What is Modern Award?
Payroll & people. A plain-English definition for Australian business owners.
A Modern Award is one of 122 federal industrial instruments that set minimum employment terms (wages, hours, leave, allowances, classifications) for specific industries or occupations.
Most Australian employees are covered by an Award; the few who aren't are typically award-free senior managers or covered by an enterprise agreement. Award compliance is the largest single source of employment-law risk for Australian SMEs — misclassifications and underpayments routinely cost businesses tens of thousands per affected employee.
In a connected back office this sits with the People hub, where Valont runs award compliance, hr & ir advisory and employer advice line for Australian SMEs as one team. The full definition set is on the glossary.
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General information, not advice. For how this applies to your business, talk it through with a Trusted Advisor or start with the Business Health Check.