Earlier this year, the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award was amended by the Fair Work Commission. This article details the changes.
What’s Changed In The Changes to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
The Fair Work Commission has recently clarified the way some Award provisions apply, and made minor amendments to the Award itself, including:
The year in the Award name has changed from 2010 to 2020, so it is now called the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020
The Pay Rate Schedule has been updated to reflect the new 2020 version of the Award. Some rates of pay may have changed by one or two cents.
Definitions have been added to the Award for morning shift, afternoon shift and night shift. The Pay Rate Schedule has been updated to reflect this.
The Award allows some clauses to be varied by agreement with an individual employee. A new clause has been introduced summarising the provisions where this is possible.
The Fair Work Commission has reinforced that employees who earn above the award minimum rate must be paid this higher rate when taking annual leave.
A part-time associate is entitled (on a pro rata basis) to one week’s paid study leave at their ordinary rate of pay for each completed year of service.
The Fair Work Commission has clarified that any employee temporarily performing work at a lower classification level, cannot be paid at the lower rate of pay for performing that work.
What Do I Need to Do?
Check your rates of pay to ensure you are meeting your minimum pay obligations outlined in the attached Pay Rate Schedule, including any shiftworkers.
If you wish to vary any Award terms, contact us for further advice.
If you pay employees higher than the Award minimum rate, ensure you are paying the employees that higher rate when they take annual leave.
How Can Peninsula Help You?
Not a client? If you need help understanding and implementing these changes, please contact Peninsula on 1300 651 415 and we can give you free, initial advice on this topic. If you’d like more help implementing these changes in your business and are interested in ongoing support, Peninsula can help you.
Peninsula clients affected by the changes to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award have been notified of these changes by email. Get in contact with Peninsula if you have any trouble understanding or implementing these changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did these changes come into effect?
These changes came into effect on Friday 14 February.
Has the Pay Rate Schedule changed?
Yes, the pay rate schedules have been amended as a result of these changes. Peninsula clients who have been affected by these changes have been emailed the updated Pay Rate Schedules. Some rates of pay may have changed by one or two cents.
Do you need help understanding these changes to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
Not a client? If you do need help understanding and implementing these changes, feel free to ring Peninsula on 1300 651 415. We can give you free, initial advice on these changes to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award.
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