In my full time job as a programmer, which I undertook whilst still a uni student, I was on paid under the Clerical Award. This entitled me to the following, which was followed to the letter:
- Paid $10.18/hr
- 38 hr week
- 30 minute lunch break at 12:00pm and a 15 minute break at 10:00am
- RDO once a month
- Holiday leave loading at 17%
- Overtime as worked
I needed the cash to fund my Uni, so I wasn't complaining (out loud), but inside I wondered how a programmer, with their expected level of skill can be put under the Clerical Award. Reading through the award and how to pass through the levels (there are four) to more pay, I found if I could work without constant supervision I could progress to Level 2, once the required years had passed. That was awesome, and I moved up to $13/hr by the time I was in 3rd year.
Needless to say when I got my first real job after graduating, I was put on a salary. I wondered though, what were my rights and should I have an award to base those rights on? -- It might be relevant to mention that in the previous job I wrote membership software for Unions, so I was pretty up to speed with the whole Award thing --.
Now, a decade later I have the answer. I'm working my way through a Management degree and my current assignment has me investigating Awards. Here's what I've found:
- Information Technology Industry (Professional Employees) Award 2001 - AP812692CAV, and;
- Professional Employees Award 2010 - PR988777
