Allowances under GRIA

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Allowances under the General Retail Industry Award

Under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (GRIA), there are some circumstances where employers are required to pay employees an extra payment called an “allowance” in addition to their ordinary rate of pay.

This includes circumstances where the employee performs certain duties, has a particular skill, works in hazardous conditions, or incurs an expense associated with their employment.

Summary of allowances under GRIA

The rules regarding allowances are contained in clause 19 of GRIA.

Please see below a table that summarises the type of allowances under the GRIA, when the allowances are payable, and the amount of each allowance payable. Please note that the amount of each allowance is subject to change, and the amount payable may increase where there is an applicable amendment of the GRIA.

Type of allowance Clause under GRIA

Meal allowance Clause 19.20 A meal allowance is payable to an employee who is required to work overtime of more than one hour on any day after the time at which the employee ordinarily finishes work for the day and:

(a) the employee was not given at least 24 hours notice of that requirement; and

(b) the employee cannot reasonably return home for a meal within the period of the meal break.

Special clothing allowance Clause 19.3 A special clothing allowance is payable where the employer requires the employee to wear a company uniform, protective clothing or any other special clothing.

Amount of allowance payable (as of publishing date)

If an employee is entitled to a meal allowance, the employer must pay the employee: • a meal allowance of $19.45; or • supply the employee with a meal.

If the employee has worked more than 4 hours of overtime in a day, the employer must pay the employee a further meal allowance of $17.63. If an employee is required to wear special clothing, the employer must reimburse an employee for the cost of purchasing any such clothing (including purchasing replacement clothing due to normal wear and tear) that is not supplied or paid for by the employer. If the employee is responsible for laundering the company uniform, the employer must pay the employee a laundry allowance of: (a) $6.25 per week for a fulltime employee; and (b) $1.25 per shift for a parttime or casual employee.

Type of

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Clause under GRIA When does this allowance apply? Amount of allowance payable (as of publishing date)

Amount of allowance payable (as of publishing date) Clause 19.4 Reimbursement for excess travelling costs is payable if an employee is required to work at a place other than their usual place of work for a period of up to 3 weeks. Reimbursement for excess travelling costs is payable if an employee is required to work at a place other than their usual place of work for a period of up to 3 weeks.

Travelling time reimbursement

Moving expenses

Motor vehicle allowance

Transport reimbursement Clause 19.5 Travelling time reimbursement is payable if the employee is required to work at a place other than their usual place of work on any day. The employer must do the following: • pay the employee at their ordinary rate of pay (or at 150% of that rate on a

Sunday or public holiday) for time spent travelling both ways between the employee’s residence (or, if the employer provides transport from a pick up point, between that pick up point) and the other place of work in excess of the time normally spent in travelling to and from their usual place of work; and • reimburse the employee any additional costs they incurred in travelling to and from the other place of work

Clause 19.6 Moving expenses are payable if an employer transfers an employee from one township to another.

Clause 19.7 A motor vehicle allowance is payable if an employer requests an employee to use their own motor vehicle in performing their duties.

Clause 19.8 Transport reimbursement is payable to an employee (other than a shift worker) if all of the following conditions are met: • the employee starts work before 7.00 am or starts or finishes work after 10.00 pm; and • the employee’s regular means of transport is not available; and • the employee is unable to arrange their own alternative means of transport; and • a proper means of transport to or from the employee’s usual place of residence is not provided to or arranged for the employee by the employer at no cost to the employee. The employer must pay the total cost (including fares and other transport charges) of moving the employee and any member of the employee’s immediate family who resides in the employee’s household. The employer must pay the employee an allowance of $0.82 for each kilometre travelled. The employer must reimburse the employee the cost they reasonably incurred in taking a commercial passenger vehicle between the place of employment and the employee’s usual place of residence.

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Type of allowance Clause under GRIA When does this allowance apply? Amount of allowance payable (as of publishing date)

Cold work allowance

First aid allowance Clause 19.9 Cold work allowance is payable to employees who are principally employed on any day: • to enter cold chambers; or • to stock or refill refrigerated storage such as dairy cases or freezer cabinets.

Clause 19.10 First aid allowance is payable to an employee who: • has a current first aid qualification from St John Ambulance Australia or a similar body; and • is appointed by the employer to perform first aid duty. The employer must pay the employee an allowance of: • $0.31 per hour while so employed; and • an additional allowance of $0.47 per hour if a cold chamber in which the employee is required to work is below 0°C. The employer must pay the employee an allowance of $11.69 per week.

Recall allowance Clause 19.11 Recall allowance is payable to an employee who for any reason is recalled to work by the employer to perform specific duties on a day on which they: (a) have completed their normal roster; or (b) did not work. Unless otherwise agreed between the employer and the employee, the employer must pay the employee at the appropriate rate of pay for whichever of the following is the greater: (a) the time between when the employee leaves their place of residence until they return there; or (b) 3 hours.

Liquor licence Clause 19.12 A liquor licence is payable if the employee holds a liquor licence under a relevant State or Territory law.

Broken Hill Clause 19.13 The Broken Hill allowance is payable if the employee is working at the employer’s workplace within the County of Yancowinna in New South Wales (Broken Hill). The employer must pay an employee an allowance of $27.88 per week. The employer must pay an employee an allowance of $1.01 per hour.

However, please note that some employees may be subject to some workplace arrangements that can affect how allowances are paid. These include annualised salaries or loaded rates of pay, special provisions in employment contracts or individual flexibility agreements or as noted in a guarantee of annual earnings.

If you have any questions in relation to allowances, please contact our Employment Law team on 1800 888 479.