Glossary & Acronyms

Employment law terms starting with B, explained in plain English: the base pay rate, the better off overall test (BOOT) for enterprise agreements, paid and unpaid breaks, workplace bullying, and what bankruptcy means for employees' entitlements.

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Terms and definitions

Bankruptcy

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Bankruptcy is when an individual, such as a sole trader, is legally declared unable to pay their debts.

Base pay rate

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Base pay rate is the minimum hourly pay rate an employee must be paid for their ordinary hours of work.

Better off overall test (BOOT)

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The better off overall test (BOOT) is a check to make sure employees are as well off or better under a registered agreement compared to the standard award.

Breaks

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Breaks are times during a work shift when an employee gets to stop working. Whether they're paid for this time depends on the kind of break they take.

Bullying

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Bullying at work means someone or a group repeatedly treats another worker or group unfairly, in a way that can harm their health and safety.

General information only

This content is general information about Australian employment law, current at the date it was last reviewed. It does not take your circumstances into account and is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, call Employment Compass on 1300 144 002.

Last reviewed: October 2026