EPL insurance is fast becoming an essential area of risk for businesses of any size or sector to insure, regardless of how well they manage their employment practices. This is partly due to claims for unfair dismissals rising at alarming rates.
Even though many claims are settled before getting to Court they can be a time-consuming distraction for the businesses involved and they take expertise to resolve without the cost of resolution dwarfing claim value. It’s an area of risk and law where emotions on both sides usually run high.
We achieve cost-effective and swift outcomes by focusing on proactive management, contextual realism and being empathetic. We always explore conciliation and pre-action mediation options as early as feasible, but If settlement is elusive then we litigate while maintaining empathy for those involved.
We share our experience and learnings to help clients reduce their own risks by using real-world scenarios and hypotheticals to bring home how situations arise and how they need to be managed or prevented. We also offer clients a national helpline.
Our role doesn’t begin and end with claims. We also advise employers on disciplinary investigations and other employment processes including performance management and restructuring.
Recent work
Defending an employer in a harassment, bullying and discrimination claim in the Federal Court of Australia arising out of conduct involving the CEO and senior employees of a funeral business.
Acting in a complex general protection claim before the Victorian Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission arising out of the termination of an employee allegedly based on his sexual orientation.
Defending a claim against a not-for-profit organisation in the Australian Human Rights Commission and then the Federal Court by an employee alleging she was sexually harassed, bullied, victimised and discriminated against before her termination.
Successful defence of a School Board in a constructive dismissal claim involving bullying by a senior teacher.