The Inside Employment, IR and Safety podcast series

Looking Ahead to 2026 – Trends, Challenges and Opportunities 

Recorded on 26 November 2025

As 2026 gets underway, join Steve Bell, Rohan Doyle and Natalie Gaspar for a special combined episode of Inside Employment, IR and Safety. The team explores the key people‑related risks and opportunities facing employers, from payroll compliance and evolving WHS obligations to the impacts of AI, emerging technologies and organisational change, sharing practical insights to help businesses prepare for the year ahead.

2025 in Review – Lessons, Wins, and What Shaped the Year

Recorded on 26 November 2025

Steve Bell, Rohan Doyle and Natalie Gaspar for a special combined episode of Inside Employment, IR and Safety, reflecting on the year that was. In the final episode for 2025, we unpack the key developments in Employment, IR and Safety that shaped workplaces, and share lessons learned and tips for employers.

Inside IR, Episode 32: Enterprise agreements, disputes and the status quo – complexity for employers

Recorded 1 June 2026

In this episode of Inside IR, Rohan Doyle and Mitchell Brennan use the recent Full Federal Court decision in AMWU v Opal Packaging Australia (May 2026) to explore the real-world implications of complexity in enterprise agreements. With four decision-makers across three forums arriving at four different interpretations of a relatively common status quo clause, the case is a stark illustration of enterprise agreement complexity, and how status quo clauses can be a source of competitive advantage for employers, potentially stalling workplace change for lengthy periods. Rohan and Mitchell unpack the practical risks of broadly drafted dispute resolution and status quo provisions and offer guidance for employers on simplifying these clauses and using the bargaining table - not the courtroom - to achieve clarity.

A must-listen for employers, HR and IR professionals grappling with complex legacy enterprise agreement drafting in an environment that demands greater clarity and agility.

Episode 7: Employment Class Actions

Recorded 3 June 2026

In this episode of Inside Employment, Natalie Gaspar and Lucy Boyd are joined by HSF Kramer Disputes Partner, Melissa Gladstone to explore the rise of employment class actions in Australia and why they have become one of the fastest-growing litigation risks for employers.

Natalie, Lucy and Melissa discuss the factors driving this trend, how employment class actions differ from traditional workplace disputes, and the unique challenges they create for employers. They also share practical steps organisations can take to mitigate risk, including governance, early issue detection and prompt remediation.