With Easter around the corner, it is a good time to go over the frequently asked questions that come up around public holidays. Which public holidays are applicable over the Easter Period?  Check your award or enterprise agreement in the first instance.  If not specified, you can refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman site or … Read more

Q – Are shift allowances payable when an employee takes annual or personal/carer’s leave? A – You do need to check the particular EBA or Modern Award  that covers your employee, but most commonly the answer is that these allowances are not payable when employees are on leave. This is because the allowance is paid … Read more

If you’ve been asked to work a trial shift, you should ask about pay. Anything more than a brief demonstration of skills? Chances are it should be paid. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/unpaid-work/unpaid-trials

Unfortunately, 2016 got off to a scary start for some of us, with bushfires raging in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman has a fact sheet to assist businesses understand their employees’ entitlements during a natural disaster. It also provides information about employees who need time off work as they are … Read more

Taxing a bonus can be quite confusing. There are several methods to tax a bonus. There is Method A and Method B (i) and (ii). Let’s look at Method A Method A is a simpler calculation and the most commonly used method. Bonuses are taxed at “marginal rates.” Marginal rates does not refer to the … Read more

The superannuation Maximum Contribution Base is the upper earnings limit for each quarter that an employer is obliged to pay superannuation contributions. The Maximum Contributions Base for 2015/16 financial year is $50,810 per quarter —(this figure is indexed each year and provided by the ATO). An employer is obliged to pay superannuation contributions on ordinary time … Read more