26 August 2015

The Fair Work Ombudsman now has a mobile-friendly pay tool to give employers and employees access to reliable advice on wages and entitlements on-the-go.

The Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) combines pay, shift and leave calculators with an intuitive interface for mobile devices.

It can locate the correct Modern Award for an employee’s position and quickly determine what wages apply, including any overtime, penalty rates or allowances payable.

Users who go to www.calculate.fairwork.gov.au can work out wages per hour, per shift or for an entire pay period.

PACT can also determine the entitlements payable when employees resign or are terminated, including wages in lieu of notice, leave and redundancy pay. 

It is linked to another online tool, My Account, which enables employers and employees to save the advice they receive and review it at any time.

Information and advice can also be sent to a customer’s My Account if they submit an inquiry to the Fair Work Ombudsman or call the Fair Work Infoline for assistance.

The Fair Work Ombudsman website has become a valuable source of information and advice on workplace relations, with more than 13.4 million visits last financial year, up from 11 million in 2013-14.

The website had more than 2.2 million visits to its various pay tools in 2014-15, an increase of 40 per cent over the 1.5 million hits the previous year.

Since going live for testing in May, PACT has already proven very popular with more than 584,000 users who have registered almost one million sessions.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says it is now quicker and easier for small business owners and employees to get the information they need, when they need it.

Ms James says many businesses don’t operate from an office and PACT enables them to determine pay rates without accessing a computer or tying up their phone line.

“This preference for going online is allowing our Infoline to focus on more complex telephone inquiries and to prioritise calls from small business,” Ms James said.

The website also has an interactive Online Learning Centre covering topics such as difficult conversations in the workplace, starting a new job, managing performance and hiring employees.

A dedicated webpage for small business can be found at www.fairwork.gov.au/smallbusiness or businesses can call 13 13 94 and opt to be put through to a helpline to receive priority service. 

Follow Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James on Twitter @NatJamesFWO , the Fair Work Ombudsman @fairwork_gov_au or find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/fairwork.gov.au . 

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Media inquiries:

Nicci de Ryk, Senior Media Adviser
Mobile: 0466 522 004
nicci.deryk@fwo.gov.au