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Those actions include unfair dismissal, generalprotections and unlawful termination. There arealso claims an employee can bring which areindirectly associated with dismissal, includingunderpayment, breach of contract, anddiscrimination.

In some instances, an employee can bring a claimduring their employment and/or prior to theirdismissal. This article will focus on three commonemployee claims, which are unfair dismissal,general protections and unlawful termination.

Employer Assist actively encourages AAAAmembers to understand their rights andobligations when it comes to dismissing anemployee. This article will outline and clarify themain differences between the various claims anemployee could lodge under the FWA.

What is unfair dismissal? Unfair Dismissal can arise where an employee’semployment is dismissed in a way which is ‘harsh,unjust or unreasonable.’

The FWA outlines the relevant considerations thatthe Commission considers when determiningwhether dismissal was ‘harsh, unjust orunreasonable’, including:

• Whether there was a valid reason for thedismissal related to the employee’s capacityor conduct;

• Whether the employee was notified of thatreason;

• Whether the employee was given anopportunity to respond;

• Any unreasonable refusal by the employer toallow the employee to have a support personpresent to assist at any discussions relating tothe dismissal;

• Whether the dismissal related to unsatisfactoryperformance by the employee;

• Whether the employee has been warned aboutthat unsatisfactory performance before thedismissal;

• The degree to which the size of the employer’sbusiness would be likely to impact on theprocedures following in effecting thedismissal;

• The degree to which the absence of dedicatedHR personnel would be likely to impact on theprocedures followed in effecting the dismissal;and

• Any other matters that the Commissionconsiders relevant.

What are general protections? An employee may bring a claim for generalprotections where an employer takes adverseaction against the employee because they haveexercised or seek to exercise a ‘workplace right.’A common misconception is that adverse actionmeans dismissal. However, it may also includediscrimination or the alteration of an employee’sposition.

It is important to note that adverse action can betaken even where there is no dismissal. Inaddition, a person has a ‘workplace’ right where:

• they are entitled to the benefit of, or have arole or responsibility under, a workplace law,workplace instrument, or order made by anindustrial body;

• they are able to initiate, or participate in, aprocess or proceedings under a workplace lawor workplace action; or

• they are able to make a complaint or inquiry(to a relevant body).

For example, an employee who has theiremployment dismissed because they exercised aworkplace right (for example, taking personalleave or annual leave) would be able to make aclaim for general protections. If an employee isentitled to commence both an unfair dismissaland/or general protections claim, they will not beable to commence both and can only choose one.

What is unlawful termination? Unlawful termination arises where an employerdismisses an employee’s employment unlawfully.

This can arise where the employee is dismissedfollowing a temporary absence from work becauseof illness or injury, where they have a trade union

membership, or where they are discriminated onthe basis of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation,age, physical or mental disability, marital status,family or carer’s responsibilities, pregnancy,religion, political opinion, national extraction orsocial origin.

It is important to consider that there is an overlapbetween general protections and unlawfultermination. Further to the example above, anemployee who has their employment dismissedfollowing a temporary absence where they usedpersonal or annual leave would be entitled toconsider both a general protections and/orunlawful termination claim.

However, under the FWA, general protections areonly available to employees who work for NationalSystem Employers (NSEs), whereas unlawfultermination is available to employees who workfor any employer. Also, if an employee is entitledto bring a claim for general protections, they willnot be allowed to bring a claim for unlawfultermination.

Most (if not all) AAAA members are NSEs andtherefore where an employee is entitled to bring ageneral protections and unlawful terminationclaim, they will commence the general protectionsclaim.

UNFAIR DISMISSAL, GENERALPROTECTIONS AND UNLAWFULTERMINATION There are a number of claims an employee can bring following their dismissal

Need Assistance?Employer Assist provides advice on all issues

relating to unfair dismissal, general protections and unlawful termination, and can assist you with navigating your rights and obligations

as an employer. Please contact Employer Assist on 1300 735 306

or aaaa@employerassist.com.au if you require any assistance.

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