Employment Law

Workplaces are evolving rapidly and knowing where you stand on everything from unfair dismissal to privacy and data security is getting harder to manage. RedeMont’s employment lawyers on the Gold Coast help businesses manage risk, meet their obligations and keep their people performing at their best with practical legal advice that supports safe, compliant and high-performing workplaces.

Whether you need advice on a specific workplace dispute, guidance on restructuring or redundancy, or ongoing support to stay ahead of changing employment law, our team is always at the forefront of industry developments and ready to help your business take positive steps forward.

Speak with our employment lawyers

How our workplace lawyers help Gold Coast businesses

From managing day-to-day compliance through to defending complex claims in the Fair Work Commission, our employment lawyers work across the full spectrum of workplace legal issues. We act for businesses of all sizes, government entities and not-for-profit organisations, providing advice that balances your legal obligations with commercial reality.

Our Gold Coast employment lawyers provide commercially focused advice across the following areas:

Workplace health and safety

Workplace incidents can impact businesses of all sizes across any industry with serious consequences for all involved. We help clients take positive steps to manage workplace health and safety risks, protect your legal interests and respond to issues when they occur.

Managing WHS obligations and regulatory compliance
Incident response, investigations and reporting
Interactions with regulators, including SafeWork and the WHS Prosecutor
Defending WHS prosecutions and coronial enquiries
Psychosocial hazard management and mental health risk frameworks

Employment disputes

Our team advises on all types of employment disputes, including breaches of post-employment contractual obligations, wrongful termination, wage theft or underpayment, discrimination and harassment, and independent contractor claims with the goal of encouraging open communication and proactively addressing concerns.

Unfair dismissal claims
General protections and discrimination claims
Wrongful termination and breach of contract disputes
Wage theft, underpayment and entitlement recovery
Independent contractor disputes and sham contracting claims

Enterprise agreements

Changes to enterprise bargaining laws have impacted the negotiation process between employers and employees. We assist clients to identify and deliver on bargaining objectives and can help navigate contested applications in the Fair Work Commission.

Enterprise agreement negotiation and drafting
Bargaining strategy, including multi-enterprise and single-interest agreements
Contested bargaining applications
Agreement variation, termination and transition planning
Industrial action management and response

Workplace investigations

Workplace investigations are on the rise and without proper procedures businesses are exposed to significant risk. Our team offers timely and practical advice to help manage legal and business considerations while balancing your obligations to employees and other stakeholders.

Independent workplace investigations into misconduct, bullying and harassment
Supporting internal investigation teams with procedural fairness guidance
Disciplinary process advice and outcome recommendations
Investigation report preparation and risk assessment
Post-investigation remediation and policy review

Contract breaches

Protecting your corporate information and client relationships can be a major concern when employees breach their employment obligations. RedeMont can advise on the most effective way to safeguard your interests and minimise the potential for ongoing risk.

Enforcing or defending restraint of trade and non-compete clauses
Breach of confidentiality and misuse of proprietary information
Post-employment obligation disputes and injunctive relief
Employment contract review, drafting and negotiation

Privacy and data security

We can help you comply with privacy laws and implement robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information. This includes advice on social media policies and how to manage potential risks to personal and corporate reputations.

Privacy law compliance and data protection frameworks
Cybersecurity risk assessment and incident response planning
Social media policies and reputational risk management
Employee monitoring, surveillance and bring-your-own-device policies
Data breach notification obligations and regulatory response

Compliance and risk training

Consistent employee training is an important tool employers should use to mitigate risk. Our compliance and risk training draws on relevant industry examples and real-world scenarios to highlight vulnerabilities and help clients take proactive steps to manage workplace risk.

Tailored compliance training for management and staff
WHS obligations and safe work practices workshops
Anti-discrimination, harassment and bullying awareness programs
Privacy and data security training for employees
Industry-specific risk scenario workshops

Safe and inclusive workplaces

We guide clients on how to take proactive steps to promote diversity and inclusion, and prevent discrimination and harassment, by fostering a positive workplace culture where employees feel supported and empowered to raise concerns.

Workplace bullying prevention strategies and response plans
Sexual harassment prevention plans (mandatory in Queensland from 1 March 2025)
Diversity and inclusion policy development
Discrimination and adverse action risk assessment
Positive duty compliance under the Sex Discrimination Act

Common workplace scenarios we help with

Employment issues come in many forms. Here are some of the situations businesses regularly bring to our team:

An employee has lodged an unfair dismissal claim and I’m not sure where I stand.

We assess your position quickly, prepare your response within deadline and represent you through conciliation or hearing. Our focus is always on achieving the most commercially sensible outcome, whether that means defending the claim or negotiating a resolution.

We’re dealing with a workplace bullying complaint and don’t know how to investigate properly.

Getting the investigation process right is critical. We can conduct an independent investigation or guide your internal team through the process, ensuring procedural fairness at every step and producing defensible findings that protect the business.

An employee has left and we think they’re breaching their restraint of trade.

