PaySauce includes built-in interpretation for Australian awards and Fair Work regulations, automatically calculating the correct rates, penalties, and allowances for covered employees.
Currently supported awards
PaySauce provides automatic interpretation and calculation for the following award coverage:
Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035) - Dairy sector only
Support for the Pastoral Award 2020, covering employees in the dairy sector , including:
Automatic calculation of award rates by classification for dairy employees
Penalty rates for overtime, weekends, and public holidays
Allowances (leading hand, first aid, etc.)
Leave entitlements and accrual
Youth rates where applicable
Dairy-specific provisions and calculations
View the full award: Pastoral Award 2020 on Fair Work Commission website
Award number: MA000035
General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004)
Support for the General Retail Industry Award 2020, covering businesses operating within standard retail hours, including:
Automatic calculation of award rates by classification (levels 1–8) and apprentices
Penalty rates for evenings, weekends, and public holidays
Overtime calculation and payment, including time off in lieu accrual
Allowances (first aid, Broken Hill, cold work, laundry, and meal allowances)
Junior rates for employees under 21 at classification levels 1–3
Minimum engagement rules, including reduced minimums for secondary school students
⚠️ Baking Production Employees and shift workers are not currently supported.
View the full award: General Retail Industry Award 2020 on Fair Work Commission website
Award number: MA000004
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (MA000009)
Support for the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, covering businesses operating within standard hospitality hours, including:
Automatic calculation of award rates by classification (Introductory through Level 6) and apprentices
Penalty rates for evenings, weekends, and public holidays
Overtime calculation and payment, including time off in lieu accrual
Junior rates for employees under 21, with separate rates for office and non-office employees
Allowances (supervisor allowance)
Minimum engagement rules for casual employees
⚠️ Accomodation, Casino and gaming employees, and higher duties are not currently supported.
View the full award: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 on Fair Work Ombudsman website
Award number: MA000009
Note: PaySauce is continually adding support for new award interpretations
Fair Work regulations
Beyond specific awards, PaySauce supports Fair Work regulations that apply to most Australian employees:
National Employment Standards (NES)
PaySauce automatically applies the National Employment Standards, including:
Leave entitlements:
Annual leave accrual (typically 4 weeks per year for full-time employees)
Personal/carer's leave (sick leave)
Long Service Leave (calculated based on state-specific regulations)
Compassionate and bereavement leave
Family and domestic violence leave
Community service leave
Parental leave (unpaid)
Public holidays
Other NES provisions:
Maximum weekly hours
Flexible working arrangements (tracked through work patterns)
Notice of termination and redundancy pay calculations
Public holiday rates
PaySauce correctly calculates public holiday rates, including:
Payment at the appropriate rate when working on public holidays
Time off in lieu (TOIL) tracking
Public holiday entitlements
Superannuation Guarantee
Automatic calculation and payment of the Superannuation Guarantee at the current rate (11.5% as of July 2024, increasing to 12% from July 2025).
Superannuation features:
Calculated on ordinary time earnings (OTE)
SuperStream compliant filing
Automatic payment with each pay run
Ready for Payday Super (from July 2026)
Paying employees from unsupported awards
PaySauce is continuously expanding its award coverage. However, if your employees are covered by an award (or award sector) that's not yet supported in PaySauce, you can still use PaySauce by:
Selecting "No award" when setting up the employee
Manually configuring pay rates for that employee, including:
Base hourly rate
Overtime rates
Penalty rates (weekend, public holiday, etc.)
Allowances
Setting custom leave entitlements if they differ from standard Fair Work requirements
Note: This gives you the flexibility to pay employees correctly even when automatic award interpretation isn't available.
Custom pay rates and flexibility
Even when an award sector is supported, PaySauce allows you to customise pay rates for individual employees. This is useful for:
Individual Flexibility Agreements (IFAs)
If you have an Individual Flexibility Agreement with an employee under a supported award, you can:
Select the award (for compliance checking)
Override the base pay rate
Configure custom rates for specific circumstances
PaySauce will perform award comparisons to help ensure the employee passes the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT)
Above-award payments
If you pay employees more than the award minimum:
Select their award
Use custom pay rates to set their actual pay
Award comparison features will show they're being paid above award rates
Award comparison and compliance
Award Comparison Test
For employees on Individual Flexibility Agreements under supported Awards, PaySauce provides tools to help ensure your employee pay remains compliant with Better Off Overall Tests (BOOT):
Award comparison calculations:
Compares actual pay against strict award rates for each pay period
Shows whether the employee would have earned more under the award
Helps you verify BOOT compliance
Provides detailed breakdowns of award vs. actual pay
Work pattern comparison:
Tracks actual hours worked against expected work patterns
Highlights variances that may affect award compliance
Useful for managing part-time and casual employees
State-based variations
Some employment regulations vary by state. PaySauce handles these automatically where possible:
Long Service Leave
Long Service Leave entitlements and accrual rates vary by state. PaySauce automatically applies the correct state rules based on the employee's address:
State-specific Long Service Leave:
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
⚠️ Keep employee addresses up to date to ensure correct Long Service Leave calculations.
