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Legislation & Workplace Changes: What Australian Employers Need to Prepare For in 2026

As 2026 unfolds, Australian employers are operating in a workplace law environment where poor process is harder to defend. Increasing complexity across payroll compliance, employee entitlements and day-to-day workplace decisions means businesses need more than a passing awareness of what's changing — they need a clear, practical plan. In this webinar, South Geldard Lawyers Director Jonathan Mamaril joins Leanne Lazarus, Specialist Recruitment Manager at people2people, to unpack the key legal, compliance and workplace considerations Australian businesses need to navigate carefully.

As 2026 unfolds, Australian employers are operating in a workplace law environment where poor process is harder to defend. Increasing complexity across payroll compliance, employee entitlements and day-to-day workplace decisions means businesses need more than a passing awareness of what’s changing — they need a clear, practical plan.

In this webinar, South Geldard Lawyers Director Jonathan Mamaril joins Leanne Lazarus, Specialist Recruitment Manager at people2people, to unpack the key legal, compliance and workplace considerations Australian businesses need to navigate carefully.

As 2026 unfolds, Australian employers are operating in a workplace law environment where poor process is harder to defend. Increasing complexity across payroll compliance, employee entitlements and day-to-day workplace decisions means businesses need more than a passing awareness of what's changing — they need a clear, practical plan. In this webinar, South Geldard Lawyers Director Jonathan Mamaril joins Leanne Lazarus, Specialist Recruitment Manager at people2people, to unpack the key legal, compliance and workplace considerations Australian businesses need to navigate carefully.

What the discussion covers

Supported by data from the 2026 Employment and Salary Trends Market Report, the discussion looks at:

  • What employers should be watching as workplace settings continue to shift
  • Where employers are most likely to get workplace process wrong
  • Where employers are underprepared, beyond specific legislative changes
  • Practical steps employers can take now to reduce risk in the year ahead

Key topics discussed

The conversation covers a number of areas currently shaping employer obligations in Australia, including:

  • Payroll compliance and Payday Super — the shift toward more frequent superannuation payment obligations
  • Paid Parental Leave — entitlement changes affecting workplace planning
  • Flexible work arrangements — how requests are managed and assessed
  • The right to disconnect — what it means for employer expectations outside working hours

Why this matters for your business

Businesses that manage these areas reactively — rather than through consistent, well-documented process — are more exposed when a dispute or compliance review arises. Watch the full discussion for practical guidance on moving toward stronger, more consistent and legally defensible workplace practices.