Workplace in Consumer & Retail

Consumer and retail businesses rely on workforces that are often customer-facing, operationally complex and subject to evolving workplace regulation. Whether supporting store networks, digital platforms, logistics operations or franchised models, workforce settings must be carefully structured to support scale, operational efficiency and brand reputation.

Employment strategy in this sector is closely connected to customer experience, brand reputation and operational efficiency. Payroll settings, rostering models, enterprise agreements and contractor arrangements must be structured to support scale while remaining compliant with evolving workplace obligations.

We provide integrated employment, regulatory and dispute resolution advice tailored to the operational realities of consumer-facing businesses.

We advise on:

Wage compliance, award interpretation and payroll audits
Underpayment risk assessments and remediation programs
Enterprise bargaining and industrial negotiations
Union engagement and industrial disputes
Workplace investigations and regulator engagement
WHS and psychosocial risk management
Workforce restructures and transformation programs
Technology-enabled workplace monitoring and surveillance compliance

By combining employment law expertise with regulatory and disputes capability, we help clients build workforce models that are compliant, sustainable and aligned with long-term growth.

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Experience

Apple

Provided broad advice on a range of matters, including customer complaints regarding staff conduct, allegations of discrimination and unfair dismissals claims from employees. Also represented Apple in complex and high profile enterprise bargaining negotiations involving 3 unions and 114 employee bargaining representatives.

International Beauty Company

Advising an international beauty company in a sensitive whistleblowing investigation concerning a pattern of long running systemic bullying by a senior executive; the necessary information was obtained while protecting the identity of the whistleblowers such that findings could be made and the client could confidently act on the advice to terminate employment of the respondent without adverse media publicity or ongoing risks to safe safety and wellbeing.

Afterpay

Provided comprehensive employment due diligence support for Afterpay, Australia's largest buy now and pay later provider in its landmark $29 billion sale to Block Ltd. This included delivering strategic employment advice for the Australian aspects of the transaction, as well as coordinating and streamlining employment advice across seven countries.

The Reject Shop

We acted in a class action proceeding filed in the Federal Court of Australia, Fair Work Division. In addition to allegations of wage underpayments, the claim included allegations related to record keeping relating to overtime worked by those captured by the class definition.

Major National Food Retailer

Advised on significant workforce matters, including employee claims and employment risks arising from a major strategic investment in a large Australian food service supplier. Conducted a comprehensive review of enterprise agreement and award compliance, contractor and casual workforce arrangements, and logistics-related WHS obligations.

IKEA

Advised on workplace relations reforms and modern slavery compliance. Also provided strategic advice on navigating workplace relations reforms, including compliance with evolving legislative and regulatory requirements, to ensure IKEA remained ahead of industry changes. Advice also included guidance on modern slavery compliance and franchisor responsibility.

Aldi

Provided advice to Aldi in relation to communicable diseases and risks in relation to public safety in retail and warehousing facilities including in relation to food safety regulations.