Glossary & Acronyms

An agreement to be paid a specified amount of pay for work over a 12 month period. They are often included in employment contracts.

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act is legislation that introduces changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 and other related employment laws.

Serious misconduct involves an employee deliberately behaving in a way that is inconsistent with continuing their employment.

Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance or request for sexual favours to another person, and other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.

A sham contract is a situation where an employment relationship is falsely presented as an independent contracting arrangement by an employer.

An employee who works fixed hours of work (eg. shifts or rosters) that are outside or partly outside of normal working hours (eg. 9am – 5pm).

A shutdown is a period when a business temporarily closes, often during specific times like Christmas and New Year.

A small business employer has fewer than 15 employees at a particular time, counting regular casuals and employees of associated entities.

A sole trader is someone who owns and runs their own business individually, without partners or a formal company structure.

A pregnant employee who is eligible for unpaid parental leave can take unpaid special parental leave if they're unfit because of pregnancy related illness.

A pay rate defined in each award, used to calculate some entitlements like overtime and allowances. It is usually the rate for a specified classification.

When an employee is told not to go to work by an employer because they cannot be usefully employed due to specified circumstances.

A statutory declaration is a formal written statement that someone signs and declares to be true in the presence of an authorised person, like a JP.

An automatic end or termination of a legal document, like a registered agreement, from a certain date. This means the legal document no longer has effect.

Money paid by an employer on behalf of an employee into a superannuation fund to provide for the employee’s retirement.

Supported Wage System is a pay arrangement for employees with disabilities based on productivity.