This blog is a complete summary of the General Retail Industry Award, covering all main pay categories that determine the calculation of pay. The full version of the award can be found here.
Table of contents:
Coverage:
The Storage Services and Wholesale Award covers employers and employees in the storage services and wholesale industry.
This includes activities like:
- Receiving
- Handling
- Storing
- Freezing
- Bottling
- Packing
- Preparing for sale
- Sorting
- Loading
- Dispatching
- Delivering
- Selling any produce, goods or merchandise.
Exclusions:
- Employers covered by another modern award relevant to the storage services and wholesale industry.
- Employers covered by the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020.
- Where an employer is covered by more than one award, an employee of that employer is covered by the award classification which is most appropriate to the work performed by the employee and to the environment in which the employee normally performs the work.
Key Takeaways:
- Clause 13.2 (a) - The ordinary hour spread (7am - 5.30pm) can be moved by up to one hour forward/up to one hour back by agreement.
- There is no rest break and meal break schedule set out in the award (other than what is outlined in Clause 14.1 and 14.2)
- Clause 13.1 (e) - Ordinary hours can be worked on Saturday and Sunday by agreement between the employer and employee
*The spread of afternoon shift hours can be moved by up to one hour forward/up to one hour back by agreement
Hours of Work:
|
Ordinary hours per week
|
Minimum hours
|
Leave entitlements
|
Full time
|
Average 38 hours averaged over 4 weeks
|
N/A
|
Yes
|
Part time
|
Less than 38 hours per week
|
3 hours
|
Yes
|
Casual
|
No guarantees hours
|
4 hours
|
Yes
|
*From 1 February 2023, all employees (including casuals) of non-small business employers can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12 month period.
* From 1 August 2023, all employees (including casuals) of small business employers can access 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12 month period.
Full-time and part-time employees:
Ordinary and penalty rates for day workers:
Classification
|
% of minimum hourly rate
|
Ordinary hours
|
100%
|
Saturday
|
150%
|
Sunday
|
200%
|
Public holiday
|
250%
|
Penalty rates (shift workers):
|
% of minimum hourly rate
|
Early Morning
|
11.25%
|
Afternoon
|
115%
|
Night
|
130%
|
Saturday
|
150%
|
Sunday
|
200%
|
Public holiday
|
250%
|
Overtime rates:
Time
|
% of minimum hourly rate
|
Monday to Friday - First 2 hours
|
150%
|
Monday to Friday - After 2 hours
|
200%
|
Sunday
|
200%
|
Public Holiday
|
250%
|
Casual employees:
Over time hours (When overtime is worked)
|
FT and PT Employees
(% of minimum hourly rate of pay)
|
Casual Employees
(% of minimum hourly rate of pay; inclusive of casual loading)
|
Monday - Saturday
|
130%
|
175%
|
Monday to Saturday - after 3 hours:
|
200%
|
225%
|
Sunday:
|
200%
|
225%
|
Public holiday:
|
250%
|
275%
|
Ordinary and penalty rates for day workers:
Classification
|
% of minimum hourly rate
|
Ordinary hours
|
125%
|
Saturday
|
175%
|
Sunday
|
225%
|
Public holiday
|
275%
|
Penalty rates (shift workers):
|
% of minimum hourly rate
|
Early Morning
|
137.5%
|
Afternoon
|
140%
|
Night
|
155%
|
Saturday
|
175%
|
Sunday
|
225%
|
Public holiday
|
275%
|
Allowances :
First aid allowances
|
An employee who is qualified to St John Ambulance standard or equivalent will be paid an allowance $15.57 per week, if requested to act as the first aid attendant.
|
Cold work allowance
|
From -15.6°C (4°F) down to -18.9°C (-2°F):
$1.04 per hour or part thereof;
Less than -18.9°C (-2°F) down to -23.3°C (-10°F):
$1.56 per hour or part thereof;
Less than -23.3°C (-10°F):
$2.08 per hour or part thereof.
|
Expense Related Allowances:
Meal allowance
|
$20.90 if more than one hour overtime is worked
|
Travel allowance
|
Travelling rate is paid at ordinary rate except;
- Sundays and public holidays are paid at 150% of minimum hourly rate.
|
Provision of tools
|
Reimbursed for cost of tools:
- Required to use for work and
- Tools not provided by employer
|
Protective clothing & uniforms
|
Employer to provide overalls to or reimburse for cost of overalls when:
- Person employed in a paint manufacturer’s store; or
- An employee normally lifts or carries crates/containers likely to damage clothing
If required to wear a special uniform/dress/clothing, it is provided and laundered by the employer, or the employer will reimburse the laundering cost of clothing.
If work performed is unusually dirty, wet or obnoxious in nature, suitable protective clothing/footwear is provided by the employer or reimbursed to the employee for cost of clothing/footwear.
|
Damaged personal effects allowance
|
$1121 for replacement of dentures/prescription spectacles if damaged in the course of the employee’s ordinary duties, other than through the employees; own negligence.
|
Leave:
- Annual leave - NES
- Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave - NES
- Parental leave and related entitlements - NES
- Community service leave - NES
- Family and domestic violence leave - NES
Breaks:
Public holiday entitlements are provided for in the NES. Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to an extra penalty rate on top of their minimum rate.
Public holidays:
Public holiday entitlements are provided for in the NES. Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to an extra penalty rate on top of their minimum rate.
Recent Changes to Award
- Casual employee’s have a new definition given by section 15A of the Fair Work Act
- Amendments to minimum rates and allowances as of 1 July 2024 wage increases.
- Changes to the exercise of the rights of workplace delegates set out in section 350C of the Fair Work Act. Under the act, the employer is taken to have afforded a workplace delegate the rights mentioned in section 350C(3) if the employer has complied with clause 29A in the Storage Services Modern Award 2020.
Disclaimer
Please note: The information contained in this Modern Award Interpretation Guide is sourced from the PaidRight knowledge database which is general in nature and does not constitute or is intended to be relied upon as legal advice or other professional opinion. The contents of this guide is subject to variation(s) to the Storage Services and Wholesale Award by Fair Work Commission decision or enactment of amended legislation. PaidRight does neither accept responsibility or provide guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, reliability or completeness; and, to the extent permitted by law, PaidRight does not accept legal liability for consequences arising out of use of this information. The information recipient is advised to obtain professional legal advice relevant to your specific circumstances. Information updated as at 23 June 2024.