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Unfair dismissal is a complex and often emotionally charged issue. We help both employers and employees faced with an unfair dismissal situation.
Reach out to us sooner rather than later, as strict time limits apply.

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UNFAIR DISMISSAL

Every year almost 15,000 unfair dismissal applications are lodged
with the Australian Fair Work Commission by employees from across Australia.

UNFAIR DISMISSAL

If you have been dismissed from work, and you believe that it was unfair, then please contact us so we can help you determine if you have a claim and (if appropriate) help you through the process.

Do I have a claim?

Before filing an application, we need to identify whether you are eligible for a claim. For example:

  • if your employer employs 15 or more employees, then you must have completed at least 6 months’ continuous work with your employer before you are eligible to commence a claim;
  • if your employer employs fewer than 15 employees, then you must have completed at least 12 months’ continuous work with your employer before you are eligible to commence a claim.

We need to consider carefully the details of your matter before deciding whether you should commence a claim for unfair dismissal.

Important Note

Even if you don’t meet the requirements for an unfair dismissal claim, you may still be able to take action against your employer.  For example, if you were fired because you made a complaint about your workplace environment or entitlements, then you should contact us, because we may still be able to help you out with an Adverse Action claim.

Ready to tell us your story?

Please don’t hesitate to complete our online form, or alternatively, please contact us on 1300 851 430.

If I’m eligible to make a claim what happens next?

Wherever you work across Australia, most unfair dismissal proceedings are commenced by filing a Form F2, Application for Unfair Dismissal Remedy with the Fair Work Commission. If appropriate, we will prepare this for you. It is important to note that for some public sector employees across Australia, an unfair dismissal application needs to be filed in the industrial relations commission in the State where you reside or perform the majority of your work

Once we have established that you are eligible to commence an application the next step is to work on the strength of your claim. There are two important points to work on – they are:

  • whether the employer used the right procedure to dismiss you from work; and
  • whether, in all of the circumstances, it was fair to dismiss you from work. Put another way, the question becomes – did the employer rely on a ‘valid reason’ to dismiss you from work?

We take the time to hear your story and help determine if you have a genuine and legitimate claim. We can then offer a variety of fee options to suit your situation.  This may include No Win, No Fee or Fixed Fee arrangements.

Important Note

It is very important to note that an employee only has 21 days from the date of dismissal to commence an Application for Unfair Dismissal Remedy. So, you need to act quickly if you wish to challenge the fairness of the decision to dismiss you from work.

What does the Fair Work Commission consider?

As you might imagine, the facts of each unfair dismissal case are different but there are ‘broad categories’ of workplace events that have been considered in the Fair Work Commission – for example:

  • poor performance – not meeting performance indicators set by the employer
  • fighting in the workplace
  • intoxication at work
  • breaching a health and safety directive
  • a breach of the employer’s policy

However, just because an employee is alleged to have engaged in certain behaviour, doesn’t mean that the case is not one worth pursuing.  Here’s a case example.

One of the leading cases involves fighting in the workplace.  In AWU-FIME Amalgamated Union v Queensland Alumina Ltd we see that the Commission identified that fighting at work does not necessarily give an employer an automatic right to dismiss an employee from their job.  Other circumstances need to be considered.  The Commission said:

The extenuating circumstances may, and often do, concern the circumstances in which the fight occurred as well as other considerations such as the length of service of the employee, including their work record, and whether he or she was in a supervisory position.  As to the circumstances of the fight, relevant considerations include whether the dismissed employee was provoked and whether he or she was acting in self-defence. 

In our view, no case should be judged without considering all of the facts and circumstances relating to the matter.

Don’t delay, talk to us now

At Anderson Gray Lawyers, we take the time to hear your story and help determine if you have a genuine and legitimate claim. We can then offer a variety of fee options to suit your situation.  This may include No Win, No Fee or Fixed Fee arrangements.

Ready to tell us your story?  For a no obligation review of your situation contact us now.

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