Hiring employees
Free webinar for small businesses on workplace rights and obligations
We’re holding a free webinar for migrant small business employers on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
You’ll hear about your rights and obligations as an employer in Australia. You’ll also learn about our resources for employers including in-language information, templates for hiring and paying employees and a self-audit checklist.
Find out more and register for the webinar 
.
Changes to casual employment – industrial relations reforms
On 26 March 2021, sections of the Fair Work Act relating to casual employees were amended.
The Amendment Act introduces a:
- Casual Employment Information Statement
- definition of casual employment
- pathway for casual employees to move to full-time or part-time (permanent) employment.
We’re reviewing the information in the resources available on this page and will update them soon.
For information on the changes, visit Changes to casual employment – industrial relations reforms.
Updated information is also available on Casual employees, Becoming a permanent employee, Casual Employment Information Statement and the National Employment Standards.
There is a lot you need to know about hiring employees. A good place to start to guide you through the hiring process is business.gov.au – Hiring employees . This will help you understand your obligations from across the Government, including tax and superannuation.
Know the law
Before hiring a new employee, your need to make sure you know your rights and responsibilities.
The minimum terms and conditions of employment come from an award, registered agreement and contract of employment, and the National Employment Standards (NES). To find the right award, use our Find my award tool. To find out if a registered agreement applies, visit the Fair Work Commission website .
Getting pay right
To work out the right pay when hiring a new employee, you need to decide on the person’s employment status – whether they will be a full-time, part-time or casual employee. See our Types of employees page to find out the difference. You can then find the minimum pay rates, penalties and allowances that apply using our Pay Calculator.
Hours of work
Employers and employees should work together and agree on hours of work and rostering in advance. We have a number of templates that can help you with this.
Find out more about your obligations in our hours of work section.
Pay slips and record-keeping
Employers need to keep written time and wages records for all employees and have to give employees a pay slip within one working day of paying their wages. To find out more, go to our pay slips and record-keeping page.
Get it right from the start
It’s important to establish a good working relationship at the start of employment. There are a few things you can do to make sure this happens.
Getting your employment contracts right
It’s important that your employment contracts protect your business and your staff.
To help you get things right, use the business.gov.au – Employment Contract Tool
to create an employment contract that’s tailored to your business needs and complies with workplace laws.
To use this tool, your employee must be:
- full-time, part-time or casual
- covered by an award
- paid an hourly or weekly wage.
The Employment Contract Tool isn’t for every worker. It can’t be used for:
- employees who’ll be paid a salary
- apprentices and trainees
- seasonal workers
- independent contractors, or
- employees covered by registered agreements.
Induction
Take the time to go through an induction with your new starter. Use this time to communicate your expectations and give them an opportunity to ask questions. It also helps employees feel informed, welcomed and prepared to do their job.
Productive workplaces
During the first few weeks of employment, employers and employees should organise a time to set goals and expectations. You can use this opportunity to outline training needs and create a plan together to ensure these needs are met.
Communication
Communication is an essential part of a good working relationship. Set up regular meetings to provide performance feedback and discuss any issues or concerns early, before they become workplace problems.
Hiring an apprentice or trainee
Hiring an apprentice or trainee can be a great investment for your business. An apprenticeship or a traineeship is a good opportunity for on the job training while studying for a qualification.
If you’re hiring an apprentice, use our Guide to taking on an apprentice (DOCX) (PDF) to help you understand your obligations. You can also find more information on our Apprentices and trainees page.
What to do next
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