2026 Workplace Update with Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

2026 Workplace Update with Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

Stay ahead of the changing landscape of employment and industrial relations law at the 2026 Workplace Update with Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors.

This informative session will explore The New Rules of Work: Compliance without chaos – what you need to know in 2026, providing employers, business leaders and HR professionals with practical insights into the evolving legal environment and the reforms shaping workplaces across Australia.

The New Rules of Work: Compliance without chaos – what you need to know in 2026

What’s been happening in employment law: Changes you might have missed

• Expanded parental leave obligations
• Discrimination, sexual harassment & gender equality changes
• New serious invasion of privacy offence

What’s Coming: The next wave of changes employers must prepare for

• Pay Day Super changes
• Working From Home Test Case & penalty rate protections legislation
• Non-compete clause reform

Legal Landmines: Issues creating real risk right now

• Flexible Work Requests – Reforms + What the Westpac and Metcash decisions mean for refusals, “reasonable business grounds” and procedural compliance.
• Underpayments & Criminalisation – Reforms + Lessons from Woolworths v Coles and the BHP public holiday rostering rulings.
• AI driven claims in the Fair Work Commission

Throughout the session, attendees will receive practical guidance for employers on how to comply with the IR Reforms during each topic.

Guest Speaker

Julian Ardnt
Director, Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

Julian is a specialist employment and industrial relations lawyer with over a decade of experience advising and advocating for employers across Australia. He has deep expertise in the Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission, enterprise bargaining and the owner-driver jurisdictions.

He is known for his strategic approach to enterprise bargaining and regularly represents employers in the Fair Work Commission in matters such as unfair dismissals, general protections, bullying and underpayments.

Julian has played key roles in major national industrial test cases across sectors including aged care, early childhood education, retail, transport and labour hire. He also conducts workplace investigations and provides practical advice on contracts, awards, performance management and workplace conduct.

A sought-after speaker, Julian delivers regular updates and training to boards, leaders and HR teams nationwide.