Professional services in 2026: the risks, the rule changes, and what to do about them

Professional services firms manage clients, deadlines, specialist teams and complex employment obligations every day, and the compliance ground keeps shifting. The non-compete ban will cover 91% of Australian employees from 2027, super now has to reach employee accounts within seven business days of payday, and 43% of firms have found a payroll error. This factsheet breaks down the numbers, the five regulatory changes hitting the sector, and the practical steps to close the gaps.

Guides 24 September, 2026
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Professional services in 2026: the risks, the rule changes, and what to do about them

What’s inside?

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The numbers that matter:

Payroll errors, the rising unfair dismissal cap, and why 1 in 4 professional services calls to our advice line are about contracts and engagement.

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Regulatory changes explained:

The 2027 non-compete ban, Payday Super, Award coverage for salaried staff, and why certification is becoming a condition of winning work.

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Psychosocial safety in focus:

Why utilisation targets, always-on client demands and hybrid isolation carry the same legal weight as physical risks, and why mental health claims keep people off work five times longer.

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Action checklist:

Practical steps for each change, from reviewing restraint and client-contact clauses to testing your pay run and clearing house end to end.

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