HR Heartbeat: The ‘quiet cut’, burnout backlash, and…

Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we look at the week’s most pressing HR and employment relations stories. With over 20 years’ experience in professional services, I give my opinion on current trends impacting your business, as well as my own personal commentary on all things HR and employment relations.

Still on the books—but not on the roster?

A casual worker recently had her shifts mysteriously cut to zero after making a discrimination complaint. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled it was an unfair dismissal. Why? Well, even though she was technically still employed; the total radio silence, zero shifts, and poor communication left her de facto unemployed. Ten coworkers backed her reliability, and so the FWC agreed this wasn’t just rostering, it was a quiet way of ushering her out of the business.

The moral of the story is that cutting someone out without clarity can cost you more than a few shifts. Keep communication clear and complaints handled by the book—because casual doesn’t mean consequence-free. Especially when that employee has been working regular, systematic hours and qualifies for unfair dismissal protections. And if you’re wondering how to handle this kind of situation properly, well… BrightAdvice might be worth a look.

Over it and overloaded

According to a new ADP report, nearly a quarter of Aussie workers say they’re feeling overloaded at work—more than in Japan, Singapore, India, or China. Another 55% are rattled by stress that continues to go unmanaged.

“Revenge quitting” is the term used for abrupt walkouts driven by unresolved frustration. Feeling micromanaged, harsh judgements over flexible working, and excessive unpaid overtime are some of the most common reasons I see.

For employers, there’s a lot you can do. Start equipping staff with proper tools, rebalance workloads, and judge performance by outcomes, not hours clocked.

Proactive HR practices (and a little automation where it counts) could make the difference between a productive workforce and a burnout-fuelled exodus. Want to go a step further? With an Employee Assistance Program, your staff can get expert help from licensed mental health experts 24/7, 365 days a year.

Meet your new Minister for Work

There’s been a reshuffle in Canberra, and Amanda Rishworth is stepping in as the new Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. It’s a big role, and one that impacts every business in the country—from the compliance landscape to the direction of industrial relations policy.

Rishworth’s background in Social Services and the NDIS suggests a people-focused approach, which could shape how future reforms are rolled out. We’ll be watching closely for updates on areas like casual employment rights, flexible work, and dispute resolution mechanisms. And in the meantime, we’ll keep supporting employers in navigating whatever changes come next. After all, proactivity is the name of the game, and staying ahead is half the battle.

And that’s a wrap from me. Tune in next time for my take on the latest headlines and
employment law stories, helping keep your business ahead!