The federal Government is urging SMEs to ensure workplace compliance by the end of the financial year on June 30.
In a statement, Employsure, an employment-regulations and work, health and safety service, recently reminded Australian SMEs to guarantee they are meeting their legal requirements, including all the changes to wage reviews, allowed working hours, awards and penalty rates, set to be enforced as of July 1.
New regulations state that any changes to the National Minimum Wage and base pay rates (according to the relevant award) must be implemented by the first pay period after July 1 this year.
Under some awards, including the General Retail Industry Award 2010, changes to public-holiday penalty rates will also take effect on July 1.
“It’s so important for small business to be across these changes,” Employsure Managing Director Edward Mallett said. “Workplace compliance can feel like a minefield and it’s essential to get the right advice to avoid paying too little or too much.”
Employsure recommends that employers “listen out for announcements and visit the Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman websites for updates”, or seek tailored advice from services such as Employsure.
