Tired of struggling to attract and retain top talent? A well-structured hiring process can make all the difference. By following best practices for job descriptions, candidate screening, and compliance, you can streamline your hiring efforts and build a high-performing team.

Key Employer Obligations

• Worker Classification: Determine whether your worker is an employee or contractor.

• Confirming Eligibility: Verify the worker's legal right to work in Australia.

• Tax and ATO Obligations: Register for Single Touch Payroll (STP) and PAYG Withholding, and refer to tax tables to withhold tax correctly on staff wages. Weekly, Fortnightly & Monthly Tax Tables

• Workers Compensation Insurance: Besides some small employers who may be exempt, workers compensation insurance is a legal requirement for all employers in Australia.

• National Employment Standards: There are minimum employment entitlements that must be provided to all employees. Check the full list on Fair Work. 

• Clear documentation: Ensure all necessary documents are provided to the employee, such as a detailed job description and a signed employment contract

• Click here for a Checklist for Employers

Superannuation Guarantee (SG)

• From 1 July 2024, the super guarantee rate has increased to 11.5%. From 1 July 2025, it will increase again, to 12%.

• Ensure you're contributing the correct percentage of your employee's ordinary time earnings to their superannuation accounts. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties. For more information about late or unpaid super penalties, please refer to the SGC table. 

Job Descriptions

• Clear Job Descriptions: Develop detailed job descriptions outlining the specific tasks, responsibilities, and required qualifications for each position. This helps attract suitable candidates and manage expectations.

• Template Availability: We offer a variety of job description templates to streamline the process and ensure consistency. Please refer to our Job Descriptions with Various Templates to find the right one for your business.

Employment Agreements

• Contracts and Letters of Offer: Prepare comprehensive employment contracts and letters of offer that outline the terms and conditions of employment, including salary, benefits, working hours, and termination procedures.

• Template Availability: Use our example templates as a starting point to tailor your documents to meet your specific needs:

• Letters of Appointment & Example

• Contracts & Letters of Offer with Example Templates

ATO & Other Requirements

• Single Touch Payroll (STP): Understand how STP affects your reporting obligations and employee information. Here is our STP compliance guide.

• ATO Requirements: Make sure your business is registered for PAYG Withholding, so you can report and pay PAYG tax withheld from employee wages to the ATO as part of your quarterly or monthly BAS & IAS lodgements.

• Workers' Compensation Insurance: Besides some small employers who may be exempt, workers' compensation insurance is a legal requirement for all employers in Australia. Each state and territory are managed separately, with Icare being the provider in NSW. To sign up for workers' compensation insurance you need to provide an estimate of annual wages, the number of employees expected, and a description of the work to be performed.

• Fair Work Entitlements: The National Employment Standards set by Fair Work make up the minimum entitlements for employees in Australia. Fair Work also sets industry award conditions. You can read more here.

Need more guidance? 

Here is a checklist for employers and we are here to assist you in navigating the hiring process.

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