Why our clients prefer working with Hunter Employee Relations

Our client service philosophy is based on building long term partnerships with our clients and is founded on cost effective professional advice provided in a timely manner.

What makes Hunter Employee Relations different?

• We provide close guidance to our clients through the legal minefield of employee relations where you don’t know you’ve taken a wrong step until its too late.

• We will advise on a practical, cost effective, risk managed solution knowing we cannot remove all the risk. 

• Our strong service focus has resulted in retaining many long-term clients that call us when they need us – NO lock in contracts or monthly retainers.

• Expertise and experience that comes from over 30 years of practical employee relations and employment law experience across multiple industries.

 

"Michael has guided us through many complex industrial relations and employment law issues since 2008. This has included performance terminations, negotiation of several Enterprise Agreements and business restructuring resulting in redundancies.

He has always shown a strong personal interest in protecting our business in a very professional and practical manner. He is easy to work with and has become an essential part of our business." (HR Manager Lampson Australia)

 

What we don’t do…..

• We do not have expensive retainer contracts with monthly payments. These are very unfair for small to medium sized business. 

• We do not operate a hotline staffed with Graduates or less experienced staff. Clients talk to Michael who has over 35 years industrial relations and employment law experience. 

 

How we work with you

We don’t require clients to have long term contracts or monthly retainers. They are expensive and unfair on small to medium employers.

Talk to Hunter Employee Relations about what suits you best.

Our standard approach is based on an hourly consultation charge – you only pay for work undertaken. 

Some clients with regular queries have requested a prepayment draw down system which gets recharged when necessary.

New clients are encouraged to contact Hunter Employee Relations to talk through their issues or concerns. There is no charge for this.

After the initial consultation, I normally meet with clients to explore their situation in much more detail and look at options. This will result in the development of an appropriate strategy and action plan.

 

Michael Schmidt

Michael Schmidt

The Director and Principal Consultant of Hunter Employee Relations

Michael has over 30 years' extensive experience gained through senior Employee Relations and Human Resources Management roles in operational business environments. He has also consulted to clients while working for national industry associations and industrial relations consultancies.

Michael established Hunter Employee Relations in 2008 after working in an industrial relations capacity for several large employer associations, a specialised consultancy and several large employers with many workplace relations problems.

Hunter Employee Relations has helped many small to medium sized employers through a wide range of industrial relations and employment law issues. His area of speciality has become investigations, behaviour change counselling, discipline process, bullying and harassment as well as terminations. These issues keep many business managers awake at 3am in the morning.

Michael has assisted many employers through Unfair Dismissal and General Protections claims in the Fair Work Commission, as well as sexual harassment cases in the Australian Human Rights Commission. He prides himself on achieving a low-cost outcome for his clients through thorough preparation and tactical manoeuvres.

Michael prefers to assist employers early in any disciplinary or termination processes in anticipation of the employee challenging their termination in Fair Work. This area of law is getting unnecessarily complex and very difficult for employers to manage on their own without significant risk. While Unfair Dismissals are limited to 6 months wage General Protections have no compensation limit. Setting up a termination correctly is the least stressful way to fight it once you are before the tribunal.

“Employers are facing new challenges through the proliferation of ‘no-win, no-fee’ solicitors which employees are happy to jump on board with in anticipation of receiving a large financial payout for no upfront cost. These solicitors force employers into large settlements to prevent further court action. With preparation we can develop a fairly sound case.”

Then we fight them.

 

 Michael’s formal qualifications include:

  • Bachelor of Commerce – Industrial Relations Major (University of Melbourne)
  • Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations Law (University of Melbourne)
  • Studies in Master of Law & Legal Practice (University of Technology Sydney)
  • Master of Human Resources Management (Graduate School – University of Newcastle)

Michael provided us with a strategy that saved us thousands of dollars

My business partner and I first met Michael many years ago over a complex employee relations issue. In one short meeting we developed a strategy that saved us tens of thousands of dollars in compensation payments. Since then we have been relying on Michael’s specialist advice and guidance. While we may be dealing with various complex legal employment questions he provides us with plain English options and recommendations. Michael always seeks to look after our business interests in a proficient manner.

Robin Fridell , Managing Director, The Modern Group Newcastle

Comprehensive knowledge ensured a complex Agreement was approved by Fair Work

Scenic Tours engaged Hunter Employee Relations to re-negotiate several Enterprise Agreements for the Tour Delivery team. This was a difficult exercise as the employees involved were working remotely across Australia and New Zealand. Michael did more than just provide advice - he actively facilitated the making of the Agreement ensuring open communication and driving the negotiation to its conclusion. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the legal requirements which ensured that a complex Agreement was approved by the Fair Work Commission.

David Gilford , Product Delivery Manager, Scenic Tours

Excellent drafting ability and quick turn-around time

Hunter Employee Relations assisted Youth Express with the development and approval of our Enterprise Agreement. Michael actively and professionally directed the whole staff consultation process through to approval for an organisation that did not fit easily into any current awards system. Michael proved a high level of professionalism demonstrating excellent drafting ability, a quick turnaround time and a thorough knowledge of the legal process. I can definitely recommend Hunter Employee Relations to other employers.

Julie Eldridge , CEO, Youth Express Association Inc.

Protecting our business interests in a very professional and practical manner

Lampson Australia operates in a heavy industry environment which often provides for some interesting workplace challenges. Michael has guided us through many complex industrial relations and employment law issues since 2008. This has included performance terminations, negotiating several Enterprise Agreements and business restructuring resulting in redundancies. He has always a shown a strong personal interest in protecting our business interests in a very professional and practical manner. He is easy to work with and has become an essential part of our business.

Vicki Wilson , HR Manager, Lampson (Australia) Pty Ltd

Eight Enterprise Agreements across our Group – the process went very smoothly.

ATB Morton is a vertically integrated construction business with a range of different work environments. We engaged Hunter Employee Relations to develop eight Enterprise Agreements across our diverse group of companies. Michael’s professional approach and sound knowledge of the legal complexities of the Fair Work Act, ensured the process went very smoothly.

John Dodd , Group Resources Manager, ATB Morton Group of Companies