Cover your bases with this workplace law checklist

Have you taken time to consider your workplace policies and procedures in the new year? This checklist lets you complete a run-down of your business, and address any shortcomings in regards to workplace law, ensuring your employees are taken care of.

SmartCompany Plus users can save each individual checklist to their library, so that they can break up the task and come back to it at a later date.

Workplace policies and procedures

1. Managing performance

   Are performance management/disciplinary policy and procedures clear and well documented?

2. Make sure managers understand

   Is training in place for managers and supervisors around performance management and discipline procedures? Does this training account for managing a remote workforce?

3. Address bullying systematically

   Is the grievance procedure appropriate for managing complaints of bullying?

4. Set your standards

   Do you have a code of conduct that sets a standard of behaviour?

5. Make it clear

   Are policies and procedures in plain language? 

6. Check policy against the law

   Are policies and procedures legally compliant?

Work health and safety forms, policies and procedures

1. Build your injury response first

   Is a workplace accident and injury response procedure in place and are key people trained?

2. Train your board and managers

   Is workplace health and safety responsbility training for the board and relevant managers in place?

3. Teach all new employees

   Do you have an induction plan for all new employees?

4. Safety just as important from home

   Have you reviewed and updated your WHS ‘work from home’ requirements and procedures?

Employment contracts

1. Be specific

   Do the documents refer to Modern Award coverage and classification?

2. Watch for changes

   Are the documents compliant with Modern Award and superannuation changes?

3. Count the figures

   Are annualised salary requirements addressed as the Modern Award requires?

4. Spell things out

   Are the employee’s duties to the employer clearly stated?

Pay and record keeping arrangements

1. Be specific

   Are classifications for roles correct in the payroll system?

2. Double check

   Are the rates of pay for apprentices, juniors and all other employees correctly recorded?

3. A common error

   Are allowances, penalties and loadings correctly calculated?

4. Mind the minutes

   Are you keeping records of start, finish and unpaid break times for Modern Award covered employees?