Workplace Relations & Safety
Our market leading team combines technical depth with pragmatic advice to help employers navigate risk, manage workplace issues and achieve operational outcomes. We’re trusted by major employers for our strong commercial clarity and advocacy.
Capabilities
Our Workplace Relations & Safety group has full service industrial relations, employment and occupational health & safety expertise. This expertise comes from the team’s longstanding experience in a variety of top tier and in-house corporate roles. The team’s key strengths are:
- strategic IR, enterprise bargaining and industrial litigation (including good faith bargaining, protected action and pickets)
- corporate performance, change management and productivity
- executive remuneration, contracts and policy
- OHS and major incidents
- unfair dismissal, EEO and adverse action, and
- workplace surveillance and privacy.
"I have experienced working with many firms and teams. The main differentiator of KHQ team is they are “Team” with its complete meaning. Every single team member knows his/her role, act as a team and support their clients in a way that doesn’t leave the client with concerns. I haven’t seen this quality of “teamwork” in many other firms."
- Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2022
“KHQ’s people are passionate about their specialty areas, but will also seek to engage and understand our business in order to understand our drivers and approach to ER, IR and WHS issues. What really sets KHQ apart is their language. While the legal aspects are always there, it is presented in a business digestible format. Equally, the firm is always willing to explore options and test areas of law. It can be exciting to work with them.”
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021
Our industry experience covers a diverse field including construction, resources, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, maintenance engineering, banking and financial services, health, education, telecommunications, transport, logistics, primary industry and food processing, IT, media, property services and real estate, professional services, and retail.
We add value through insight, advice and practical steps.
Invite us out (on our time) for a site tour, a team meeting or a general get together. Our clients often tell us what a genuinely different experience it is to work with us!
Recognition
Our team has received the following recognition:
- Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific Guide: employment (2023-2026).
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Leading Firm, labour & employment (2017-2026).
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Firm to Watch, labour & employment (WHS) (2023-2024).
- Doyles Guide: Leading Employment Law Firm (Employer Representation) (Third Tier), Victoria – 2026. The team was previously recommended in the same category (2018-2025).
- Doyles Guide: Leading Workplace Health & Safety Law Firm (Third Tier), Victoria 2023 & 2024 (recommended from 2020-2022).
- The Best Law Firms in Australia: occupational health and safety law (2025), labour and employment law, employee benefits law (2025-2026).
Director, Chris Gianatti, has received multiple accolades, including:
- Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific Guide: employment (2019-2026).
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Leading Partner, labour & employment (2015-2026).
- Doyles Guide: Leading Employment Lawyer (Employer Representation) Victoria (2018-2026).
- Doyles Guide: Leading Employment Lawyer (Employer Representation) Australia (2026).
- The Best Lawyers™ in Australia: labour & employment law (since 2018), employee benefits law (since 2022) and occupational health & safety law (2026).
- Lexology Client Choice: winner, employment & benefits (Australia) (2015-2017).
INSIGHTS
Workplace Watch – 20 March 2026: Urgent FWC fuel cost intervention, industrial disputes data released by the ABS, AI-fuelled dismissals being upheld
Transport Workers’ Union
TWU
WFH laws
Lady Gowrie Agreement
‘Emergency’ RTCCO reforms
fuel cost intervention
Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026
Road Transport Contractual Chain Orders
Fair Work Act
Fair Work Commission
FWC
Workplace Watch – 11 March 2026: ‘world-first’ WFH laws proposed in Vic, NSW IR launches updated guidance regarding LSL Act, FC decision re use of “don’t know” responses from CFMEU
CFMEU
WFH
WFH laws
NSW IR
LSL Act
Annual Leave Loading
Gender Pay Gap Report
Fair Work Commission
FWC
generative AI
Workplace Watch – 17 February 2026: SA labour hiring scheme reforms, changes to NSW workers comp framework, ruling on use of FRT in workplace and retail
Bunnings
facial recognition technology
workers compensation
labour hire licensing scheme
Fair Work Regulations
Fair Work Regulations 2009
workers compensation scheme
psychological injury claims
Fair Work Act
facial recognition
