Sarah is an EPL and workplace relations specialist with extensive insurance experience. She advises employers about workplace relations, safety and employment law. Sarah has acted in numerous unfair dismissals, general protections applications, sexual harassment and discrimination claims as well as complex employment contract claims. These types of claims are litigated in state and federal industrial tribunals as well as the Federal, Federal Circuit Courts and various state courts.
Sarah is committed to resolving claims quickly and cost effectively, while providing the support and guidance employers need to work through often complex and difficult circumstances.
She has extensive experience providing strategic advice to business aimed at preventing claims on issues such as workplace investigations, performance and injury management, misconduct and termination of employment.
Sarah also acts for companies and directors during Fair Work Ombudsman and safety investigations and prosecutions. She has assisted various organisations with enterprise agreement negotiations and industrial disputes.
Sarah’s current industry focus is on the SME market through management liability policies, and her broader experience includes advising government agencies, mining companies and other large corporates about their obligations at employment and safety law.
Articles and Presentations
Presentation on respect in the workplace, July 2022
EPL update and trends, May 2022
Presentation for insurers on employee underpayments August 2020
Alex Haslam, Sarah Wood, Elissa Baxter (General Counsel Lawcover) Lawcover Podcast – Employment risks in the aftermath of claims 2020
- Changes to fixed-term contract provisions
- Criminal sanctions for bullying behaviour
- Western Australia WHS reforms come into effect – what you need to know
- Comfort for employers after FWC finds that requiring COVID-19 vaccination information is not a breach of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
- What it takes to get an order to stop sexual harassment
- SPC safely taking the lead
- New stop sexual harassment applications and other changes to sexual harassment law on the horizon
- Gig round-up – recent decisions from the gig economy
- Debunking myths about workplace investigations, the rule of law and the presumption of innocence
- FAQ: Employer mandated COVID-19 vaccinations
- Changes to casual employment, awards and paid domestic and family violence leave in store for 2021
- Insurance for WHS fines in NSW now unlawful, but investigation and legal costs remain insurable
- No casual matter: Federal Court increases scope for ‘casual’ employees to claim leave entitlements
- COVID-19 Toolkit: JobKeeper changes to Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – update and FAQ
- FAQ: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Employer rights and obligations