From January 2010, Australia's new industrial relations laws come into effect. This includes a new national system of Modern Awards, which set out the minimum standards and conditions for workers across a range of industries and occupations.
These awards, which include rates of pay, cover aspects of specific industries or areas of work and are additional to the requirements of the National Employment Standards (NES). Optometry is not a profession covered by a Modern Award, which means that provided that the terms and conditions of employment are not less than those determined in the NES, employers are free to come to individual arrangements and contracts with employee optometrists.
However, optometrists or businesses employing practice staff with wholly or substantially clerical, administrative or retail duties will need to ensure their pay and conditions meet or exceed those set out in the Modern Awards. The two awards most likely to be relevant are the Clerks Private Sector Award (2010) and the General Retail Industry Award (2010). There is no specific award covering optical dispensing, but many dispensers have substantive retail duties and might therefore be covered by the General Retail Industry Award.If you are employing practice staff you should:
-
familiarise yourself with the National Employment Standards;
-
ensure the terms, conditions and pay you are offering meet or exceed the National Standards and any applicable Award; and
-
seek legal advice (Guild Lawyers provide some initial advice to OAA members free of charge 1800 617 624) or advice from Fair Work Australia (1300 799 675) if you have any concerns or need further information.
You can also contact Optometrists Association Victoria to discuss any of these issues, or for more information, download the PDF at left.
From January 2010, Australia's new industrial relations laws come into effect. This includes a new national system of Modern Awards, which set out the minimum standards and conditions for workers across a range of industries and occupations.
These awards, which include rates of pay, cover aspects of specific industries or areas of work and are additional to the requirements of the National Employment Standards (NES). Optometry is not a profession covered by a Modern Award, which means that provided that the terms and conditions of employment are not less than those determined in the NES, employers are free to come to individual arrangements and contracts with employee optometrists.
However, optometrists or businesses employing practice staff with wholly or substantially clerical, administrative or retail duties will need to ensure their pay and conditions meet or exceed those set out in the Modern Awards. The two awards most likely to be relevant are the Clerks Private Sector Award (2010) and the General Retail Industry Award (2010). There is no specific award covering optical dispensing, but many dispensers have substantive retail duties and might therefore be covered by the General Retail Industry Award.If you are employing practice staff you should:
-
familiarise yourself with the National Employment Standards;
-
ensure the terms, conditions and pay you are offering meet or exceed the National Standards and any applicable Award; and
-
seek legal advice (Guild Lawyers provide some initial advice to OAA members free of charge 1800 617 624) or advice from Fair Work Australia (1300 799 675) if you have any concerns or need further information.
You can also contact Optometrists Association Victoria to discuss any of these issues, or for more information, download the PDF at left.