Privacy Act 1988
Workplace Watch – 29 January 2026: FWC redrafts delegates’ rights, SJSP orders, stand downs during industrial action
FWC
Same Job
SJSP
BOOT
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023
Fair Work Act
Fair Work Commission
same job same pay
Workplace Watch – 28 October 2025: Payday Super changes, Full Bench decision re flexible working request, Baby Priya’s Bill
paid parental leave
Baby Priya's Bill
Calderbank
Fast Food Industry Award 2020
Pharmacy Industry Award 2020
indemnity costs
Fair Work Act
payday super
General Retail Industry Award 2020
Workplace Watch – 10 October 2025: Penalties against ABC for unlawful dismissal of Antoinette Lattouf, FWC re ‘unfair deactivation’, significant WHS penalty for Kelloggs
Victorian Psychosocial Health Regulations
WHS fine
ABC
unlawful dismissal
Fair Work Commission
FWC
Annualised Salary Class Actions
Workplace Watch – 19 September 2025: Woolworths and Coles underpayment decision, BHP’s difficulties in the new SJSP regime, Full Court Upholds Multi-Employer Bargaining Approach
AI redundancy
WHS Workers’ Compensation
Safe Work Australia
Woolworths and Coles underpayment decision
same job same pay
Multi-employer bargaining
SJSP
Workplace Watch – 5 September 2025: Full Bench ruling on BHP SJSP orders, penalty rates Bill passes, Right to Disconnect & Employee Choice Casual Conversion Pathway commence for small business
Penalty rates Bill
Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Act 2025
Employee Choice Casual Conversion Pathway
Shift Over Cycle provision
Orica Australia Pty Ltd v Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation (No 2)
Fair Work Act
Right to disconnect
Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace Code of Practice
Workplace Watch – 20 August 2025: Qantas penalised, jurisdictional objections in unfair dismissals, new obligations re digital work systems
general protections
workers compensation
work from home rights
Qantas
Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill 2025
Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013
ational Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Employment Law
Fair Work Act
industrial relations
Workplace Watch – 7 August 2025: High Court ruling on reasonable redeployment; damages awarded to harassed employee; consultation on non-compete ban open
work from home rights
ban on non-compete clauses
sexual harassment
Sex Discrimination Act 1984
reasonable redeployment
Workplace Watch – 23 July 2025: Same job same pay, developments in ER/IR space
penalty rates
ER/IR
AHRC report
Fair Work Commission
same job same pay
FWC
Workplace Watch – 2 July 2025: new year, new numbers, QLD government introduces legislation establishing Mining & Resources Coroner, case updates
National Minimum Wage
CFMEU administration
Workplace Relations
Fair Work Commission
annual wage review
Workplace Watch – 10 June 2025: Workplace Exposure Limits, minimum wage increase, psychological safety, return to work rates
Fair Work Act 2009
General Retail Industry Award 2020
Menulog
psychological safety
Workplace Exposure Limits
Unfair dismissal
Fair Work Commission
general protections
Workplace Watch – 26 May 2025: new Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, prosecution concerning a workplace fatality, contentious ‘same job same pay’ order
FWC
WHS Act
long service leave
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
WHS profile
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
workplace fatality
Fair Work Commission
annual wage review
same job same pay
Workplace Watch – 12 May 2025: Workers’ Compensation Scheme Developments, FWC updates, recent court decisions
FWC
Early Childhood Education multi-enterprise agreement
SafeWork Australia
Workers’ Compensation Scheme Developments
Fair Work Commission
annual wage review
Workplace law
Workplace Watch – 28 April 2025: Labor proposes to remove FWC powers on penalty rates, underpayment updates, Workplace Gender Equality Agency
annual wage review
FWO
paid parental leave
Gender-based undervaluation
wage compliance
Election 2025
payroll remediation program
penalty rates
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
wage theft
Workplace Watch – 14 April 2025: Same-job same-pay laws, significant long service leave decisions, FWO investigation into aged care sector
same job same pay
FWC
ACTU
Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review 2024-2025
long service leave
psychological first aid
SCHADS Award
WFH
WFH in public sector
Fair Work Commission
ACCC
annual wage review
Workplace Watch – 31 March 2025: updates from Budget, draft Blueprint for the Future, FWO probe into sexual harassment in building and construction industry
CFMEU
FWO
higher education awards
Clerks Award working-from-home variation
Federal Budget 2025/26
National Construction Industry Forum
non-compete clauses
NSW Transport Sector
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
Federal Budget
