Workplace Relations

Our Workplace Relations Group delivers expert and practical advice on employment law, to guide employers through the maze of workplace laws.

We are committed to providing a responsive, cost-effective and an affable employment law service to clients. A part of this is a unique ‘Integrated Diagnostic Approach’ to meeting client needs.

Leading practitioners Fay Calderone and Stewart Gough are widely recognised as thought leaders, regularly speaking at major employment law  events and authoring articles in industry magazines. In March 2009, the group released a leading Australia-wide employer survey on the National Employment Standards.

Our end-to-end employment law solutions cover change management, workplace issues, industrial award advisory, OH&S, contracts, migration and litigation services.

Our clients include manufacturers, retailers, insurers, recruiters, professional services firms, community sector employers, medical providers, educational institutions and local councils.

Fay Calderone is also a Registered Migration Agent (0748014). Registered Migration Agents must act in accordance with the Migration Agents Registration Authority Code of Conduct (“The Code”) in providing migration services to clients. See https://www.mara.gov.au/Code-of-Conduct/Code-of-Conduct/default.aspx for a copy of the Code of Conduct as displayed on the Authority's web site.

In-house training

Recent and upcoming changes to workplace legislation have caused considerable confusion and uncertainty for employers. Complying with these reforms is a challenge - employers need guidance on how to comply, what to comply with and what 'best practices' could be put in place to avoid employment law issues and problems.  We can assist you in understanding the new legislation and how it applies to your business. 

Our workplace relations group is at the forefront of providing employment law advice to clients, hosting events and delivering in-house training on the latest reforms to workplace legislation and on workplace issues. We provide in-house training modules on the following topics:

• OH&S
• Discrimination, bullying and harassment for employees and managers
• National Employment Standards
• Modern Awards
• Termination of Employment and New Unfair/Unlawful Dismissal Laws
• Agreement Making and Union Rights
• Employee Entitlements on Transfer of Business

To book in-house training contact Robyn Sheppard on (02) 9806 7473 or workplacetraining@matthewsfolbigg.com.au.

What our clients say about us

“I find the professionalism, quality of service and quick turnaround provided by Fay Calderone and MatthewsFolbigg Workplace Relations’ team to be second to none. We always receive practical advice delivered in a friendly and easy to comprehend manner”.

Karen Pickles, Human Resources Manager
Asia Pacific, Michael Page International

"Sandvik Australia's relationship with Matthews Folbigg is best described as a mature one.  Our most recent dealings have been with the firm's Workplace Relations division.  As is synonymous with Matthews Folbigg, the service provided has been prompt, sound and effective.   The lawyers at Matthews Folbigg understand the difficulties employers face with the practical application of employment law in the workplace."

Maria Avery, Human Resources Operations Manager
Sandvik Australia Pty Ltd

Our services

The services we provide include:

• Employment and independent contractor agreements
• Confidentiality and restraint documents and enforcement
• Employer policies and proceedures
• Management of investigations into misconduct, discrimination, bullying and harrassment
• Interpretive advice on legislation, awards, industrial agreements and employer entitlements
• Negotiation and preparation of enterprise agreements
• Occupational health and safety (OH&S) documents and advice
• Defending unfair/unlawful dismissal and adverse action claims
• Advice and assistance with restructures/change management
• Training in-house and event based seminars
• Employer assisted temporary and permanent migration

Further details on some services:

HR Systems & Advisory

• Applications forms/recruitment proceedures
• Contracts
• Policies and procedures
• Advice regarding practical application of legislation, industrial instruments
• Assistance managing terminations and ensuring compliance with relevant laws
• Advising on individual executive and other employment issues, including anticipating, avoiding and solving disputes which arise with individual employees

Commercial/Change Management

• Management of employee matters arising out of transfer of business, including:
  • sale and purchase of business transactions
  • mergers and acquisitions
  • insourcing and outsourcing of work
• Assistance with business restructures and redundancies

OH&S

• Preparation of OH&S manuals
• Assistance with risk assessments and consultation arrangements
• Assistance with investigations
• Guidance in managing Workcover inspections and prosecutions

Discrimination

• Ensuring effective policies and procedures are in place and offering training to help reduce issues and claims
• Assisting in management of claims
• Advising on investigations and, where necessary, appearing in proceedings before anti-discrimination tribunals 

Migration

• Workers’ rights checks
• Employer Assisted Migration
• Tailored Employment Contracts
• Advice regarding obligations to sponsored employees during employment up to and including termination

	Fay Calderone Director - Workplace Relations Group Phone: 9806 7412 Email: fayc@matthewsfolbigg.com.au

	Stewart Gough Director - Workplace Relations Group Phone: 9806 7483 Email: stewartg@matthewsfolbigg.com.au

	Jacqueline Vertellini Solicitor - Workplace Relations Group Phone: 9806 7414 Email: jacquelinev@matthewsfolbigg.com.au