Glossary & Acronyms

Employment law terms starting with U: unfair dismissal, unlawful termination, unlawful terms in enterprise agreements, and unpaid work such as internships. Plain-English definitions that explain the rules and risks for Australian employers.

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Terms and definitions

Unfair dismissal

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Unfair dismissal is the termination of employment that is considered harsh, unjust, or unreasonable and does not qualify as a genuine redundancy.

Unlawful termination

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Unlawful termination is the ending of an employee's job by their employer for reasons that are discriminatory or against the law.

Unlawful terms

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Unlawful terms are provisions that cannot legally be included in an enterprise agreement.

Unpaid work

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Unpaid work is any job or work performed without getting paid, like internships, work experience or vocational training programs.

General information only

This content is general information about Australian employment law, current at the date it was last reviewed. It does not take your circumstances into account and is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, call Employment Compass on 1300 144 002.

Last reviewed: October 2026