The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (better known as the SCHADS Award) sets the minimum entitlements for a wide range of care-based roles. 

Issues for SCHADS Employers in Wollongong and the Illawarra 

Minimum engagements & broken shifts
Employers often misunderstand the new minimum hours requirements for casuals and part-timers, especially when shifts are broken up or cancelled. Even short shifts may now require a minimum of 2–3 hours of pay, regardless of the actual time worked.

Travelling
If a worker travels between client locations, that travel time is considered paid time. Many employers mistakenly assume it’s unpaid, a costly error if Fair Work gets involved.

Client cancellations
Cancelled bookings don’t automatically mean you can cancel pay. You must either pay for the time or provide compliant “make-up time” within six weeks, and this must follow strict notice and rostering rules.

Remote work & on-call rules
Employees working remotely or responding to calls out-of-hours are entitled to minimum payments and penalty rates depending on the time and context of work. The admin burden of tracking this accurately can be significant.

Increasing guaranteed hours. 
Part-time employees who’ve been working more than their contracted hours for 12 months now have the right to request a change to their guaranteed hours. Employers must respond within 21 days, and many fail to meet this requirement. 

Performance Management and Performance Improvement.
Ensure your workplace policies are effective and compliant, and that a clear Code of Conduct is in place.

Are you compliant or at risk?
Now is the right time to reassess, audit, and strengthen your compliance. 

• Audit your current rostering practices. Are you meeting minimum engagement rules and correctly applying broken shift allowances? 
• Review client cancellation procedures. Are your make-up time and notice periods compliant with award obligations? 
• Update your workplace employment contracts, policies, and procedures. 
• Train your managers and team leaders to understand rostering, shift penalties, and client cancellation processes

Ring John Morrissey for help 0407 069 507.