Problem
You are a HR consultant. One of your clients is a chain of hardware stores (Client). You are told the CEO of your Client received a letter from the union asserting that the Client has taken "adverse action" against an employee, Toby, who is employed in one of the stores. You are told that Toby has been talking to staff in the lunchroom about what a union is and how to join it. Toby has told their team leader they are in the union. You are told that Toby has since been rostered on a reduced number of shifts by the store manager.
The CEO of the business is concerned and wants preliminary advice about whether any employees of the Client are in breach of the General Protections provisions of the Act. The advice should explain what adverse action is, when it is contrary to the law, and what the possible outcomes might be for the Client if it has broken the law.