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Employee class actions are expensive and time-consuming, but employers can take some steps to minimise these costs, according to a lawyer who sets out what to expect when an action is imminent or underway.

As HR Daily reported recently, employment-related class actions are on the rise, and the types of employers and industries being targeted are expanding, says Allens partner Jaime McKenzie.

As well as established causes such as underpayments and entitlements breaches, McKenzie says employers should expect to see class actions alleging breaches of the positive duties, for example.

Turning to what to expect during this process, she tells HR Daily that because law firms can seek expressions of interest from employees without informing their employers, the moment an organisation realises it's at risk might be after a class action has been filed...