Will an award always apply?
27 December 2019
A modern award will not always apply to a stated industry or occupation for example, for high income earners.
What is an award?
An award sets out the minimum employment terms and conditions that apply on top of the national employment standards.
Awards typically cover:
- pay
- allowances
- penalty rates
- overtime
- hours of work
- rosters
- breaks
Award coverage
Awards cover employees. They are industry or occupation based and apply to employees and employers who perform work covered by them.
In many cases, an award will not apply to high income earning employee, even if the award applies to their industry.
Registered enterprise agreement
An award won’t apply if there is a registered enterprise agreement that applies.
However, if the pay rate in the enterprise agreement is less than an award, the pay rate in the applicable award will apply.
Award and registered agreement free employees
If an employee is not covered by either an award or enterprise agreement, they are covered by the national minimum wage and the national employment standards will form the minimum terms and conditions of employment.
Do you have questions or comments about an award? Be sure to leave them below.