What consultation follows a definite major-change decision?
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Quick explanation
Previously reviewed explanation — check official wording before use
For major production, program, organisation, structure or technology changes likely to significantly affect employees, notify affected employees and representatives and start discussion as soon as practicable.
Check the conditions
- Discuss introduction, likely effects and ways to avoid or reduce adverse effects; provide relevant information in writing and promptly consider matters raised.
- Significant effects include termination, workforce/skills changes, lost opportunities or tenure, changed hours, retraining/transfer and restructuring.
Exceptions
- Confidential information need not be disclosed where contrary to employer interests.
- Where the Award provides for alteration of a listed matter, that alteration is taken not to have significant effect.
Read the official wording and citations
Poultry Processing Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman
FWC · MA000074 · Clause 27
27. Consultation about major workplace change
27.1 If an employer makes a definite decision to make major changes in production, program, organisation, structure or technology that are likely to have significant effects on employees, the employer must:
(a) give notice of the changes to all employees who may be affected by them and their representatives (if any); and
(b) discuss with affected employees and their representatives (if any):
(i) the introduction of the changes; and
(ii) their likely effect on employees; and
(iii) measures to avoid or reduce the adverse effects of the changes on employees; and
(c) commence discussions as soon as practicable after a definite decision has been made.
27.2 For the purposes of the discussion under clause 27.1(b), the employer must give in writing to the affected employees and their representatives (if any) all relevant information about the changes including:
(a) their nature; and
(b) their expected effect on employees; and
(c) any other matters likely to affect employees.
27.3 Clause 27.2 does not require an employer to disclose any confidential information if its disclosure would be contrary to the employer’s interests.
27.4 The employer must promptly consider any matters raised by the employees or their representatives about the changes in the course of the discussion under clause 27.1(b).
27.5 In clause 27 significant effects, on employees, includes any of the following:
(a) termination of employment; or
(b) major changes in the composition, operation or size of the employer’s workforce or in the skills required; or
(c) loss of, or reduction in, job or promotion opportunities; or
(d) loss of, or reduction in, job tenure; or
(e) alteration of hours of work; or
(f) the need for employees to be retrained or transferred to other work or locations; or
(g) job restructuring.
27.6 Where this award makes provision for alteration of any of the matters defined at clause 27.5, such alteration is taken not to have significant effect.
Complete normalized source clause. Exact snapshot/raw integrity checked; explanation review status is recorded separately on each entry. Parent-clause citation does not establish exhaustive paragraph coverage.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2026. Fair Work Commission. Consolidated Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Quotations retain source wording; whitespace/table formatting is normalised for display. Personal/non-commercial or internal use only under the FWC copyright notice. Quick Award explanations are separate AI source-checked text; no government endorsement.
- Official document
- Poultry Processing Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman ↗
- Version
- This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799354 and PR799510). ↗
- Citation verified
- Operative note
- Explains the current consolidated Award text incorporating amendments up to and including 1 July 2026, checked on 25 October 2026. The consolidation date is not a commencement date for these rules; historical work requires the text and variations applicable at that time.