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ARTICLE · 12 JULY 2020

COVID-19: Fair Work Commission considers factors impacting redundancy payouts

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The FWC recently ruled in favour of the employer by reducing the redundancy payouts owed to four of its employees.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Michael Byrnes
Michael Byrnes
Emily Capener
Emily Capener
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In four (related) cases, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) recently ruled in favour of an employer by reducing the redundancy payouts owed to four of its employees.

These four cases, HyperLife Pty Ltd t/a Acme Prestonv v Kelly Brennan [2020] FWC 3080, HyperLife Pty Ltd t/a Acme Preston v Erin Black [2020] 3081, HyperLife Pty Ltd t/a Acme Preston v Andrew Davis [2020] 3082 and HyperLife Pty Ltd t/a Acme Preston v Julie Hamshere [2020] 3083 (together, the HyperLife Cases) each considered applications for reductions in redundancy payment in the context of COVID-19.

As with the decisions of Mason Architectural Joinery Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 1897 and Worthington Industries Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 1912 handed down by the FWC in April, the HyperLife Cases illustrate some of the factors the FWC will take into consideration when assessing applications from employers to reduce redundancy pay.

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