliance training for employees
    • How to deal with allegations of bullying or sexual harassment
    • Lessons from THDL [2021]
    Veronica Siow
    Veronica Siow

    Partner
    Allens

  • Employee vs. independent contractors – lessons from the courts

    Recent court decisions indicate a move from the previously accepted ‘multi-factorial’ test to a new approach that relies on written contracts between employee and independent contractors. This session will discuss recent court decisions and considerations to differentiate the contractual relationships.

    • Lessons from Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd [2022]
    • Lessons from ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd v Jamsek [2022]
    • Reviewing written contracts to ensure clarity on employment arrangements upon agreement
    Drew Pearson
    Drew Pearson

    Partner
    Herbert Smith Freehills

  • Afternoon tea and refreshment break
  • Determining modern award entitlements

    The misinterpretation of modern awards can lead to incidents of underpayments and compliance issues. This session will address award and agreement interpretation to provide greater clarity on the employer’s responsibilities and the minimum terms and conditions of employment.

    • Understanding award classification in relation to the work performed by an employee
    • What are the entitlements of an employee that does not fall within the classification of an award?
    • Communicating the difference between award vs. shadowing the award to employees
    • Guidance on annualised salaries and overtime expectations
    Cynthia Elachi
    Cynthia Elachi

    Special Counsel
    Clayton Utz

  • Discipline and termination: Lessons from the court

    One of Australia’s most prominent lawyers will discuss the key takeaways from the most influential cases of the last 12 months.

    • How have judges been ruling on termination cases?
    • Trends in employee compensation rulings
    • Lessons from the recent court decisions
    Alexandra Shields
    Alexandra Shields

    Partner
    Norton Rose Fulbright

  • Q&A: Addressing additional concerns in employment law

    In this interactive session, delegates will have the opportunity to ask the speaker questions relating to various employment law concerns.

    Alexandra Shields
    Alexandra Shields

    Partner
    Norton Rose Fulbright

  • Event concludes

VENUE


Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney

What you’ll gain

  • User Icon

    Engage with top legal experts and your peers to share insights and ideas on how to tackle workforce challenges

  • Chat Icon

    Get the latest updates on casual employment, psychiatric injuries, psychosocial risks, and workplace health and safety

  • Idea Icon

    Reduce your liability and safeguard your organisation by utilising actionable strategies from top legal professionals

CONTACT US


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