Finding an agreement
There are different ways you can find an enterprise agreement.
On this page:
- Check if an agreement applies
- Find an agreement
- Search the Commission’s agreement database
- Tips for reading an agreement
- Tools and resources
- Related information
Check if an agreement applies
To see if an agreement applies to your workplace, you can:
- ask your employer, human resources (HR) or payroll team
- check with a colleague or a union representative
- look at the company intranet
- check your employment contract or pay slip to see if it mentions an award or agreement.
If an award applies, learn how to find a copy of the award and check entitlements at Awards.
If you’re not sure of your award and need help finding it, use our Pay and Conditions Tool.
Find an agreement
If an agreement applies, you can find it by:
- looking for a copy on your company intranet
- asking an employer or HR team to send you a copy or link to it
- searching the Fair Work Commission’s online database of past and current agreements.
The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) is the national workplace relations tribunal. They review and approve agreements. They also publish copies of agreements on their website.
Example: Using the company intranet to find an agreement
Ellis has started a new job as a part-time sales assistant for a large department store. His employment contract says his pay and conditions are under a company enterprise agreement.
After working for a few weeks, Ellis has questions about his meal break entitlements and roster arrangements. He searches the company intranet and finds a copy of the enterprise agreement.
Using the document search function, Ellis searches the agreement for ‘meal breaks’. He then confirms his meal break entitlements and the company’s notice requirements for issuing rosters.
Tip: Bookmark your agreement
When you find your agreement, it’s a good idea to bookmark it so you can find it easily again.
Add it as a bookmark to your website browser or keep a link saved somewhere (like in your phone or email).
Search the Commission’s agreement database
If you want to use the Commission’s agreement database (also called Document Search, follow these suggestions:
- search trading or business name
- use quotation marks
- add the right location
- check the date
- try advanced filters.
Search trading or business name
Search with the trading name of the business, the legal name of the employer or their ABN. You can find most of these details on your pay slip.
Use quotation marks
Put quotation marks around search terms. For example, “Business Name”.
Add the right location
If it’s a large corporation or there are multiple agreements in the search results, include the location or branch of the workplace in the search.
Check the date
If there are multiple agreements for the same business, check that you’re looking at the most recent one. Agreements can still be in effect after they have passed their nominal expiry date.
Try advanced filters
Use the advanced search filters to help narrow down results.
Go the database now: Find an agreement.
Example: Using the Commission’s agreement database
Amanda works as a casual in a warehouse for a freight company. She knows she’s covered by an enterprise agreement because her manager told her she was when she started.
Amanda wants to double-check penalty and overtime rates as she’s considering taking on some overnight and weekend work.
One evening, Amanda is at home and wants to check these pay rates. She decides to go the Commission’s agreement database.
Amanda searches the business name listed on her pay slip, making sure to put the name in quotation marks. Amanda finds her enterprise agreement. She scrolls through the document, finds the section that covers penalty and overtime rates, and reads through the information.
Tips for reading an agreement
Agreements set pay rates and employment conditions for employees. This includes things like:
- penalty rates
- overtime
- allowances and other work-related payments
- hours of work, like start and finish times.
This is in addition to the National Employment Standards (NES), which are the minimum employment entitlements that have to be provided to all employees.
Follow our tips about checking rules and entitlements in an agreement:
- look at the table of contents
- check the coverage section
- use the document search function
- read the ‘dispute resolution’ section for workplace problems.
Look at the table of contents
Most agreements will have a table of contents. Read the table of contents to find relevant topics like ‘working hours’, ‘dispute resolution’ or ‘allowances’.
Check the coverage section
It’s important to check that the agreement covers you. Generally, agreements contain a coverage section which identifies the employer covered by the agreement as well as employees covered by the agreement.
It’s common for executive-level employees to be excluded from coverage under an agreement.
The coverage section may identify the location or region where the agreement operates and refer to the duties of employees covered by the agreement.
Use the document search function
Most agreements are available as PDF or Word documents and are easy to search.
Use the ‘find’ function in the document (usually Ctrl+F or Command+F on your keyboard) to search for relevant terms.
For example, to check what overtime rates might apply, search ‘overtime’ in the document.
Read the ‘dispute resolution’ section for workplace problems
If a workplace problem happens, search for the ‘dispute resolution’ section in the agreement for guidance and read it.
This section helps employers and employees understand the process when a dispute happens and what steps they need to take.
You should also check what policies your workplace has on dispute resolution. Seeing if you can resolve the issue at work is the first step.