Time is of the essence with restraint matters. We assess the enforceability of your restraint clause, advise on your options and, where necessary, seek urgent injunctive relief to protect your client relationships and confidential information.

Our enterprise agreement is expiring, and the union wants to start bargaining.

We help you prepare a clear bargaining strategy, manage the negotiation process and navigate contested applications in the Fair Work Commission. Our approach balances employee expectations with your operational realities.

We’ve had a workplace safety incident, and a regulator is making enquiries.

We step in immediately to manage your response, protect your legal interests and assist in your interactions with SafeWork or other regulators. We also help you review your WHS framework to reduce the risk of future incidents.

We need to restructure our team and want to make sure we handle redundancies lawfully.

We advise on your consultation obligations, help you assess whether positions are genuinely redundant and guide you through the process to minimise the risk of claims. We also prepare communications and documentation to support a smooth transition.

Our process:
what to expect

When you contact our employment lawyers, here is how we work with you:

1.

Initial conversation

We start with a free, no-obligation conversation to understand your situation. This can be in person at our Varsity Lakes office, by phone or via video call. We listen first, then explain your options clearly.

2.

Risk assessment and strategy

Once we understand the full picture, we assess your legal position and identify your exposure. We give you a clear, honest view of where you stand, what the risks are and what your best options look like.

3.

Clear advice and a plan of action

We provide a practical plan with defined next steps, expected timeframes and transparent costs. Whether the matter calls for negotiation, a formal response, an internal investigation or urgent court action, you will know exactly what is happening and why.

4.

Execution and resolution

We get to work. Our team handles the matter efficiently, keeping you informed at every stage and adapting our approach as things develop. We are focused on achieving the best commercial outcome for your business, as quickly as possible.

5.

Prevention and ongoing support

Once the immediate issue is resolved, we help you put measures in place to reduce the risk of it happening again. This might include policy reviews, contract updates, compliance training or ongoing advisory support. Many of our clients choose to work with us on a continuing basis to stay ahead of changes in employment law.

Why choose RedeMont for employment law on the Gold Coast

Trusted relationships

We focus on being there when you need us, however you need us. At RedeMont, you’ll find people you can trust to handle any challenge and deliver the same exceptional service, whatever the matter.

Depth of expertise

Our people are recognised nationally as leaders in their fields with respected technical capability across many areas of law. We explain concepts clearly to help guide you through complex matters or changes in the law with confidence.

Culture of integrity

Maintaining the highest professional standards is non-negotiable at RedeMont. You can trust us to be honest about what we can (and can’t) do. Acting in your best interests, with transparency, accuracy and watertight process, is how we operate.

We move fast

Employment issues rarely wait. Whether it's a deadline to file a claim, a workplace incident that needs immediate attention, or an urgent restraint of trade matter, our team is built to respond quickly with clear advice when the pressure is on.

Commercial mindset

As lawyers who truly understand business and the commercial drivers behind decisions, we know what you need to keep projects moving. Our practical, outcome-focused approach sets us apart.

Meet our employment law team

We work to build authentic relationships where our experience and dynamic counsel combine to deliver invaluable insights that drive your success.

View your key contacts

Adam Doughman

Special Counsel

Jenna Masters

Legal Assistant

Get employment law advice on the Gold Coast

Connect with our employment lawyers to get practical, commercially focused advice that protects your business, your people and your reputation. Our experienced team is here to help you navigate any workplace challenge with confidence.

Book a free legal health check

Frequently asked questions

Do you advise employers or employees?
Our employment law practice primarily supports employers, including businesses of all sizes, government entities and not-for-profit organisations. We help you manage your workforce, stay compliant and respond to claims and disputes with confidence.
What employment law areas do you cover?
Our Gold Coast employment lawyers advise on unfair dismissal, general protections claims, enterprise agreement bargaining, workplace investigations, workplace bullying and harassment, restraint of trade, redundancy, workplace health and safety, privacy and data protection, and employment contracts. If you need employment law advice on the Gold Coast, we can help.
Do I need a sexual harassment prevention plan?
Yes. As of 1 March 2025, Queensland businesses are required to have a sexual harassment prevention plan in place. This is not a tick-the-box exercise; the plan must be tailored to your business, your industry and your workplace. Our team can help you develop a plan that meets your legal obligations and genuinely supports a safe and respectful workplace culture.
Can you help with employment matters outside the Gold Coast?
Absolutely. While we are based on the Gold Coast at Varsity Lakes, our expertise travels and we regularly act for clients across Queensland, interstate and nationally. Employment law is predominantly governed by federal legislation, which means our advice applies wherever your business operates in Australia.
What will a consultation with an employment lawyer cost?
We offer a free legal health check where we can identify the three priority actions that will give you the most protection and impact. Beyond that, we offer transparent, competitive pricing with various fee arrangements depending on the nature of your matter, including fixed fees, hourly rates and alternative fee structures. We always discuss costs upfront so there are no surprises.