The employer / employee relations environment has been constantly evolving during the last 25 years. In Australia, as in many western nations, the balance between employers and employees has shifted back and forwards usually in response to supply and demand.
At times worker organisations, such as unions, have caused considerable problems for employers while arguing that unionism protects workers pay and conditions.
While this has been true in some arenas it has also been true that this has come at the expense of enterprise flexibility.
Small business today needs the flexibility to rapidly respond to technological and sociological change and the old award system and its archaic inflexibility have to change.
In the late 80's and 90's there was a shift towards enterprise bargaining agreements and collective agreements which gave an individual enterprise increasing workplace flexibility.
These agreements, at the enterprise level, where parties were normally unions on behalf of workers and small business went some ways in achieving of flexibility but still retained some of the old thinking and inflexible practices. In essence the old award system continued to be a reference point for minimum wages and entitlements for workers.
In 1996 the federal government introduced Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA) which was specifically designed with individual business and worker in mind.
At its fundamental level an AWA is a formal written agreement between an employer and an individual employee. A significant advantage to workers and business is that an AWA can be tailored to cover all particular requirements for your business.
AWAs have a life of 3 years, however if they are carefully written can continue long after the 3 year expiry date.
By way of example you may own a farm where seasonal workers are required. Your AWA can be designed to reflect seasonal requirements that suite both worker and employer.
You employees may want a 4 day working week. Your AWA can tailor this requirement into the agreement and without payment of penalty rates for working in excess of 8 hours per day.
Take Australian Zoo owned by Steve and Terri Irwin. Because of their unique requirements in caring for animals AWA's have provided flexible working times. With a workforce of 450 people they have been able to grow their business in the certainty of wages and conditions.
Other advantages of an AWA may be that an employee is able to cash out sick leave at the end of every year reducing the amount of sick leave taken and providing an added incentive for turning up for work each day. It all adds up to flexibility.
An AWA can override state and federal award provisions, as long as the terms and conditions of the AWA overall do not disadvantage the employee when compared to the award. This gives the employer and employee certainty of conditions in the employment relationship. A business without a written formal agreement between worker and the employer is at risk to claim before industrial tribunals and courts.
Certainly documenting and agreeing on individual workplace wages and conditions means certainty of cost and the ability to be competitive.
Cash, Costs and People are the number one ticket item in many businesses today. For helpful information visit us at www.biz-momentum.com
Philip Lye is the founder of Biz Momentum Pty Ltd providing strategic human resource management to help your business grow.
Prior to starting Biz Momentum Philip was CEO and CFO of two companies. http://www.biz-momentum.com
Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the... Read More
$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded... Read More
Announcements can be handed out as a business cardAnnouncements can... Read More
What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More
Is this you?You dreamed of owning your own business, doing... Read More
Being a small or home-based business owner can be loads... Read More
After over 30 years of participating in hundreds of businesses,... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Marketing is one of the four corner-posts of a solid... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More
Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry.... Read More
You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses... Read More
Continuing from the second article:6. About the aground mathematical model,... Read More
Take advantage of world politics today and start your own... Read More
The last time I spoke and went into a bit... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
Cleaning the trailers towed by big trucks is not easy,... Read More
Have you been searching for the perfect home-based business? I... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
Quality control in franchising companies is paramount and all franchising... Read More
It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More
Do you spend every waking minute in your business? Do... Read More
Success is the desire of everyman on the face of... Read More
Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take... Read More
The Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time changes the way we... Read More
For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to... Read More
The way you manage your money is one of the... Read More
Why does a good business relationship rely on having some... Read More
The success of your business depends on your ability to... Read More
Here are some useful tips on how to select a... Read More
Quality control in franchising companies is paramount and all franchising... Read More
Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities... Read More
Perhaps you are building a new home office or you... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
Send handwritten notes. That applies whether you're a guy or... Read More
Starting and managing a small business is no fun chore,... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack... Read More
Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More
Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More
You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks... Read More
It is most fascinating to study how entrepreneurs spot opportunity... Read More
Franchising is the fastest way to build small businesses, provide... Read More
When is the Chamber ideal for your business?Joining a Chamber... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw... Read More
|