Workplace Watch – 17 March 2025: Commonwealth Code of Practice on Sexual and Gender-based Harassment, WGEA gender pay gap report, FWC decision
CFMEU
TWU
Clerks award
gender pay gap
Sexual and Gender-based Harassment
WGEA
Work Health and Safety (Sexual and Gender-based Harassment) Code of Practice 2025
workers compensation
Fair Work Commission
Respect@Work
FWC
Workplace Watch – 3 March 2025: Family and Domestic Violence Leave, FWC suspends action in the Sydney Trains Dispute
TWU
paid family and domestic violence leave
OHS Regulations
psychological safety amendments
Sydney Trains dispute
transport industry updates
Fair Work Commission
FWC
Fair Work Act 2009
Workplace Watch – 17 February 2025: Opposition’s Election 2025 promises, Digital Transformation of Workplaces, Work health and safety updates
Privacy Act 1988
Work Health & Safety
Digital Transformation of Workplaces
flexible work orders
higher education awards
model terms review
nurses awards
wage compliance
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Act 2009
Right to disconnect
Workplace Watch – 3 February 2025: Wage theft criminalised, annual wage review, recent work health and safety prosecutions
CFMEU manufacturing division separation
Compliance and Enforcement Policy
dismissals arising from breaches to employer policies
draft model terms for enterprise agreements
flexible working arrangements
oluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code Declaration 2024
Ombudsman updates
Proposed WGEA Amendments
RTAG Advice
Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code
work health and safety prosecutions
Fair Work Commission
wage theft
annual wage review
Workplace Watch – 16 December 2024: ATO ruling on superannuation, Woolworths results in bargaining orders, High Court on psychiatric illness
High Court
ATO
Annual Wage Review for 2024/25
bargaining orders
case updates
Digital Labour Platform Deactivation Code
Road Transport Industry Termination Code
transport industry
WHS
Woolworths
Work Health & Safety
Fair Work Commission
enterprise bargaining
superannuation
Workplace Watch – 2 December 2024: Australia’s privacy law, QLD HSR rights removed, Senate Select Committee tables AI report
privacy law
AI report
Australia’s privacy laws
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2024
Commonwealth workplaces
Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024
ES Act
HSR rights
National Construction and Industry Forum
Senate Select Committee
WHS Act
Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024
Work health and safety in Australia
OAIC
WPO
Privacy Act 1988
Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Workplace Watch – 18 November: Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education bill, minimum standards orders, Model terms for enterprise agreements
Road Transport Advisory Group
RTAG
AMWU
Australian Manufacturers Workers’ Union
Live Performance Award 2020
SDA
The Fair Work Commission
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education bill
Fair Work Act 2009
Transport Workers’ Union
TWU
Workplace Watch – 4 November: Same Job, Same Pay Orders, Federal Court’s compensation decision for Qantas employees, ILO’s Occupational Safety and Health Convention ratified
Aged Care Awards
Gender-based undervaluation
ILO
International Labour Organisation
Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health and Convention 191 Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments)
Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
Same Job
Same Pay Orders
Fair Work Commission
safety
Fair Work Act 2009
Workplace Watch – 21 October 2024: Secure Jobs Better Pay review, draft Work Health & Safety Fatigue Code, silicosis dust register
Better Pay
labour hire arrangement orders
paid agents consultation
paid family and domestic violence leave
regulated labour hire arrangement orders
Road Transport Advisory Group
RTAG
Secure Jobs
silicosis dust register
Work Health and Safety Fatigue Code
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Act 2009
CFMEU
Workplace Watch – 7 October 2024: Secure Jobs Better Pay review; workplace surveillance; employer awarded damages for restraint breach
Fair Work Commission
restraint of trade breach
Secure Jobs Better Pay
road transport contractual chain order
Fair Work Act 2009
Sexual Harassment Disputes Benchbook
CFMEU
Transport Workers’ Union
privacy law
workplace surveillance
AEI Insurance Group Pty Ltd v Martin (No 4)
breach of maximum hours
Doherty v Prospa Advance Pty Ltd (No 2)
employee breach of restraint of trade
genuinely trying to reach agreement
Kuiper Australia Pty Ltd v The Australian Workers' Union
Employment Law
minimum standard orders
Restraint of trade
model terms for enterprise agreements
industrial relations law
Pilbrow v University of Melbourne
Workplace Watch – 23 September 2024: Payday Super Reform, dismissal during probation period, Senate report on issues re menopause & perimenopause
industrial relations law
