In Australia, the termination of employment is governed by the Fair Work Act 2009, the National Employment Standards (NES), modern awards, and registered agreements. These regulations set the guidelines for how both employers and employees must approach the termination process.

Lawful Grounds for Dismissal

Employers in Australia cannot terminate an employee's employment without a valid reason. Lawful grounds for dismissal include:

• Performance: An employee consistently fails to meet the required standards of their role, even after receiving support, training, and warnings.
• Conduct: The employee engages in inappropriate or disruptive behavior, breaches company policy, or engages in serious misconduct (e.g., theft, violence).
• Redundancy: The employee's position is genuinely no longer needed due to operational reasons, such as restructuring or economic downturn.
• Capacity: The employee is unable to perform the inherent requirements of their role due to illness or injury, with no reasonable adjustments available.

It's important to note that Australia does not recognize "at-will" employment.

Notice Requirements

Unless in cases of serious misconduct, employers must generally provide a minimum notice period when terminating an employee's employment. The required notice period is based on the employee's duration of continuous service and their age:

• Less than 1 year of service: 1 week's notice
• 1 year to less than 3 years of service: 2 weeks' notice
• 3 years to less than 5 years of service: 3 weeks' notice
• 5 years or more of service: 4 weeks' notice
• Employee over 45 years of age (with at least 2 years of service): An additional week's notice on top of the standard amount

Payment in Lieu of Notice

An employer can choose to pay the employee their equivalent salary for the notice period instead of having them work it out.

Severance Pay (Redundancy Pay)

Employees made redundant due to their position becoming obsolete are entitled to severance pay. The amount of redundancy pay is determined by the employee's length of continuous service:

• Less than 1 year: Nil
• 1 year to less than 2 years: 4 weeks' pay
• 2 years to less than 3 years: 6 weeks' pay
• 3 years to less than 4 years: 7 weeks' pay
• 4 years to less than 5 years: 8 weeks' pay
• 5 years to less than 6 years: 10 weeks' pay
• 6 years to less than 7 years: 12 weeks' pay
• 7 years to less than 8 years: 14 weeks' pay
• 8 years to less than 9 years: 16 weeks' pay
• 9 years or more: 12 weeks' pay

Additional Considerations

• Unfair Dismissal: Employees may lodge an unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission if they believe their termination was unjust, unreasonable, or harsh. Small businesses with fewer than 15 employees have an exemption period of 12 months for unfair dismissal claims.
• Modern Awards and Agreements: Specific awards or agreements relevant to an industry or company may have additional provisions regarding termination.

In Australia, anti-discrimination laws protect people from unfair treatment or discrimination based on several characteristics. These include age, disability, race, sex, intersex status, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or relationship status, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and family or carer's responsibilities.

Protected Characteristics

Age refers to protection against discrimination based on chronological age. Disability includes physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, or learning disabilities, as well as diseases or illnesses and the presence in the body of organisms that cause or are capable of causing disease or illness. Race includes color, descent, national origin, ethnic origin, and immigrant status. Sex includes gender and a person's biological sex.

Intersex Status protects those with naturally occurring variations in sex characteristics. Gender Identity refers to a person's deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender. Sexual Orientation includes a person's attraction towards people of the same sex, opposite sex, or more than one sex. Marital or Relationship Status includes whether a person is single, married, divorced, de facto, or in another type of relationship. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding refers to being pregnant or the ability to become pregnant in the case of women, and also covers breastfeeding. Family or Carer's Responsibilities protects individuals who have responsibilities to care for family members.

Other Protected Attributes

Depending on the state or territory, additional characteristics may be protected. These include political opinion, religion, social origin, medical record, trade union activity, criminal record, and physical features.

Areas Where Anti-Discrimination Laws Apply

Discrimination under Australian law is prohibited in key areas such as employment, education, accommodation, provision of goods and services, and clubs.

Redress Mechanisms

If you've experienced discrimination, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (if the discrimination falls under Federal law) or with your relevant state or territory anti-discrimination body. For employment-related discrimination, you can contact the Fair Work Commission. In severe or persistent cases, you may choose to pursue legal action in the courts.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers have specific responsibilities to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace. They should develop and implement an anti-discrimination policy, provide training to employees, take all reasonable steps to prevent discrimination, and have a grievance procedure.

In Australia, a well-established framework for employee entitlements ensures a balance between work and personal life.

Work Hours

A full-time employee in Australia typically works 38 hours per week, averaged over a month. This can be spread unevenly across the week, but overtime rates apply for exceeding ordinary hours. The maximum allowable working hours are 38 per week, or 152 per four weeks, excluding reasonable additional hours. Employees also have the right to request flexible work arrangements from their employers. This could include changes in start and finish times, part-time work, or working from home.

Rest Periods and Breaks

Employees are entitled to an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes if they work more than seven consecutive hours. Shorter breaks may be permitted depending on the industry and specific award or agreement. In addition to meal breaks, employees are entitled to short rest breaks throughout the workday. The specific duration and frequency of these breaks may vary depending on the award or agreement that applies to the workplace.

Ergonomic Requirements

Australian workplaces are subject to laws that mandate a safe working environment for employees. This includes regulations on ergonomic design of workstations to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Employers have a responsibility to identify and manage ergonomic risks in the workplace. This may involve providing adjustable furniture, promoting good posture practices, and offering training on proper lifting techniques. Employers may also be required to conduct workstation assessments to ensure that workspaces are designed to suit individual needs and minimize the risk of injury.

Australia has a comprehensive framework of health and safety (WHS) regulations that prioritize worker safety. These regulations are designed to empower both employers and employees to create a safe and healthy work environment.

Employer Obligations

Under the WHS Act 2011, employers have a primary duty of care. They are required to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other persons at the workplace. This duty translates into several key obligations:

• Risk Management: Employers must proactively identify and manage potential hazards in the workplace. This includes conducting risk assessments, implementing control measures, and providing adequate information and training to employees.

• Safe Work Practices and Procedures: Employers must establish safe work practices and procedures. This includes using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), maintaining machinery properly, and having emergency procedures in place.

• Consultation and Cooperation: Employers are required to consult with workers and their representatives on WHS matters. This fosters a collaborative environment where safety concerns can be openly discussed and addressed.

• Providing a Safe Work Environment: Employers are responsible for providing and maintaining a safe physical work environment. This includes ensuring proper ventilation, lighting, and addressing ergonomic risks associated with workstations.

Employee Rights

WHS legislation also empowers employees with certain rights:

• Right to a Safe Work Environment: Employees have the right to work in an environment free from risks to their health and safety.

• Information and Training: Employees have the right to receive information, instruction, and training on WHS matters relevant to their work.

• Consultation and Participation: Employees have the right to be consulted about WHS issues and participate in processes for improving workplace safety.

• Refusal of Unsafe Work: Employees have the right to refuse to perform work they believe to be unsafe, provided they have reasonable grounds to do so.

Enforcement Agencies

WHS laws are enforced by various agencies across different Australian states and territories. Here's a breakdown of the key players:

• Safe Work Australia: This national body develops model WHS laws, provides resources and guidance, and coordinates WHS activities across jurisdictions.

• State and Territory WHS Regulators: Each state and territory has its own regulator responsible for enforcing WHS laws within their jurisdiction. These agencies conduct inspections, investigate incidents, and issue improvement notices or fines for non-compliance.

• Comcare: This agency is responsible for enforcing WHS laws in Commonwealth workplaces and for employers with a federal license.