Changes to the Professional Employees Award 2020

Employers should be advised that significant changes to the Professional Employees Award 2020 (Award) came into effect on 16 September 2023.

These changes apply to any Employer that has employees covered under the Award, which includes employees performing professional engineering and scientific duties, the information technology industry, the quality auditing industry, the telecommunications services industry and professional medical research employees.

From the first full pay period after 16 September 2023, the following applies:

1. Ordinary hours of work must be 38 hours per week, averaged over a period of up to 13 weeks;
2. Employees are entitled to penalty rates and overtime (or time in lieu) where their hours exceed 38 hours per week or where hours worked are outside ordinary hours – such as on a Public Holiday, on Sundays or at night (subject to the above averaging arrangements). Notably, this includes work undertaken remotely or where an employee has