HR/IR Support & advice

Knowing Your Rights

Workplace Help

Freshmark has teamed up with peak industry body the Australian Federation of Employers & Industries, also known as AFEI, to help members protect their business interests when it comes to their staff.

AFEI's main role is to advise, represent and assist employers like you, to meet your workplace regulation obligations, assist you with human resources management, provide WHS and a wide range of training, as well as seek appropriate regulation from the Government. AFEI also has an in-house legal firm, AFEI Legal, that is accessible to our members and whose legal fees are competitively priced.

Meegan George - Chief Executive Officer

AFEI

AFEI will help you understand your obligations, and stay compliant with Australia’s industrial relations laws. You will be able to navigate complex employee entitlements, pay rates, contracts and Modern Awards that can be very confusing. You will become proactive rather than reactive to your legislative obligations, and because you are a member, this service is FREE!

what afei can do for you?

AFEI
Enterprise Agreements
We can assist you with making an enterprise agreement, help you if you are in the process of negotiating or reviewing an enterprise agreement.
Modern Awards
Modern Awards contain legally binding rates of pay and employment conditions, so it is essential for employers to have a clear understanding of each Modern Award applying to their workplace. AFEI Members receive online access to each relevant modern award, as well as important updates on any changes to the Awards.
Bullying & Discrimination
AFEI provides policies and procedures and training regarding the Fair Work Act 2009, work health and safety legislation and anti-discrimination laws. They also explain what to do when an employee makes a bullying allegation and how to investigate complaints and deal with the matter properly.
Redundancy
When facing redundancies and the need to retrench employees, AFEI can guide you on selection processes for redundancy, payments, notice, paperwork, negotiating with employees and unions, as well as representing you in Fair Work Commission and court proceedings.
Leave Entitlements
Employers today have over eight (8) types of statutory leave to deal with, so leave can be a complex and time-consuming payroll and staff planning issue. Not having the right information can also lead to expensive mistakes. Don’t leave yourself tied up in red tape or exposed to an underpayment claim. AFEI provides answers and workable solutions to leave questions. Whether you need to know the full legislative detail, or a quick answer to a leave calculation, they give the help you need.
Hiring New Employees
In the last decade, there has been an increase in legal protections now available for job applicants. This means that employers need to know their legal obligations for the hiring process, even before a suitable applicant has been selected. Once you hire someone, you are entering into a legally enforceable contract with that person even if nothing is written down. With today’s tough employment laws, a simple or unintended oversight can cost you money.
Pay & Record Keeping
AFEI provides answers for all payroll issues, advise you on your legal and payroll record obligations, payslips, plus advice on remuneration and benefit structures tailored to the needs of your business, such as performance-related pay, annualised salaries, salary structure and administration.
Performance & Conduct Management
Teamwork, shared objectives and a commitment to doing their best are the key to both an individual’s and an organisation’s success. AFEI can find out how this can be done, along with other tools to help you manage workplace issues, including performance management, workplace policies, handling misconduct, performance management and more.
Unfair Dismissal
AFEI can help protect your organisation from unfair dismissals and other employee claims with legal information, as well as represent you regarding unfair dismissal claims. If legal representation is required in a Court or other Tribunal, AFEI Legal is accessible to members at highly competitive rates.
Work Health & Safety
AFEI can explain what the work health and safety laws mean for your workplace, and provide step-by-step help with how to comply with Work Health & Safety obligations. They can help with accident investigation and prevention, dealing with safety policy breaches, conducting safety audits, drafting policies and procedures and more.
Workers Compensation
AFEI can explain how workers compensation works, your obligations, how your premium is calculated and how to deal with icare on premium and claims issues. We also assist you to prepare for a workers compensation audit and help you manage the process.
Workplace Policies
AFEI provides all the tools and assistance to make sure you’ve covered the areas most likely to expose you to risk and ensure you’ve dealt with your legal obligations in the workplace. AFEI can provide examples or develop policies for you and help you successfully put them in place. AFEI consultancy services are available for employers with more complex needs, with advice from human resources and workplace relation specialists.

Go to those who know

AFEI Consultancy

When you engage an AFEI Consultant, you receive tailored guidance and support with handling the more difficult aspects of managing employment issues.

Disciplinary issues

Drafting letters to employees, preparation for meetings, and implementing decisions

Workplace Structure

Restructuring, downsizing, outsourcing and other major workplace changes impacting employees

Addressing Disputes

Workplace disputes, including discussions with employee representatives (such as union officials) 

Awards

Understanding complex award conditions and other safety net conditions

Fairwork

Unfair Dismissal and General Protections claims in the Fair Work Commission

Wages

Review of time and wages records and individual flexibility agreements

AFEI takes the time to understand your business and deliver sound and practical advice, outcomes, representation and training that will not only save you money but help you meet your workplace obligations.

Freshmark partner

Who is AFEI?

Freshmark has teamed up with AFEI, an independent peak employers group representing and advising employers, influencing employer policy and actively involved in all major workplace relations issues affecting Australian businesses.

AFEI’s team of employment lawyers, HR consultants and workplace advisors provide members with a range of employer services, including advice, guidance, workplace training and legal representation.

AFEI appears on behalf of our members in forums such as industrial tribunals, government inquiries, industry bodies and the media.  

AFEI is a key participant in developing employer policy at the National and State levels. They lobby the government and work on behalf of members to convince regulators that regulation must be fair, balanced and practical.

Represent & defend

AFEI Legal

AFEI Legal services are designed to minimise employer exposure to litigation or compensation claims. However, mistakes still happen and doing the right thing doesn’t necessarily insulate employers from unjustified claims by disaffected employees or impossible to implement the regulation.

In today’s litigious environment, every employer needs to be confident they’ve got the best possible team to represent and defend them against a potential claim or prosecution across the ever-increasing areas of exposure.

AFEI Legal focuses on industrial relations, employment, discrimination, work health and safety and workplace legal matters.

They represent employers’ interests in tribunals, in dealing with governments, on industry bodies and elsewhere. Their expertise gives them a distinct advantage over lawyers without this breadth of experience and knowledge.

AFEI Legal’s rates for this service are competitive and lower than the costs of an external firm.

Afei is your
in-house counsel

afei training

standard or tailored courses

AFEI training courses cover a wide range of Human Resources, Frontline Management, WHS and general business and workplace management skills. The courses can be done at AFEI’s office or onsite at your workplace.

Courses are design designed to improve business performance and cover key areas of potential exposure, from unfair dismissals, discrimination, bullying and harassment to workplace health and safety. 

AFEI Trainers have attained the most current training qualifications. They are professionals with a high level of industry experience in the fields they train, thus allowing for workplace customisation and flexibility.

JH Gotts


Over the past couple of years, we have had to call AFEI for a number of employee issues. The hotline is very helpful and professional. Every time I have had to utilise their services, they have always taken the time to explain our rights and responsibilities clearly and have never rushed the conversation. They always make sure we have all the relevant information to make a choice for our company. Victor, in particular is very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend their services and thank Freshmark for engaging them.

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