Your Industrial Relations Consultant
Industrial Relations
Partnering with Australian employers to create Industrial Relations strategies and enterprise agreements that improve culture, engagement, performance, and commercial outcomes.
Industrial Relations
Strategy & Solutions
Commercial Strategy
Build your IR strategy for employee engagement, productivity, and a positive impact on commercial outcomes. Deliver comprehensive employment solutions and sustainable outcomes for a range of Workplace Relations issues.
Leadership & Coaching
Employment issues arise in any workplace. Develop practical leadership skills through personalised coaching. Enhance communication, conflict resolution, negotiation strategies and skills to foster positive outcomes and mitigate risk.
Enterprise Agreements
Develop enterprise agreements in complex, change-resistant environments. Our dedicated consultants have unique insights that will improve your bargaining strategy to deliver flexibility, productivity and competitiveness.
Industrial Relations Outcomes
We specialise in working with employers to develop, manage and optimise their Industrial Relations landscape. If more complex employee issues arise, our ongoing support enables change, promotes direct communication, minimises conflict, and ensures compliance with the Australian Fair Work Act. Effectively manage any IR issue – from lawful and reasonable action, difficult negotiations, union relations, or matters before the Fair Work Commission. We create meaningful partnerships with organisations to achieve sustainable and positive outcomes.
- Contemporary IR strategy and practical advice
- Identify, mitigate and resolve employee issues before they develop into sources of conflict
- Modern Award compliance
- Negotiate enterprise agreements
- Access the latest workplace relations updates
Options to meet your business needs
Industrial Relations Strategy
Develop a bespoke IR strategy beyond the enterprise agreement cycle and meet your organisation’s long-term vision and direction.
Negotiating Agreements
Engage us to bargain on your behalf or alternatively coach your leadership team in real time on negotiation tactics and next steps for enterprise agreements.
Support with Unions
Manage cases effectively with our expert industrial relations support and advocacy. We provide assistance with dispute resolution at the workplace and in the Fair Work Commission.
Line Leader CoachingÂ
Access years of pragmatic, hands-on IR experience and share them with your line leaders through our coaching. Effectively engage and communicate with employees to achieve optimal outcomes for all.
Why choose us?
Practical, tailored advice and support
Every client is different, and each matter is unique. Our approach is to offer advice and support that best meets the needs of your business.
Expertise working with all client types
We work with large, global multinationals, mid-size businesses, small family-run companies and start-ups across all industry sectors. As specialists in employee relations, we have vast experience managing a wide range of employee matters.
Holistic HR and IR solutions
Our HR and IR services encompass the entire employee relations lifecycle. From individual employment contracts and policy development to workforce consultation, and negotiating enterprise agreements.
What Our Clients Say
Enterprise Bargaining doesn’t need protective equipment to be worn, it requires a strategy.
About Us
At Employee Relations Expertise, we believe in providing customised solutions that meet the specific needs of each client. Whether it’s developing Industrial Relations strategies, negotiating enterprise agreements, managing performance, conducting employee investigations, or any other employee relations challenge, we have the expertise to assist you.
Our specialised coaching and advice, particularly in environments with strong union presence and resistance to change, have enabled our clients to optimise business performance while cultivating stronger and more positive relationships with their employees. Trust us to be your partner in navigating the complexities of employee relations and achieving success for your organisation.
Related Services
Employee Relations Consultant
Navigate complex employee relations challenges, such as performance management, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, mediation disciplinary action and policy frameworks.
Enterprise Agreement Consultant
End to end support with all types of EA’s – Greenfield, Brownfield, Union and Non-Union
Fair Work Advocacy
Unfair dismissal, Bargaining disputes, General protection claims, Procedural fairness.
Bargaining Representative Consultant
Pre-bargaining mandate, negotiation, post bargaining lodgement to the FWC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Industrial relations (IR) refers to the complex and multifaceted workplace relationships and interactions between employers, employees, and their representatives. It can be known as employee relations or workplace relations. It encompasses the various processes and dynamics involved in establishing and managing the employment relationship in organisations and can be influenced by various factors, including government regulations, trade unions, and cultural norms.
An award (including a Modern Award) is a legal document that sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for employees in a particular industry or occupation in Australia. They cover a large number of employers and workplaces. These awards are established by the Fair Work Commission, which is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal.
Awards outline various aspects of employment, such as:
1. Minimum wage rates: They specify the minimum wages that must be paid to employees in different roles or skill levels within a particular industry or occupation.
2. Working hours: Awards often detail standard working hours, overtime rates, and rest breaks.
3. Leave entitlements: They specify the amount of annual leave, sick leave, and other types of leave that employees are entitled to, and associated conditions.
4. Penalty rates: Awards often set penalty rates for work performed outside standard hours, such as weekends, public holidays, or night shifts.
5. Allowances and loadings: These may include additional payments for specific circumstances, like working in remote areas, using particular skills, or performing hazardous tasks.
Employers must comply with these awards, and employees have the right to enforce their entitlements through the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
It’s worth noting that modern awards are just one component of Australia’s employment regulation system. The Fair Work Act 2009, enterprise agreements, and common law contracts also play crucial roles in governing employment relationships.
An enterprise agreement, often referred to as an enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) in Australia, is a legally binding contract that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a specific group of employees within a workplace or organisation.
Employee Relations Expertise works with and represents employers throughout the bargaining process. Bargaining representatives such as trade unions and nominated individuals can represent employees.
Enterprise agreements are one way to negotiate and establish terms and conditions of employment that are tailored to a specific group of employees or workplace. They often contain terms that are different to the general provisions in modern awards.
For an enterprise agreement to be approved by the Fair Work Commission (Australia’s workplace relations tribunal), it must pass the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) under the Fair Work Act 2009. This means that the terms of the agreement must, on the whole, provide employees with better conditions and benefits compared to the relevant modern award.
Enterprise agreements have a nominal expiry date of a maximum of 4 years. After the enterprise agreement expires, it continues to be in place until it is replaced by a new enterprise agreement or terminated in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009.
They are the same. They are now known as enterprise agreements (EA’s) under the Fair Work Act 2009.
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