Artboard 1Icon/UI/CalendarIcons/Ionic/Social/social-pinterestIcon/UI/Video-outline

Megan Cant

Special Counsel - Sydney

Areas of Expertise

Workplace Relations & Safety

Expertise

With specialist experience of more than nine years, Megan is an expert adviser in all areas of employment, industrial relations, and work health and safety law. Megan partners with employers and directors and has particular industry expertise in media, professional services, construction, prestige and luxury goods and automotive, cash-in-transit, tourism, superannuation and health.

Megan appears in all Federal and State courts, tribunals and the Fair Work Commission and is notable for her discreet management of highly litigious and complex claims. Megan has significant experience in the resolution and strategic management of disputes arising under anti-discrimination and industrial laws as well as guiding employers in critical incident investigations and defending work health and safety criminal prosecutions.

Megan’s practice also includes partnering with her clients in navigating workplace change in the complex Australian industrial landscape. She works with her clients to identify the core workplace issues they are facing and working together to develop tailored, effective and commercial solutions.

Experience

Megan’s recent experience includes:

  • advising employers and people managers on the full spectrum of employment law, including workplace issues arising from COVID-19, the review and drafting of policies and contracts for senior executives, employees and independent contractors, managing bullying and other workplace complaints, advising on privacy and misconduct and performance issues, and the management of ill and injured employees
  • working with employers in scoping their workforce to develop pragmatic and strategic change management plans in the context of restructures, mergers and acquisitions, and challenging economic circumstances
  • acting for employers in State and Federal courts and tribunals in employment and industrial related litigation, including union right of entry disputes and high profile sexual harassment, discrimination and vilification litigation
  • guiding employers, directors and safety managers through all stages following a critical safety incident, including regulatory investigations and work health and safety prosecutions
  • advising employers on dealing with regulators including the Fair Work Ombudsman in compliance with modern awards and underpayment disputes
  • conducting and advising on workplace investigations, including routine as well as complex and sensitive investigations
  • advising on post-employment conduct, including discovery of fraud and enforcing post-employment restraints of trade
  • defending general protections, unfair dismissal and unlawful termination disputes, including successfully pursuing jurisdictional objections to eliminate proceedings prior to a substantive hearing.

Publications

07 March 2023 - Knowledge

How will the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act impact sexual harassment and discrimination in workplace? (Part 4)

#Workplace Relations & Safety

In the fourth part of this series, we examine the changes to the Fair Work Act with respect to sexual harassment and anti-discrimination, and how it impacts employers.

23 January 2023 - Knowledge

Key dates for employers in 2023

#Workplace Relations & Safety

This article provides an overview of the key 2023 commencement dates under recently enacted legislation for employers and human resources and industrial relations practitioners.

01 November 2022 - Knowledge

Federal Government overhauls IR laws with new Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill

#Workplace Relations & Safety

In what is the broadest set of changes to industrial laws in a decade, the Federal Government has introduced the Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill 2022 to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). This article looks at the proposed legislation and the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill passed on 27 October 2022.

07 March 2022 - Knowledge

Contractor vs employee: The new legal approach

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The High Court has recently clarified how employers determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee. What is the new approach, and how may it affect you?

16 February 2022 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent case before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal demonstrates the risks of unlawful age discrimination and the need for an employer to treat each job applicant with respect.

08 September 2021 - Knowledge

COVID-19 employer vaccination incentives – a cash grab for the jab?

#Workplace Relations & Safety, #COVID-19

The Therapeutic Goods Administration now permits employers to incentivise and advertise the COVID-19 vaccine. We set out what employers can and cannot do, and the applicable rules and legal risks regarding vaccination incentives.