Termination and Unfair Dismissals

Supporting Employers and Employees

Employment relations will inevitably always come to an end either through retirement or dismissal. However, dismissals must always be certain to ensure a lawful termination and if you are a manager, to protect the business from potential future litigation. Bailiwick Legal supports and helps clients resolve their needs and achieving the final outcome.

We can help ensure you are compliant with legal requirements and meeting high standards for employees. We can also help resolve any disputes with past employees regarding termination and unfair / unlawful dismissals.

We handle all termination and unfair dismissal queries, for any questions regarding a potential or current dispute regarding termination, contact us today or call us at 0893215451 .

We also assist in HR advice, employment training and investigation, workplace bullying and discrimination, workplace dispute resolution and contract drafting – you can seek information on these services on the main Bailiwick Workplace page.

FAQs about Unfair Dismissal

Have some questions about Unfair Dismissals? Find the answers below.

What is an Unfair Dismissal?

The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) states that a “harsh, unjust or unreasonable” termination based on certain factors would be deemed as unfair dismissal.
Examples of Unfair Dismissal
Some examples of situations where a termination would be deemed to be an unfair dismissal would be:
- Being forced to resign due to the conduct of the employer i.e. aggression and threats;
- Being dismissed for poor performance without the employee having received warnings and/or performance feedback prior to the dismissal;
- Being dismissed due to an illness or injury which the employee was still recovering from; and
- Being dismissed due to redundancy but the position was then given to a new employee.
Who can claim Unfair Dismissal?
Most employees will be able to claim for Unfair Dismissal, however, there are certain exceptions for employees which makes them ineligible:
- The employee worked for less than 6 months with the employer;
- The employee was a casual / temporary employee; and
- The employee was under probation when the dismissal occurred.
How to avoid Unfair Dismissal cases as an Employer

There are several steps which an employer can take to minimise the likelihood of an unfair dismissal case from being successful and/or even being filed against in the first place.

An employer must ensure to stay on top of all State and Commonwealth legislation regarding termination to ensure a legal termination. Examples of this would be a manager taking upon themselves to contact a lawyer for legal advice or read up on legislation such as the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code which states the checklist needed to carry out a lawful termination for a small business.