Category: *Financial FUNdamentals*

Are your team working their proper hours? Do you know what the proper hours are?

Fairwork says:
Maximum weekly hours form part of the National Employment Standards (NES). The NES apply to all employees covered by the national workplace relations system, regardless of any award, agreement or contract.

– maximum ordinary hours that can be worked in a day, week, fortnight or month
– minimum ordinary hours that can be worked in a day
– times of the day that ordinary hours can be worked this is called the spread of hours (for example, between 7am and 7pm).

The ‘spread of hours’ may catch you out if you allow your team to work flexible hours (after they’ve had dinner) – they still need to fit inside the spread of hours or you could be up for overtime rates!

Fair Work has updated the National Employment Standards (NES).

FairWork says: From 1 January 2024, the National Employment Standards (NES) includes a right to superannuation contributions. This means that unpaid or underpaid superannuation can be enforced under the Fair Work Act by more employees (as well as by an employee organisation or us).
Make sure you provide new employees with the current version of the National Employment Standards as part of your onboarding process.
Ask us for help if you have no idea about an employee onboarding process – we can help keep you compliant!

Fair Work has updated the rules about deductions from employee wages.
New rules apply for employee authorised deductions from pay that are either one-off or recurring and for specific amounts or for amounts that change from time to time.
These are called employee authorised deductions and the employee needs to give their permission in writing. Examples of these deductions include payments to a health fund or union fees.
Need help with payroll? Ask us to give you a hand

Fair Work has updated the rules about fixed term contracts
From 6 December 2023, new rules apply when engaging employees on fixed term contracts.
A fixed term contract terminates at the end of a set period (for example, the contract ends on a set date or after a set period of time or a season).
The new rules include a requirement for employers to give any employees they’re engaging on a new fixed term contract a Fixed Term Contract Information Statement (FTCIS).
Need help with payroll? Ask us to give you a hand