Legally Compliant Rosters for Building & Construction in 2025

Designing a legally compliant roster on a busy worksite isn’t just an admin chore—it’s how you control labour costs, meet safety obligations, avoid underpayments, and keep projects moving. In construction, the stakes are higher because the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020) sets detailed rules around hours, penalty rates, and Rostered Days Off (RDOs). Getting the structure right up‑front saves expensive rework later. 

What Makes a Compliant Construction Roster (MA000020)?

To stay compliant in Australia under the building and construction award you need to line your roster up with these core rules. Use them as hard validation checks in your roster template before publishing.

• Ordinary daywork span (7:00am–6:00pm Mon–Fri) and an average 38 hrs/week across the roster cycle. Variations require agreement. 
• Daily ordinary hours cap (commonly 8 hrs in standard RDO cycles)—excess becomes overtime. Always confirm by classification & site agreement. 
• RDO accrual model: 19 × 8‑hr days (152 hrs) + 1 paid RDO = 38‑hr average. Casuals generally do not accrue RDOs.
• Consult before changing a published roster. Explain the change, invite feedback, consider impacts (travel, childcare, pay). Document the discussion.
• Update rates after the 1 July Annual Wage Review. Apply new award wages & allowances from the first full pay period on/after 1 July and refresh your labour costs. 

Why Construction Rosters Fail Audit (MA000020)?

1. Hours outside the award span classed as overtime but not cost. Lock the 7am–6pm window (or agreed variation) into your template so over‑span work auto‑flags for overtime approval. 
2. Missing or mis‑counted RDO accruals. Track 0.4 hrs per worked 8‑hr day in a 19‑day cycle so the paid RDO is fully funded; partial accruals must be pro‑rated if insufficient hours worked. 
3. Publishing rosters without consultation. Sudden changes that reduce hours or increase weekend penalties can trigger disputes—document employee consultation steps in your roster process log. 
4. Incorrect weekend / public holiday flags. Saturday after midday, Sundays and public holidays attract higher penalty multipliers under the award—tag these in the template for automated costing.

How to Build a Legally Compliant Construction Roster Template?

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

Step 1 – Confirm Award Coverage & Employment Type

Make sure each worker really falls under the building and construction award (MA000020) and record whether they are full‑time weekly hire, part‑time, casual, or daily hire; entitlements differ.

Step 2 – Choose Your Roster Cycle (e.g., 4‑Week RDO Cycle)

The classic 19‑days‑worked + 1 RDO pattern suits many civil & general building sites; alternatively, employers and a majority of employees can agree to a different 38‑hour arrangement if accumulating RDOs is impractical. 

Step 3 – Set Daily Ordinary Hour Limits & Span

Build validation rules: ordinary hours in the 7am–6pm window; anything outside auto‑marks as overtime or shiftwork according to the award. 

Step 4 – Configure Breaks & Meal Stops

Include a 30‑minute meal break (timing varies; many day workers take it around midday unless site‑specific agreement). Shiftworkers must be able to take a meal break no later than 5 hours after shift start and it counts as time worked under the award. 

Step 5 – Track RDO Accrual Column

Add a running RDO balance column (e.g., +0.4 per 8 ordinary hrs) and auto‑zero when RDO taken. Show RDO status in weekly summary so project managers can balance labour across crews. 

How Workstem Simplifies Building and Construction Award Compliance

Simplify award interpretation and payroll processing with Workstem, the all-in-one workforce management & payroll software designed for every industry. Our system supports 122+ modern awards & 34 EAs, including the Hospitality Industry Award 2025, and keeps you up-to-date with changes in wage rates, penalty rates, and overtime rules.

Managing payroll under the Hospitality Industry Award 2025 can be complex. Workstem’s workforce management software ensures:

• Accurate award interpretation
• Automated penalty rates & overtime calculations
• Compliant payslips & record-keeping
• Seamless integrations with Xero, NetSuite, and more

Choose from our Standard or Advanced plan to suit your business needs, and stay Fair Work compliant with confidence.

Book a free demo with our payroll experts and experience how Workstem can streamline your payroll and workforce operations.

FAQs About the Building & Construction Industry Award

Q1: What makes a roster legally compliant under the building and construction award?

A1: Correct award coverage, 38‑hour averaging, hours in the 7am‑6pm span (unless agreed), proper RDO treatment, and consultation before roster changes.

Q2: Do casuals get RDOs?

A2: No, RDOs generally apply to full‑time (and some part‑time) employees; casuals are excluded under the award.

Q3: How much notice do I need to give when I change a published roster?

A3: You must discuss proposed changes with affected employees, provide details, seek feedback, and consider impacts before finalising. Specific notice terms may also appear in agreements.

Q4: Can I roster ordinary hours outside 7am‑6pm?

A4: Only by agreement or under shiftwork provisions; otherwise those hours are overtime/penalty rated for day workers.

Q5: How can software help me stay compliant?

A5: Smart platforms auto‑apply award rules, track RDO accruals, capture times, and update wage increases, this reduces manual error vs spreadsheets.

Read More：

Building and Construction General On-site Award Guide [MA000020]

Building and Construction Award

How to Avoid Fair Work Penalties for Unpaid Wages in Construction