Workplace Changes are about to hit hard!by Karena Nicholls6 December 202227 April 2023Swift late-night changes to law are seen as sneaky and somewhat harmful and these changes are no different. Labour has managed to introduce Industrial Relation… Read More »Workplace Changes are about to hit hard!
Legal Fireside Chat with Karena Nicholls and Jerome Doraisamyby Karena Nicholls14 October 20222 July 2024In this video, Coutts’ Partner Karena Nicholls – who won Partner of the Year at the 2022 Australian Law Awards – speaks about what she… Read More »Legal Fireside Chat with Karena Nicholls and Jerome Doraisamy
Record-breaking Fine for Employer Falsifying Payslipsby Karena Nicholls1 September 20225 June 2023KEY TAKE-OUTS Employers are required to make and keep accurate and complete records for all employees Keeping or providing misleading employee records may result in… Read More »Record-breaking Fine for Employer Falsifying Payslips
Workplace Fatigue: Will a Court Find the Employer Liable?by Karena Nicholls24 August 202227 April 2023KEY TAKE-OUTS On 30 June 2022 the New South Wales Supreme Court handed down a decision relating to injuries sustained by an employee while travelling… Read More »Workplace Fatigue: Will a Court Find the Employer Liable?
Can Out-of-Hours Conduct lead to Dismissal?by Karena Nicholls15 August 202227 April 2023KEY TAKE-OUTS Some out-of-office conduct may constitute a valid reason for dismissal. The lines between work and private life can often merge which makes it… Read More »Can Out-of-Hours Conduct lead to Dismissal?
High Court Considers “Dangerous Recreational Activity”by Karena Nicholls12 April 202228 July 2025In the recent case of Tapp v Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association Limited [2022] HCA 11. On 6 April 2022 the High Court held… Read More »High Court Considers “Dangerous Recreational Activity”
COVID-19 Boosters, Mandatory or Not?by Karena Nicholls1 April 202228 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS Employers can mandate the COVID-19 booster vaccination An employer direction to get the COVID-19 booster vaccination must be lawful and reasonable Employers must… Read More »COVID-19 Boosters, Mandatory or Not?
Contracting COVID in the Workplace Results in a Massive Payout to the Estateby Karena Nicholls26 October 202128 July 2025Arbitrator John Harris has found in the case of Sara v G & S Sara Pty Ltd [2021] that the estate of a deceased director… Read More »Contracting COVID in the Workplace Results in a Massive Payout to the Estate
Some Risks Aren’t So Obvious – Council Held Liableby Karena Nicholls13 October 202130 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS: It is important to know whether your injury was caused by obvious risks when making a Public Liability Claim. A recent decision of… Read More »Some Risks Aren’t So Obvious – Council Held Liable
New Workplace Sexual Harassment Legislation Passes Parliamentby Karena Nicholls28 September 202119 July 2023KEY TAKE-OUTS: Australian employees are now better protected from sexual harassment from their colleagues and leaders after the passing of the Sex Discrimination and Fair… Read More »New Workplace Sexual Harassment Legislation Passes Parliament
Workplace Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Under the Microscopeby Karena Nicholls24 August 202131 July 2025A former female Australian Federal Police (“AFP”) officer (“the plaintiff”) who was driven from being able to pursue her career has been afforded the right… Read More »Workplace Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Under the Microscope
Have you heard of Industrial Deafness?by Karena Nicholls17 August 202128 July 2025Industrial deafness can be a hindrance to a person’s everyday life. Whilst safety regarding hearing in the workplace has greatly improved, what about those who… Read More »Have you heard of Industrial Deafness?
Employers Power: If You Breach a Health Order During COVID-19 and Mandatory Vaccinationby Karena Nicholls29 July 202128 July 2025It’s another blow to businesses and families as the Premier announced another lockdown for 4 weeks due to the COVD-19 outbreak. But two areas of… Read More »Employers Power: If You Breach a Health Order During COVID-19 and Mandatory Vaccination
When Personal Injury and Employment Law Collideby Karena Nicholls15 June 202131 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS Mr Rode was a truck driver who was dismissed for making a joke to another employee in relation to making a WorkCover claim.… Read More »When Personal Injury and Employment Law Collide
Poor Culture Is No Excuse for Offensive Post on Facebookby Karena Nicholls11 June 202131 July 2025A finance broker with 7 years of service was dismissed by his employer for misconduct after posting two memes on his personal Facebook page. In… Read More »Poor Culture Is No Excuse for Offensive Post on Facebook
Big Changes on the Menu(log) for Gig Economy Contractorsby Karena Nicholls6 June 202128 July 2025KEY TAKE-OUTS With the rise of the ‘gig economy’, the impacts of the Global Pandemic on employment rates and Australia’s industrial relations system has fallen… Read More »Big Changes on the Menu(log) for Gig Economy Contractors
Nervous Shock: What is it?by Karena Nicholls5 May 20215 June 2023Co-written by Mai O’Regan (Paralegal) If a psychological injury is inflicted upon you by either an intentional or negligent act/omission by another person, this is… Read More »Nervous Shock: What is it?
Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Reform is on its Wayby Karena Nicholls15 April 202131 July 2025What a whirlwind the last few weeks has been in the media regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. It highlights the need for change in… Read More »Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Reform is on its Way
Public Liability Claims: Negligent or Not?by Karena Nicholls5 March 202131 July 2025Let’s look at two cases Hubbard v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSW SC 1922 and Hayley Marks v Skydive Holdings Pty Ltd… Read More »Public Liability Claims: Negligent or Not?
The New Personal Injury Commission (“PIC”) comes into force 1 March 2021!by Karena Nicholls25 February 20216 March 2024The Personal Injury Commission (PIC) will come into effect from 1 March 2021. What this means is there will be no more Workers Compensation Commission… Read More »The New Personal Injury Commission (“PIC”) comes into force 1 March 2021!