Stand Down Notice

A Stand Down Notice is a document that is used to inform employees that their employment will be paused because of business disruptions beyond an employer’s control.

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Last updated October 23, 2025

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Suitable for Australia

Stand Down Notice

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What is a stand down notice?

A stand down notice is a document that tells employees their work is temporarily paused due to business disruptions outside the employer’s control. Employees remain employed but do not work or receive pay during this period.
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When should you use a stand down notice?

Use a stand down notice when you need to temporarily suspend operations, such as during equipment repairs or unexpected closures, and want to retain staff without paying wages during the downtime.
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What should be in a stand down notice?

A stand down notice should state the reason for the stand down, the expected duration, the conditions, and clarify that employment continues but work and pay are paused.
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Frequently asked questions

How does standing down differ from redundancy or termination?

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What are the legal risks of using this notice?

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Can you use this document Australia-wide?

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What are your obligations after issuing this notice?

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Does this notice guarantee job security for employees?

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What situations justify issuing a stand down notice?

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What should you do if business circumstances change during the stand down?

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View Sample Stand Down Notice

Stand Down Notice
risk level indicator at Medium level

The Legal Risk Score of a Stand Down Notice Template is Medium

Our legal team have marked this document as medium risk considering:

  • This document is simple to sign.
  • Standing down employees could jeopardise business operations.
  • If the stand down is not executed properly, it could put the employer in breach of the Fair Work Act.

Users with some knowledge of employment documents might find it easier to navigate, but should be cautious of the gaps in detailed procedural guidance and ensure clear communication and documentation when using this notice.

Meet Our Users

Articles about Stand Down Notice

What Rights Do You Have If You've Been Stood Down?
By Adrian Zajaczkowski|Apr 1, 2020

What Rights Do You Have If You've Been Stood Down?

Have you recently been stood down by your employer? Find out key information including what a stand down means and how it will affect you.

Standing Down Employees Versus Redundancy
By Jackie Olling|Mar 27, 2020

Standing Down Employees Versus Redundancy

The COVID-19 pandemic means many Australian workers may lose their jobs. Find out the difference between standing down your employees and redundancy.

How To Terminate A Stood Down Employee
By Mai Sarkissian|May 27, 2024

How To Terminate A Stood Down Employee

The ways to terminate a stood down employee are not as complicated as you might think. The general rules for termination of employment apply.

COVID-19 Employee Work Arrangements Guide 2021
By Mai Sarkissian|Dec 4, 2025

COVID-19 Employee Work Arrangements Guide 2021

Find the answers to commonly asked questions surrounding current employee working arrangements available to employers due to coronavirus.

‘The Humane Thing to Do’
By James Miotto|Jul 8, 2016

‘The Humane Thing to Do’

The dog days are over for NSW and the ACT - Learn about the NSW Government's recent ban on greyhound racing.

How to Respond to a Winding-up Notice
By James Hodgson|Feb 21, 2024

How to Respond to a Winding-up Notice

A winding-up notice is almost as bad as it can get for a business. So how should your company respond to a statutory demand or a winding up notice?

What is Payment in Lieu of Notice?
By Paul Taylor|Jun 26, 2019

What is Payment in Lieu of Notice?

Employment can end sooner than you expect. Sometimes, an employer may pay you in lieu of working out your notice. Read about it here.

Resigning During Probation: How Much Notice? (2025 Update)
By Ilyas Omari|Nov 20, 2025

Resigning During Probation: How Much Notice? (2025 Update)

Resigning during probation might seem like a simple process. In reality, there's much more to it. Here's what you need to know.

Telstra goes SOS only.
By Anthony Guerrieri|Feb 10, 2016

Telstra goes SOS only.

Read about the Telstra outage, and why it occurred.

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