Fair Work Commission
general protections
enterprise agreements
payday super
CFMEU
Transport Workers’ Union
TWU
dismissal during probation
Net Zero Economy Authority Act
Paid Agents Working Group
super on paid parental leave
Employment Law
Fair Work Act
Unfair dismissal
Workplace Watch: first WFH clause; TWU files 3 MSO applications; significant anti-discrimination decision; CFMEU update
working from home
TWU
Workplace law
CFMEU
Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
AFP
AFPA
Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police Associate
Births
Deaths and Marriages Act 1994
Endeavour Energy
minimum standards orders
MNO
Employment Law
Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Fair Work Commission
Tickle v Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd
safety law
Transport Workers’ Union
Workplace Watch: new reforms now in effect, incl right to disconnect; multi-employer bargaining decision; Transgrid update
independent contractors
workplace relations and safety law
CFMEU
Right to disconnect
Casual employment
Cleanaway
Closing Loopholes Act
multi-enterprise agreement
non-disclosure agreements
Secure Jobs Better Pay Act
Transgrid
zombie agreements
Employment Law
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
Workplace Watch: CFMEU update; set-off & underpayments; record penalties re Sushi Bay underpayments
Fair Work Ombudsman
Underpayments
enterprise bargaining
safety law
Workplace law
FWC
Fair Work Act 2009
CFMEU
industrial action
Right to disconnect
Casual employment
Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
FWO
unfair contract terms
workplace relations reforms
Employment Law
Fair Work Commission
Workplace Watch: CFMEU controversy continues; right to disconnect & regulated workers reforms; Modern Awards review; recent FWC decisions
Fair Work Act 2009
CFMEU
Right to disconnect
Casual employment
Closing Loophole reforms
Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
flexible work arrangement
Modern Awards Review 2023-24
regulated workers
workplace bargaining
workplace watch
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
modern awards
Workplace Watch: right to disconnect; CFMEU controversy; industrial action case decisions; multi-enterprise bargaining
general protections
safety law
Workplace law
workplace relations & safety
FWC
Fair Work Act 2009
CFMEU
Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union
General Retail Industry Award 2020
Implementation Plan
industrial action
Multi-employer bargaining
Right to disconnect
Employment Law
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
KHQ Quarterly Update: Focus on Safety
NSW’s Psychological Health and Safety Strategy 2024-26
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
PCBU
Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking
SafeRoads
Work Health & Safety Act
WorkSafe
safety law
workplace relations law
health and safety duty
Workplace Watch: key FY25 numbers, new delegates’ rights term for EAs, underpayments, modern awards review, CFMEU demerger
Underpayments
same job same pay
Workplace law
CFMEU demerger
entry exemption certificates
Fair Work Act 2009
modern awards review
workplace delegates rights
workplace relations and safety
Employment Law
Fair Work Commission
Fair Work Ombudsman
Quarterly update Q2 FY24: First Closing Loopholes Bill passed
safety law
Workplace law
Closing Loopholes Bill
enterprise agreeements
Work Health Safety Management Systems
Employment Law
Workplace Relations
Respect@Work
Update – Q1 FY24
Workplace law
Amending Act
bargaining agreements
Secure Jobs Better Pay
workplace relations & safety
Zombie Agreement
Employment Law
Fair Work Act
enterprise agreements
Workplace safety breaches – is your office your client’s registered address for service?
workplace safety breaches
workplace safety law
workplace safety
charge-sheet
workplace relations and safety law
WorkCover Reforms for the fundamentally broken scheme
Workplace law
WorkCover scheme
Workplace Relations
occupational health and safety
safety law
Federal Court averts expansion of ‘deemed employee’ test for super purposes
superannuation law
deemed employee
Federal Court
High Court
occupational health and safety law
Workplace law
tax law
workplace health and safety
superannuation
Court rules employees can refuse to work public holidays
update
Employment Law
public holiday work
public holidays
Safety update – Q1 FY23: amendments to model WHS Act; labour hire; psychological health; industrial manslaughter
prohibition on insurance indemnity
psychological health
Scaffolding Industry Safety Standard
WorkSafe inspector powers
Labour hire
industrial manslaughter
model WHS Act
Workplace Relations & Safety Q1 Update
Professional Employees Award
Qantas outsourcing
safety law
unpaid pandemic leave
workplace relations law
Workplace Relations
Unfair dismissal
minimum wages
How should food businesses manage safety now that vaccine mandates have lifted in Victoria?
