BOOT calculations for new employees
Not to be confused with something you wear on your feet or associated with your car; BOOT is an acronym that stands for the Better Off Overall Test and is used when reviewing an employee’s workplace entitlements.
The purpose of the BOOT is to ensure an employee who is being paid above the Modern Award rate of pay is actually better off overall when compared to the allowances and other entitlements outlined in the Modern Award they fall under.
As a reminder, a modern award is the minimum that needs to be met for employee entitlements which are legislated rules set as per the Fair Work Act (2009). The Modern Award will outline entitlements related to a specific industry which include:
- minimum payrates
- conditions
- leave
- overtime
The BOOT considers the terms that are more beneficial and less beneficial to employees in an agreement, compared to the terms in the relevant modern award that they fall under such as the Health Professional and Services Award (HPSS) and Nurses Award.
The Workplace Relations Team draft employment contracts and undertake the BOOT calculation for new or existing members of your team. For further information regarding contracts of employment and BOOT calculations, click on the link below.