Fired or Fair: Employment Law Explained! was successfully organised by the BAC Law Society in collaboration with Tay & Partners on 9 April 2026 at the BAC PJ flagship campus. The talk aimed to provide students with practical insights into employment and industrial relations law, an area often under explored in formal legal education. They were invited to examine the fine line between lawful decisions and workplace injustice, discovering that the answer is rarely straightforward.

The session shed light on how employment law operates in practice, particularly in relation to dismissals and employee rights. It emphasised a crucial reality: the law looks beyond labels, not every termination is unlawful, and not every resignation is genuinely voluntary.

Students were guided through the distinction between wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal, with particular emphasis on the importance of proper justification and procedural fairness. The speakers also walked students through the post-dismissal process, including the requirement to file a representation within 60 days, followed by conciliation proceedings and, where necessary, escalation to the Industrial Court.

The event was also designed to enhance students’ understanding of the Malaysian employment law framework, provide real-world insights into employment disputes and Industrial Court procedures, and expose students to potential career pathways in employment and industrial relations law.

A key highlight of the event was the engaging panel discussion, where practitioners moved beyond theory to unpack the realities of employment law in practice. The session was dynamic and thought-provoking, featuring speakers Mr Leonard Yeoh (Senior Partner at Tay & Partners) and his team, Ms Pua Jun Wen (Senior Associate), Ms Chen Mei Yan (Legal Associate), and Ms Stella Beh (Legal Associate and Moderator).

They shared candid insights from their professional experiences and challenged common assumptions surrounding dismissal and employee rights. Drawing on cases such as Khoo Ee Peng v Galaxy Automation Sdn Bhd [2009] and Noor Hazlina Kamarudin v Nusapetro Sdn Bhd [2019], the panel demonstrated how legal principles are applied in real-world scenarios.

The discussion extended beyond legal doctrine, exploring strategic considerations, evidentiary challenges, and the human dimension behind workplace disputes. Students were encouraged to think critically about what fairness truly means in an employment context, recognising that outcomes often depend on how facts are presented and argued.

In conclusion, the panel discussion was both insightful and impactful, successfully bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world legal practice. It not only deepened students’ understanding of employment law but also sparked greater interest in the field. Ultimately, “fired or fair” is rarely a simple answer—it is a question shaped by facts, strategy, and perspective.

Well, done to the BAC Law Society for organizing this discussion session. The Society looks forward to future collaborations and continued engagement. Follow their Instagram and Linkedin page for more updates.