Public holidays
Public holidays vary by state and sometimes by region. When entering public holiday timesheets or leave:
Select "Public holiday" as the timesheet or leave type
PaySauce will apply the appropriate rates
State-specific public holidays should be entered based on when they occur in your location
Common Questions
I have employees in the livestock sector of the Pastoral Award - can I use PaySauce?
I have employees in the livestock sector of the Pastoral Award - can I use PaySauce?
Yes, but you'll need to set up those employees with "No award" and manually configure their pay rates according to the Pastoral Award requirements for the livestock sector. Only the dairy sector is currently supported with automatic interpretation.
My employees are under the Hospitality Award - can I still use PaySauce?
My employees are under the Hospitality Award - can I still use PaySauce?
Yes. While the Hospitality Award isn't yet supported with automatic interpretation, you can use PaySauce by selecting "No award" and manually configuring pay rates according to the award requirements.
Will more awards be added in the future?
Will more awards be added in the future?
Yes. PaySauce is actively expanding award coverage. Contact PaySauce support to express interest in specific awards—customer feedback helps prioritise which awards are added next.
Can I mix employees under different awards?
Can I mix employees under different awards?
Yes. Each employee can be set up under a different award, or with "No award" and custom rates. PaySauce handles the complexity of managing employees under different arrangements.
How do I know if I'm paying employees correctly under an unsupported award?
How do I know if I'm paying employees correctly under an unsupported award?
Review the award document (available on fairwork.gov.au or fwc.gov.au) to understand the minimum rates and conditions. Consider having your payroll reviewed by a payroll specialist or employment lawyer to ensure compliance.
Do I still get STP and super filing with unsupported awards?
Do I still get STP and super filing with unsupported awards?
Yes. STP filing, superannuation filing, and all other PaySauce features work regardless of whether the employee's award is supported with automatic interpretation.
Can PaySauce help with award compliance for unsupported awards?
Can PaySauce help with award compliance for unsupported awards?
PaySauce provides the tools to pay correctly (custom rates, work pattern tracking, detailed reporting), but you're responsible for ensuring the rates and conditions you configure match the award requirements.
What's the difference between supported and unsupported awards?
What's the difference between supported and unsupported awards?
Supported awards: PaySauce automatically interprets the award and calculates rates, penalties, and allowances
Unsupported awards: You configure rates manually, but all other PaySauce features work normally
Best practices for award compliance
Whether using supported or unsupported awards:
Keep award documentation accessible
Save copies of relevant awards and refer to them regularly, especially when setting up new employees or processing unusual pay scenarios.
Review pay rates regularly
Awards are updated periodically (typically annually on July 1). Review and update your pay rates for any unsupported award employees when award rates change.
Use work pattern tracking
Set up work patterns for all employees. This helps you identify when employees work more or less than expected, which can affect award compliance.
Document custom arrangements
If employees are on Individual Flexibility Agreements or other special arrangements, keep clear documentation of the terms and how they compare to award minimums.
Seek professional advice
When in doubt, consult with:
Fair Work Ombudsman
Employment lawyers
Payroll specialists
Your industry association
Stay informed about changes
Subscribe to Fair Work updates and monitor changes to awards that affect your business.
Resources for award information
Fair Work Commission:
Website: fwc.gov.au
Find and download modern awards
View award variations and updates
Search by award name or number
Fair Work Ombudsman:
Website: fairwork.gov.au
Phone: 13 13 94
Find award information, pay guides, and compliance tools
Access Pay and Conditions Tool
Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035):
Need help?
If you're unsure whether PaySauce supports your employees' awards, or if you need help setting up employees under unsupported awards, contact PaySauce support. We can help you determine the best approach for your business and ensure you're using PaySauce effectively.