Redundancy Lawyers

If you’ve been made redundant, our redundancy lawyers can help. Redundancy affects your financial security, your sense of stability and your confidence in the future.

The law around redundancy can be complex, with strict rules about what counts as a “genuine redundancy”, how much redundancy pay you are entitled to and when exceptions apply.

Our experienced redundancy lawyers will assess your situation, explain your entitlements in plain language and act quickly to make sure you receive the redundancy pay and support you deserve.

What is redundancy?

Redundancy occurs when your employer no longer requires your role to be performed by anyone or when the business closes. This can happen for many reasons, including:

Restructure or reorganisation;
Introduction of new technology;
A downturn in sales or production;
Business relocation interstate or overseas; or
Closure due to insolvency or bankruptcy.

Redundancy is about the job, not your performance — but not all redundancies are handled correctly.

If your employer still needs the work done, fails to follow consultation obligations or could have redeployed you, you may have grounds to challenge the redundancy with the help of a redundancy lawyer.

If you are an employer seeking guidance, see our Employer’s Guide to Redundancy.

What makes redundancy genuine?

A redundancy is only “genuine” under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) if:

Your employer no longer needs the job to be performed by anyone;
They have followed all consultation requirements in an award or enterprise agreement; and
Redeployment within the business (or an associated business) was not reasonable in the circumstances.

If these conditions are not met, the redundancy is not genuine.

In that case, you may have a right to pursue an unfair dismissal claim. Our redundancy lawyers can assess your situation and protect your rights if your employer’s process doesn’t meet the legal standard.

Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

Under the National Employment Standards (NES), most employees are entitled to redundancy pay. Your entitlement depends on your continuous service, but you may also have rights under:

an award;
an enterprise agreement;
your employment contract; or
a company policy.

In addition to redundancy pay, you are generally entitled to:

payment in lieu of notice;
accrued but untaken annual leave;
long service leave (where applicable); and
in some cases, bonus or share option entitlements.

If you are employed by a state government department, you may also have rights under state legislation.

Our redundancy lawyers can calculate your entitlements and ensure you receive the full payout you are owed.

Who doesn’t get redundancy pay?

Certain employees are excluded from redundancy pay under the Fair Work Act, including:

employees with less than 12 months of service;
casual employees;
apprentices and trainees;
employees on fixed-term contracts;
employees dismissed for serious misconduct;
employees of small business employers (fewer than 15 staff); and
employees terminated due to the “ordinary and customary turnover of labour”.

When a business is sold, redundancy entitlements can also become complicated. If you accept a job with the new employer, you may not be entitled to redundancy pay from the old employer — though your service may still count towards long service leave and other entitlements.

Can redundancy be reduced?

Your employer may try to reduce your redundancy pay by applying to the Fair Work Commission. They can seek a reduction if:

they have offered you other acceptable employment; or
they cannot afford to pay the full redundancy entitlement.

The Commission may decide to reduce the amount to a specified figure — which could be less than your full entitlement or even nil.

If your employer is trying to cut your redundancy pay, it’s important to get urgent advice from a redundancy lawyer so your rights are protected.

Protecting Careers, Strengthening Workplaces

A redundancy should be genuine, fair and compensated correctly. We hold employers to account and protect your entitlements.

Further Workplace Solutions

Why seek advice after redundancy?

Redundancy doesn’t always mean the end of the road — with the right advice, you can make sure your rights are fully protected.

Seeking help from a redundancy lawyer can make the difference between walking away with less than you deserve and securing your full entitlements.

Secure Redundancy Pay

We calculate the payout you are entitled to based on your service and any contractual rights, then make sure your employer pays the full amount. If your employer tries to reduce your redundancy pay, we challenge it on your behalf.

Recover Entitlements

Beyond redundancy pay, you may also be owed notice, annual leave, and long service leave. We review your contract, award or enterprise agreement to ensure you receive everything you are legally entitled to.

Protect Benefits

We check whether redundancy entitles you to incentive payments, commissions, or share options. Our lawyers hold your employer accountable so you don’t miss out on non-salary benefits.

Challenging Redundancy

If your redundancy is not genuine — for example, your employer still needs your role or failed to consult with you — we can lodge an unfair dismissal claim to seek compensation or reinstatement.

We’re here to protect
your workplace rights

Being made redundant is stressful, but our redundancy lawyers make the process clear and fight to ensure you receive your full redundancy entitlements.

Why choose us for your redundancy claim?

Choosing the right lawyer can make all the difference to the outcome of your redundancy matter. We combine specialist expertise with a practical, client-focused approach to protect your rights and secure your entitlements.

Expert Advice

Our redundancy lawyers focus on redundancy and dismissal matters every day, so you’ll receive advice that’s accurate, practical and tailored to your situation.

Proven Results

We’ve helped employees across industries recover redundancy pay, enforce contractual entitlements and challenge non-genuine redundancies with successful outcomes.

Personalised Service

You’ll work directly with an experienced redundancy lawyer who takes the time to understand your needs and guide you through every step of the process.

Cost-Effective Approach

We provide clear advice upfront, avoid unnecessary disputes and resolve matters quickly so you can move forward with certainty.

Client Testimonials

When I was made redundant after 10 years with my employer, I wasn’t sure if the process was genuine. Boris carefully reviewed my contract and discovered that the company had failed to meet consultation requirements. He filed an unfair dismissal claim and secured a settlement that included full redundancy pay and additional compensation. His attention to detail and calm approach gave me real peace of mind during a very stressful time.

After my company restructured, I was told my role no longer existed, yet a new position almost identical to mine was advertised two weeks later. Stefan acted quickly to challenge the decision, negotiated on my behalf and achieved a fair payout without going to hearing. The result confirmed that the redundancy wasn’t genuine. Axe Legal were exceptional throughout.

Boris helped me when my employer tried to reduce my redundancy pay. He gathered evidence, drafted submissions to the Fair Work Commission and ensured I received the full amount owed. His professionalism, responsiveness and empathy made a difficult situation much easier to navigate. I can’t thank him enough for protecting my rights.

I engaged Axe Legal after being made redundant from a small business that refused to pay my entitlements. Boris explained my options clearly and sent a strong demand letter outlining the company’s legal obligations. Within days, they agreed to pay redundancy, notice and leave in full. I was genuinely impressed by how efficiently everything was handled.

After 15 years of service, I was made redundant with no consultation and offered far less than I expected. Stefan identified unpaid long service leave and negotiated a revised payout that doubled the original offer. His combination of empathy and precision made me feel supported and in control again.

I reached out to Axe Legal after my redundancy payout was delayed for over a month. Boris contacted the employer and secured full payment plus interest within a week. He was clear, fast and incredibly thorough. I’d recommend Axe Legal to anyone needing help with redundancy or dismissal matters.