At the ACA we are here to help you understand your industrial relations obligations. This FAQ article, prepared by Fair Work Lawyers for ACA members and updated in November 2024, is designed to answer your commonly asked questions. It covers the Award system, minimum rates, ordinary hours of work, probation periods, annual leave and casual employees.

As the 12-month anniversary of the latest casual employment reforms approaches, it’s a timely opportunity for businesses to review their systems and processes for engaging casual staff. ACA IR advisor Tom Earls breaks down what employers need to know – from managing the risk of double-dipping claims to navigating the casual conversion process and understanding the Casual Employment Information Statement rules.

On Tuesday 3 June 2025, the Fair Work Commission handed down the 2025 wage decision, increasing the national minimum wage and base rates of pay in modern awards by 3.5%. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides a summary of the decision. The ACA will update relevant Award pay rates as soon as possible.

Legislative changes in 2024 has re-complicated this area of law, with businesses facing real risks in relation to managing the use of independent contractors, particularly if their documentation is inadequate. The ACA’s IR advisor, Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers, has written a comprehensive explainer. Log in to read more about independent contractors and what employers need to know.

From 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment of wages or entitlements is a criminal offence, with potential sanctions including jail time and significant financial penalties. The ACA’s legal advisor, Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers, has written a summary of everything employers need to know.

Do you employ staff in C14 and C13 classifications? The Fair Work Commission has recently handed down a decision relating to these rates of pay under various awards, including the Architects Award. The decision will result in changes to several awards, which will take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2025. Emma Avey of Fair Work Lawyers unpacks the detail.

The ACA’s IR advisor Fair Work Lawyers explains the three separate rates of pay for each classification in the Architects Award – an annual rate, weekly rate and hourly rate – and advises on how to calculate appropriate, Award-compliant pay for your employees.

On 26 August 2024 the Right to Disconnect came into effect for businesses with more than 15 employees. Our legal advisor, Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers, offers some insights into the right to disconnect, what it means for employers and employees, advice for implementation and information on the dispute process.

The legislation around compassionate leave is not black and white in practical implementation. The ACA’s IR advisor Fair Work Lawyers takes us through compassionate leave, outlining employer obligations in relation to this entitlement.

Redundancy can be a complicated process and is an area where there is extensive litigation. The ACA’s IR advisor Fair Work Lawyers takes us through the main risks associated with redundancies (and dismissals more generally) and outlines employer obligations in relation to terminations.

On 12 February 2024 the second part of the Federal Government’s Closing Loopholes legislation passed through both houses of Parliament. Part 2 features many significant changes to Australia’s current workplace law, including redefining casual employment, massive increases to civil penalties for wage theft, and introducing the ‘right to disconnect’. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an overview of what employers need to know.

On 14 December 2023, part one of the Federal Government’s Closing Loopholes legislation received royal assent, introducing changes around wage theft, union delegate rights and anti-discrimination laws, as well as bringing in “same job, same pay” regulated labour hire arrangements. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an overview of what is new and what other changes may be on the way.

How do graduates and registered architects step between the pay points within the Architects Award? The ACA’s IR advisor Fair Work Lawyers takes us through employer obligations regarding pay for graduates and registered architects.

The Fair Work Commission has announced that from 30 October 2023 there are changes to some of the age group descriptions in the Miscellaneous Award, which covers interior designers. If this Award is relevant to your practice, download the updated Miscellaneous Award today!

On 30 October 2023, the Fair Work Commission approved the ACA’s application to amend the Architects Award to reflect the new National Standard of Competency for Architects. See the detailed explainer from Emma Avey of Fair Work Lawyers and download the updated Architects Award today!

On Monday 4 September, the Federal Government announced its third tranche of IR reforms in the past 12 months. Under the title of “closing loopholes”, the legislation proposes widespread changes not only to employment relationships (and especially casual and labour hire engagements) but also independent contracting arrangements. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an overview of the proposed legislation and the potential implications for employers.

From Tuesday 6 June 2023, more employees will be able to request flexible working arrangements, and employers will have new obligations regarding flexible work requests, including a more rigorous process of discussion, negotiation and written responses.

From 1 July 2023, the rules for government-funded parental leave are changing to provide greater flexibility for parents to share caring responsibilities.

Recent anti-discrimination and Fair Work amendment legislation has introduced a number of important legislative changes specifically targeting sexual harassment in the workplace. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides a recap of the changes and their implications for employers.

New federal legislation has strengthened workplace laws around sexual harassment. From 6 March, the prohibition of sexual harassment in the workplace is enshrined in the Fair Work Act, and there is now a positive duty on employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation. Here we highlight some relevant ACA resources.

New workplace laws now apply regarding pay secrecy clauses in employment agreements and what you can include in job advertisements. These laws are part of the Fair Work Amendment legislation that was passed by the Federal parliament in December 2022.

The Federal government’s recent workplace relations reform legislation, first introduced six weeks ago, passed both houses of parliament and is due to come into law imminently. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an overview of the legislation amendments and their implications for employers.

On 9 November, the Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 received royal assent. This legislation introduces paid family and domestic violence leave to all employees as an entitlement under the National Employment Standards. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides the following update for ACA members.

On 27 October, the Federal Government issued its long-awaited workplace relations reform. The document spans some 240-odd pages of dense legislation and if passed will represent some of the most significant employment reforms in well over a decade. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers provides an initial review of the legislation.

As the year draws to a close, we provide a 2020 summary of the changes made to the Architects Award and other awards relevant to architectural practice.

The ACA continues to represent architectural employers on industrial relations matters, to keep members informed about changes that impact them, and to support architects to be fair and ethical employers. As 2019 comes to a close we review the changes that have occurred this year.

As the year draws to a close, we take a brief look at the changes made to the Architects Award this year.

The ACA continues to advocate for its members as the Architects Award is reviewed by the Fair Work Commission. We have expressed concern and sought a hearing over several clauses in the Exposure Draft – Architects Award 2018.