Let's Talk About Confidentiality is a research report published on 6 March 2024 by Sharmilla Bargon and Regina Featherstone, the inaugural Social Justice Practitioners-in-Residence at The University of Sydney. In August 2023, Bargon and Featherstone set out to find how sexual harassment practitioners were resolving out-of-court sexual harassment settlements and how they approached confidentiality terms.
Employment Law
We provide free legal advice about problems at work, including unfair dismissal, underpayment, and discrimination & bullying.
On this page
About this service
Many people experience legal problems at work. Our solicitors can give you free and confidential legal advice about employment law issues including:
- Being underpaid
- Recovering unpaid wages
- Being fired
- Your rights at work
- Workplace discrimination
- Sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace
Who can access this service?
We provide employment law advice to employees anywhere in NSW. An income threshold applies. Learn more about accessing our services. If we are unable to advise you, we may refer you to other resources or services closer to you.
How to contact us
LEGAL ENQUIRY form call 02 9698 7277
If you need to use an interpreter, call us using the free Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
If we are able to advise you, we will arrange for a solicitor to call you back. If we are not able to assist you we may refer you to other services and resources, including those listed below.
How we can help: John’s story
John* is an Aboriginal man who lives in Redfern. He worked full-time as an editor in a large company.
During his employment, John suffered ongoing racial discrimination from his colleagues, who would tell John that famous Aboriginal Australians on television were “too pale” and other racial slurs. John reported this discrimination to his manager and HR but no disciplinary action was taken.
John became increasingly upset by these comments and the lack of support from his employer. After working for his employer for ten years, John was made redundant and didn’t know what to do about his situation.
RLC assisted John to lodge a complaint of unlawful discrimination on the grounds of race at the Australian Human Rights Commission. John received $40,000 in damages and compensation for racial discrimination and his employer’s vicarious liability as they failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the discrimination from occurring.
*Name and identifying details have been changed.
Thank you so much for helping [resolve the] unfair dismissal. What you guys do for the community is incredibly valuable.
Other services that can help
- Fair Work Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal. Phone: 1300 766 700.
- Fair Work Ombudsman provides initial information on employment rights and workplace industrial issues. Phone: 13 13 94.
- Law Access NSW can provide general information regarding unfair dismissal, unfair contracts and recovery of unpaid entitlements. Phone: 1300 888 529.
- Legal Aid NSW grants are available for unfair dismissal claims. Phone: 9219 5000.
- WorkCover NSW can provide information about bullying in the workplace. Phone: 13 10 50.
- Employment Rights Legal Service is a free statewide service run by Inner City Legal Centre, Kingsford Legal Centre and Redfern Legal Centre. Phone: 02 8004 3270.
Self-help information
Law reform updates
News
Redfern Legal Centre welcomes the introduction of a world-first ‘workplace justice’ visa that will enable exploited migrants to stay in Australia for a short period to enforce their workplace rights.
