We Understand
Modern Award interpretation can be challenging
The need to manage conflict in the workplace
Importance of communicating clearly and respectfully
The challenge in handling difficult conversations
The need to pay attention to detail
Clear employment Contracts set the right expectations
Address, manage and prevent pay disputes
With our expertise in employment contracts and Modern Award interpretation we can review your employees’ entitlements.
- Calculate underpayment claims including a review of overtime, penalty rates, and allowances
- Guidance on how to have the difficult conversations
- Dispute resolution and representation at Fair Work
- Establish processes to correct payment discrepancies going forward
- Keep you up-to-date with changing legislation and regulations around employee pay and entitlements
Support with pay queries
Our team includes qualified HR, WR and Legal Specialists with extensive experience in calculating and managing pay disputes, ensuring a professional and empathetic approach throughout the process.
Naveen Raghavan
Workplace Relations Consultant Read Bio
Naveen Raghavan
Workplace Relations Consultant
Naveen Raghavan is a qualified non-practising lawyer and a Workplace Relations Advisor. He is passionate about employment law and industrial relations and his calm approach and ability to interpret complex matters allows him to achieve real solutions.
He has an extensive generalist background encompassing the areas of employment, civil, criminal, administrative and construction law. Naveen is also committed to social justice issues, having previously volunteered at the Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre, Refugee Legal and the Fitzroy Legal Service.
Zach Galea
Human Capital Management Lead And Business Development Manager Read Bio
Zach Galea
Human Capital Management Lead And Business Development Manager
Zach Galea is an enthusiastic and resourceful Human Resources Leader with multi-faceted experience – providing business support across a range of organisations and industries including construction, pharmaceutical, retail, fast food, banking and engineering industries to name a few. He is supported by tertiary education, holding a Master of Management and Human Resources and a Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Zach is experienced in providing a wide range of HR services that drive business performance and build organisational and individual capabilities – contributing to business growth and bottom-line performance. He can help companies to identify blockers/constraints and develop innovative solutions that help organisations deliver on their strategic initiatives. Zach is passionate about making a difference within the workplace and drives HR initiatives that are aligned with the company vision, and are aimed at promoting best practice, both internally and externally.
Saraswathy Varatharajullu
Principal Lawyer Read Bio
Saraswathy Varatharajullu
Principal Lawyer
Saraswathy Varatharajullu is the Principal Lawyer of Constructive Legal Solutions. Saraswathy has years of experience in employment law and industrial relations having previously worked at the Fair Work Commission, and Professionals Australia (Union) as a Lawyer and National Industrial Officer. She also has expertise in construction contracts and commercial contracts as well as debt recovery.
Saraswathy is dedicated to providing support and guidance to clients with a pragmatic and tailored approach in a wide variety of matters from contract reviews and employee management to termination matters such as unfair dismissals and Enterprise Agreement bargaining. Saraswathy is also a qualified mediator and sits on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Workplace Relations Committee.
Marie Cocheril
Senior Commercial Lawyer Read Bio
Marie Cocheril
Senior Commercial Lawyer
Marie is a senior corporate and commercial lawyer. Marie has an LL.B (Hons) and an LL.M (Corporate & Commercial) and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Marie has strong leadership experience, having worked closely with CEOs, Boards, and stakeholders to provide legal & compliance advice, corporate governance, strategic development & mitigation of organisational risk advice.
She is a hands-on lawyer with experience in commercial contracts, intellectual property law, procurement, information technology, competition and consumer law, insurance, and privacy (including management of big data).
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Frequently asked questions
Have questions? We are here to help.
Resolving a dispute with an employee over their pay can be challenging but it’s important to handle it professionally. Here are some steps you can take:
- Review the employee’s contract and pay structure to ensure all terms are being followed
- Meet with the employee to discuss their concerns and listen to their perspective
- Provide any necessary explanation or clarification on the pay structure and how it’s calculated
- Consider whether the employee’s performance or job responsibilities have changed and if a pay adjustment is necessary.
If the dispute persists, seek guidance from the team of HR and legal professionals at Business Solutions Hub and Constructive Legal Solutions. Remember to approach the situation with empathy and open communication to find a fair and satisfactory resolution.
Yes !
It is strongly recommended to have a contract of employment for ALL employees. This helps to establish clear expectations (financial and behavioural) and responsibilities for both the employer and employee. Additionally, a contract can help protect the employer’s interests in case of disputes or legal issues.
The specific requirements for contracts may vary depending on the individual circumstances of the employment, the Award in which the employee works under and their allowances.
It is important to review and update your employment contracts on a regular basis to ensure they comply with current legislation. At Constructive Legal Solutions we can review and amend your employment contracts to ensure you comply with current legislation.
We also offer a subscription service to save you time developing your HR documentation. At the Business Solutions Hub you can access to a range of important business documents, including the latest Awards, editable employment contract templates, policy templates, as well as employer guides and facts sheets. Call us on 1300 445 687 for a demonstration.
Pay queries are one of the most common employee problems in a workforce. Analysing an underpayment claim can be complex and often time-consuming.
To calculate if you have underpaid an employee, you need to compare the employee’s actual pay with their entitled pay. This includes their hourly or salary rate, as well as any bonuses, commissions, or overtime pay they are entitled to.
If there is a discrepancy between the actual pay and the entitled pay, you may have underpaid the employee.
Our team of local Specialists understand the complexity of Australian workplace relations laws and regulations and are here to take the grunt work out of calculating a pay dispute.
We can also help you put processes in place to correct payment discrepancies going forward so you maintain fair and lawful employment practices, compliant with tax and workplace regulations.
