awards and agreements

Question 1

what are national employment standards

Answer 1

the fair work act sets out employment entitlements known as the 11 national employment standards, a copy needs to be provided to all employees.

Question 2

what are awards

Answer 2

,legally binding minimum requirements for wages and conditions applying to specific industries. they are reviewed by the fair work commission every for years to ensure they are kept up with changing conditions such as inflation.

Question 3

what do awards specify

Answer 3

minimum wages, working conditions and overtime, meal breaks, holidays and leave, superannuation

Question 4

when do awards not apply

Answer 4

when a business has an enterprise agreement or other registered agreement with its employees.

Question 5

benefits of awards

Answer 5

less expensive for a business

Question 6

disadvantages of awards

Answer 6

can risk not attracting highly skilled employees if only award rates are offered

Question 7

what are enterprise agreements

Answer 7

agreements that are negotiated within a business. they set out the wages and conditions of employment. once a business has an enterprise agreement, awards no longer apply.

Question 8

criteria for an agreement

Answer 8

1. employees to be covered must be better off overall than under the relevant award. 2. no unlawful terms included. 3. the agreement runs for a specified time of up to 4 years. 4. a dispute settlement procedure is included.

Question 9

advantages of enterprise agreements

Answer 9

structured to suit the needs of the employer and employee. can attract highly skilled employees

Question 10

disadvantages of enterprise agreements

Answer 10

time consuming, more expensive to implement.

Question 11

what are individual contracts

Answer 11

agreements regarding wages and conditions of employment between an employer and an individual employee. they are normally for highly paid managers