Workplace issues don’t always erupt with warning.
Sometimes they start with a complaint.
Other times, they start with a policy that’s quietly out of step with the law.
And right now, one of the biggest shifts in Australian workplace relations is already underway and catching some of the country’s largest employers off guard.
Chevron. BHP. The fallout has begun.
Whether you’re in mining, energy, FMCG, manufacturing or services, if your business uses contractors, outsourced providers or labour hire, now is the time to get across the risks.
This month, BHP lost a landmark Same Job Same Pay case, with 2,200 of its labour hire workers across three Queensland mines now set to receive pay increases of $30,000 each, costing the company an estimated $66 million annually.
Chevron is facing similar union-led claims, with wage increases of up to $80,000 per contractor on the table, and growing calls for the case to set a broader legal precedent.
The message is clear:
If contractors are performing the same work as direct hires, they may be entitled to the same pay and conditions, regardless of your current model.
Before launching a full-scale review, consider this. A Preliminary Assessment allows your business to:
It’s not about panic.
It’s about proactive clarity.
In our work across Utilities, FMCG, Start Ups and Small Business, we’ve seen businesses respond in two unhelpful ways:
Both approaches create risk.
What’s needed is a middle path: practical, independent guidance that balances compliance with operational reality.
We specialise in workplace relations consulting for the modern workplace. One where compliance, culture and business continuity must all align.
At Workvergent, we help HR leaders, operations managers and business owners navigate these shifts without chaos. We bring deep experience in interpreting industrial relations changes, managing contractor exposure, and guiding you through complex compliance updates. All while protecting what matters most: your people, your agility and your reputation.
Not sure whether your contractor arrangements hold up under new scrutiny?
Let’s start with a Preliminary Assessment.
Contact us or visit www.workvergent.com.au
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