food manufacturing
public health orders
covid mandates
COVID-19 Safety Plan
essential food businesses
food distribution
food security
meat industry
post-mandate
vaccine mandates
Workplace Relations
OH&S
food law
Workplace Relations Update
Gig economy
wage theft
industrial relations
sexual harassment
Fair Work regime
human resources
independent contractors
same job same pay
WA Long Service Leave
Employment Law
Workplace Relations
Fair Work Act
Federal Court upholds decision re removal of labour hire worker
labour hire workers
reinstatement
Fair Work Act
Unfair dismissal
Fair Work Commission
Safety Update
industrial manslaughter
labour hire workers
pecuniary penalties
psychological hazards
Safe Work
safe work method statements
safety
OHS laws
mental health
workplace safety
The COVID-19 Vaccination Update – Can you mandate the COVID-19 vaccine at your workplace?
COVID-19
mandatory vaccination
COVID-19 vaccine claims scheme
health orders
public health orders
Workplace Relations
OHS laws
workplace safety
Q1 UPDATE: FY21/22 Industrial Relations & Employment – Special Compliance Edition!
industrial relations
workplace sexual harassment
and Enterprise Agreements.
annual wage review
enterprise agreements
National Employment Standards
PPE
special compliance
wage increase
Unfair dismissal
Fair Work Ombudsman
modern awards
Proposed new laws to address workplace sexual harassment
Sex Discrimination Act
workplace sexual harassment
Fair Work Act
equality
Respect@Work
Contractor found to be employee – Deliveroo loses unfair dismissal claim
Gig economy
independent contractor
Deliveroo
Safety Update
mandatory vaccination
sexual harassment
workplace injuries
labour hire licensing
federal entry permits
Jenkins Report
Developments re Casual Employees
double dipping
Rossato
Fair Work Act
Casual employees
Skene
Redundancy – Court rules on ‘ordinary and customary turnover of labour’ exception
Employment Law
industrial relations
redundancy pay
Making reasonable Jobkeeper directions – employer lessons from TWU v Prosegur
Employment Law
COVID-19
Jobkeeper
New workplace manslaughter criminal offences – are you ready?
Employment Law
workplace health and safety
workplace manslaughter
Court orders employee to attend medical examination
Employment Law
Workplace Relations
medical examination
The most significant ‘gig economy’ decision yet?
independent contractor
Uber Eats
Employment Law
Unfair dismissal
Gig economy
Recent adverse action cases & strategies to reduce risk
managing performance
Employment Law
Workplace Relations
adverse actions
COVID-19: Have you reviewed your Business Continuity Planning?
Business Continuity Plan
coronavirus
COVID-19
Stress leave – minimising adverse action risk
stress leave
Employment Law
adverse actions
performance management
Adverse action and performance management
performance management
Employment Law
adverse actions
general protections
Workplace Relations Q2 update: wage theft, non-standard work, travel time, labour hire and a Merry Christmas!
industrial manslaughter
Gig economy
labour hire licensing
wage theft
Safety update: developments in workplace mental health
workplace safety
Employment Law
industrial relations
mental health
Bushfires & safety prosecution risk – company found guilty of OHS breaches
safety risk
bushfires
Hazelwood Power Corporation
occupational health and safety
Managing Performance in the Age of Adverse Action Claims
managing employees
managing workplace performance
Fair Work Act
adverse actions
employee management
Employment law issues in the food & beverage industry
heavy vehicle laws
modern slavery
national labour hire licensing scheme
piece rates
wage theft
Underpayments
chain of responsibility
guarding of plant
Q1 Update: minimum wage, modern awards, labour hire & more
modern awards
Mondelez
SKM
enterprise bargaining
labour hire licensing
minimum wage
IT company’s termination based on “vague” task list ruled unlawful
Employment Law
Unfair dismissal
termination
The ‘gig’ is up for now… FWO withdraws against Foodora and Uber wins again
Fair Work Ombudsman
Foodora
Underpayments
Fair Work Act
Uber
Gig economy
4 yearly review of Modern Awards – our Q2 update
Employment Law
Workplace Relations
4 yearly review of modern awards
When a casual is not a casual – impact of Skene & next steps
Skene
WorkPac
Fair Work Act
Casual employees
Labour hire
Anti-fatigue monitoring and tracking devices get the tick
road transport industry
Supply chain
anti-fatigue monitoring
Heavy Vehicle National Law
Logistics
Uber still not an employer (according to FWC), but for how long?
Workplace Relations & OHS
Fair Work Act
Uber
Unfair dismissal
