What Rights Do I Have as an Employer in Australia?

What Rights Do I Have as an Employer in Australia?

Australian employment law is complex and provides a significant amount of protection for employers and employees alike. Every employee knows that they have rights – rights to a minimum pay rate, rights to holidays and sick leave and rights to a fair working environment, among other things – but did you know that numerous employer rights also exist?

In many cases, employer rights are overshadowed by employee rights and the potential for legal action if they accidentally break the law. In the rest of this article, we’ve covered Australian employer rights, what you can reasonably expect as an employer, and everything else you need to know.

In Australia, employers have the right to:

Hire and Dismiss Workers Within the Scope of the Law

While employees have a lot of rights in this area, it’s certainly possible for employers to hire and fire workers as required without the risk of legal action, as long as they do so within the scope of the law. This includes:

  • Not discriminating between employees or potential employees based on their race, gender, sexuality, or anything else.
  • Following any terms and conditions outlined within an employment contract, including paid parental leave, providing enough notice and/or paying all outstanding benefits when a contract is terminated which can be classed as unfair dismissal.
  • Providing an equal opportunity, equal pay work environment without a gender pay gap or other pay inequalities.