Employment Law - A Year in Review

Starts

11:00am Wednesday, 8 December 2021

Ends

12:00pm Wednesday, 8 December 2021

Type

Legal and Compliance Webinars

Location

Online

At your desk

Melbourne, Victoria 3000

Australia

See map: Google Maps

What a year 2021 has been!

In Australia, many employers started out the year full of optimism that 2021 would be a less disruptive year than 2020. Employers thought the new year would provide opportunities to get strategic planning back on track and progress the human resources projects that were put on the backburner during the chaos of COVID-19 in 2020.

However, for many employers, that was certainly not the case. Extended lockdowns in many states and territories of Australia had employers on the back-foot yet again, with many managers spending all of their time reacting to matters, rather than proactively looking at HR issues.

It is no wonder then, that so many of those tasked with people management responsibilities have perhaps not had as much time to focus on some of 2021’s most significant employment law issues.

During this webinar, we will review the noteworthy employment law topics of 2021 and outline a roadmap that Australian employers can use to plan for the employment-related issues they are likely to face in 2022.

What Will You Take Away From the Session?

During the course of the webinar, our presenters will review the following employment-law issues of 2021:

The impact of COVID-19 on employment in Australia, including increased flexible working, working from home and mandatory vaccinations
Changes to casual employment, including casual conversion requirements
The legislative amendments following the government’s response to the Respect@Work report on sexual harassment
Changes to employer superannuation contributions

Our presenters will also provide you with a practical roadmap to ensure that you have properly taken account of the matters listed above (including the opportunities they provide), as well as the employment-law issues likely to arise in 2022.

There will also be an opportunity to participate in an interactive Q&A session.

Who Should Attend?

This seminar is suitable for HR personnel, in-house legal counsel and any senior manager or business owner who is responsible for the management of Australian employees.

Our Presenters
Nicola Martin Partner, Labour & Employment Practice Group Squire Patton Boggs
Nicola Martin is a partner in the Labour & Employment Practice Group. She is a highly regarded lawyer with two decades’ experience advising clients on the full spectrum of employment relations, industrial relations and human resources matters. Nicola’s focus is on how she can best support her clients in their strategic objectives, while navigating a heavily regulated environment. She is not only reactive to their issues, but also particularly enjoys rolling out proactive training to boards, management, HR teams and employees on employment issues. Nicola often guides clients through discrimination, bullying and harassment issues, as well as the day-to-day aspects of the employment life cycle, including advice around recruitment, managing employee performance and conduct issues, workplace change and redundancies, drafting and reviewing employment and contractor agreements, conducting workplace investigations, restraint of trade queries, drafting collective agreements and advising on terminations. She has a particular interest in global mobility issues and enjoys providing support to the Corporate team, providing advice on the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Nicola regularly represents clients in a variety of courts and tribunals, including the Federal Court, Supreme Court and Fair Work Commission. Secondments to a major financial institution, a transport corporation and a multinational infrastructure organisation have provided Nicola with invaluable insights into her clients’ priorities and how to support them achieve their people and culture objectives. Nicola’s practical, commercial advice is valued by senior management, boards and HR teams within multinational corporations, insurers, SMEs and family-owned enterprises in the private sector, as well as government and other public sector clients.

Erin Kidd Director, Labour & Employment Practice Group Squire Patton Boggs
Erin Kidd is a director in the Labour & Employment Practice Group. She has over a decade’s experience advising on all facets of the employment relationship. Having university qualifications in law, human resources management and industrial relations, Erin understands the complexities of people management and provides her clients with practical and easy-to-understand advice. Erin works with the senior management, in-house counsel and human resources personnel of her clients to assist on all aspects of the employment life cycle. This includes advice on recruitment procedures and employment contracts when an employee is first hired, to assistance with termination of employment and employment-related litigation. Erin also conducts workplace investigations in respect of allegations of discrimination, harassment and misconduct, and conducts workplace training. Erin assists her clients to navigate contractual and regulatory issues, including entitlements of employees, employee disciplinary issues, employee complaints and grievances, restraints of trade, workplace restructuring, redundancy, managing ill and injured workers, modern slavery and whistleblowing. She also advises on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, including business sales and acquisitions. Erin acts for employers before various state and federal courts and industrial relations tribunals, but where appropriate seeks to negotiate settlement outcomes in contentious employment matters, both before and after litigation has commenced. Erin works with both private sector and government clients, and she has experience acting for employers across a range of industries, including retail, manufacturing, engineering services, mining and resources, recruitment, earthmoving and industrial equipment, professional services, media and entertainment, education, property development, construction and infrastructure, advertising and private equity.