A classification is the level allocated to the type of work that your cleaning employees are performing. Modern awards contain many different classifications and these are defined in detail based on the duties and tasks that your employees perform in their job.
The Cleaning Award contains 3 classification levels. All employees covered by the Cleaning Award, must be classified according to the structure set out in Schedule D and paid according to their classification level.
You must notify your employees in writing of their classification and of any changes to their classification. You can do this by including this information in a letter of engagement when they start working for you (templates available below), and advising them in writing if their classification changes.
The Cleaning Award provides a detailed conversion table, to help you understand your employees’ classifications when transitioning from pre-modern awards to the Cleaning Award. The table is contained in Schedule G of the Cleaning Services Award [MA000022].
To find the right classification
You can determine your employees’ classifications by following these steps:
- read through all of the classification descriptions located in Schedule D of the Cleaning Award
- select the most appropriate classification level based on the duties and skills required to be performed by your employees.
If your business had employees before 1 January 2010, then you can use the conversion table in Schedule G of the Cleaning Award, by:
- selecting your state and the award that previously applied
- selecting your employees’ classifications under the award that previously applied
- referring to the column heading for their new classification under the Cleaning Award.
Note: You must consider the following when determining the classification of your employees:
- the work being performed by the employees
- the employees’ occupations and the skills, competency and level of responsibility required for their jobs
- the Cleaning Award classification should be the same or comparable to the employees’ classifications under the pre-modern award.
Example
Alice is a cleaner for Zen Cleaning Contractors Pty Ltd, and works on a contract to clean an office located in Victoria. Her employment was previously covered by a pre-modern award, the Building Services (Victoria) Award 2003 (the Building Services Award). From 1 January 2010, her employment is covered by the Cleaning Award.
Alice’s duties include general office and toilet cleaning, vacuuming, ordering and distributing cleaning products, carpet cleaning, and assisting in the provision of on-the-job training. She is responsible for quality assurance of her own work and consistently meets the expectations of her employer in the performance of her duties. Her previous classification under the Building Services Award was Building Attendant Grade 2. By using the conversion table in Schedule G of the Cleaning Award, her employer determines that Alice’s classification under the Cleaning Award is Cleaning Services Employee Grade 2.
There are elements of Alice’s position in the lower classification, such as vacuuming and office and toilet cleaning. However, based on Alice’s competency in performing her job and her level of responsibility, in addition to her duties, the appropriate classification is Cleaning Services Employee Grade 2.