ARTICLE · 10 DECEMBER 2019

Employers get ready for modern award changes in 2020

Colin Biggers & Paisley

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Employers will need to update employment contracts and HR practices by 1 March 2020 to comply with new modern award changes.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Paul O'Halloran

In brief - Employers will need to update employment contracts and HR practices by 1 March 2020 to comply with new modern award changes

Following a decision of the Full Bench, the Fair Work Commission has finalised arrangements for new annualised salary clauses to be inserted into a number of modern awards with effect from 1 March 2020. These changes introduce important new practices for HR and payroll aimed at reducing "wage theft" and non-compliance with awards.

What do employers need to do?

Review employment contracts and update HR and payroll practices to comply with the new obligations to audit annual salaries, record hours of work and backpay any shortfall when annual salaries are audited against modern award entitlements.

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