Table of content
- What is the Pharmacy Industry General Award?
- Who is entitled to the Pharmacy Industry Award ?
- How is the shiftwork arranged in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
- How are wages and allowances calculated in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
- How is the leave managed in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
- How to keep in compliance with the Pharmacy Industry Award?
- How can Workstem assist you?
This article provides guidelines on the Australian Pharmacy Industry Award package. For more information on this award, please refer to the Pharmacy Industry (General) Award [MA000009].
What is the Pharmacy Industry General Award?
The Pharmacy Industry General Award, also known as the Pharmacy Award, is a set of legal minimum employment standards and conditions that apply to employees working in the Pharmacy industry in Australia.
The award sets out the minimum wage rates, working hours, overtime, annual leave, sick leave, and other entitlements for employees working in various roles within the Pharmacy industry, such as chefs, waiters, bartenders, and housekeeping staff. The award is designed to ensure that employees in the Pharmacy industry are treated fairly and receive reasonable pay and conditions for their work.
Who is entitled to the Pharmacy Industry Award ?
Coverage
The Pharmacy Award applies to both employers and employees working in the community pharmacy industry throughout Australia.
Community pharmacy refers to a business that is primarily established for the purpose of dispensing prescription medicines or selling medicines to the general public. This type of business is not owned by:
- a hospital;
- other public institutions operated by the government.
The Pharmacy Award also covers:
- on-hire employees working in the community pharmacy industry – who are employees that are supplied to the employer’s client to work under them; and
- employers who provide group training services for trainees engaged in the pharmacy industry.
Types of employment
An employee covered by this award must be one of the following:
- A full-time employee who is engaged to work 38 ordinary hours per week (or 76 ordinary hours over 2 consecutive weeks).
- A part-time employee who is engaged to work for less than 38 ordinary hours per week (or 76 over 2 consecutive weeks) and whose hours of work are reasonably predictable.
- A casual employee who is engaged must be rostered for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours on any shift.
The Pharmacy Award does not cover
Employers not covered by the Pharmacy Award include: |
|
Employees not covered by the Pharmacy Award include: |
|
How is the shiftwork arranged in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
Hours of Work
Ordinary Hours of Work |
|
Change to Spread of Hours |
|
Rostering Arrangements for Full-Time and Part-Time Employees |
*If they’re a part-time employee who has agreed to work Saturdays and Sundays, then the point above doesn’t apply |
Breaks
Hours worked per day |
Breaks |
At least 4 hours but not more than 5 |
|
More than 5 hours but less than 7.6 |
|
7.6 hours or more |
|
How are wages and allowances calculated in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
Minimum rates
Employee classification |
Minimum weekly rate(full-time employee) | Minimum hourly rate |
$ |
||
Pharmacy assistant level 1 |
939.60 | 24.73 |
Pharmacy assistant level 2 | 961.10 |
25.29 |
Pharmacy assistant level 3 |
995.00 | 26.18 |
Pharmacy assistant level 4 |
1035.90 |
27.26 |
Pharmacy student—1st year of course | 939.60 |
24.73 |
Pharmacy student—2nd year of course |
961.10 |
25.29 |
Pharmacy student—3rd year of course |
995.00 | 26.18 |
Pharmacy student—4th year of course |
1035.90 |
27.26 |
Pharmacy intern—1st half of training | 1049.60 |
27.62 |
Pharmacy intern—2nd half of training |
1085.40 | 28.56 |
Pharmacist |
1289.30 | 33.93 |
Experienced pharmacist | 1412.10 |
37.16 |
Pharmacist in charge | 1445.40 |
38.04 |
Pharmacist manager | 1610.60 |
42.38 |
Overtime rates
The overtime rate payable to an employee depends on the time at which the overtime is worked:
For overtime worked on |
Overtime rate (% of ordinary hourly rate) |
Monday to Saturday(first 2 hours) |
150% |
Monday to Saturday(after 2 hours) |
200% |
Sunday |
200% |
Public Holiday |
250% |
Penalty rates
When an employee works ordinary hours on the following days, they are entitled to the following penalty rates:
For hours worked on |
Full-time and part‑time penalty rate
% of minimum hourly rate |
Casual penalty rate (inclusive of casual loading)
% of minimum hourly rate |
Monday to Friday |
||
Between 7.00 am and 8.00 am |
150% | 175% |
Between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm | 125% |
150% |
Between 9.00 pm and midnight | 150% |
175% |
Saturday |
||
Between 7.00 am and 8.00 am |
200% | 225% |
Between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm |
125% | 150% |
Between 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm | 150% |
175% |
Between 9.00 pm and midnight | 175% |
200% |
Sunday |
||
Between 7.00 am and 9.00 pm |
165% | 190% |
Between 7.00 am and 9.00 pm |
150% |
175% |
Before 7.00 am and after 9.00 pm | 200% |
225% |
Public holidays—all day | 225% |
250% |
Allowance
Home medicine reviews and residential medication management reviews |
if your pharmacist is required to perform home medicine reviews, they are entitled to an additional allowance of $106.40 per week. |
Meal allowances |
If an employee has worked for 6 hours or more during their regular working hours, and then they have to work overtime,or if they have to work overtime for more than 1.5 hours after their regular working hours: The employer must either:
|
On-premise meal allowance |
If an employee is unable to take their meal break due to urgent matters requiring their involvement, they are entitled to a penalty rate of 150% of the minimum hourly rate. |
Clothing allowance |
|
Motor vehicle allowance |
$0.96 for each kilometre travelled |
Broken Hill allowance |
$42.59 per week |
How is the leave managed in the Pharmacy Industry Award?
In the Pharmacy Industry Award, leave entitlements for employees are determined by the National Employment Standards (NES) and the classification of the employee.
Annual leave
Annual leave is provided for in the NES.
Certain shiftworkers are entitled to additional leave,and during a period of annual leave, employees will receive an annual leave loading calculated on the rate prescribed in the award.
Type of Employee |
Loading Payment |
Day work |
17.5% or the relevant penalty rates, whichever is greater, but not both |
Shift Work |
17.5% or the shift loading( including relevant weekend penalty rates), whichever is greater, but not both |
*Note: The loading payment is payable on leave accrued.
Personal Leave
Casual employees are entitled to be absent from work to care for a person who requires care or support because of:
- illness or an injury;or
- an emergency
but they’re not entitled to be paid for time away from work.
Public holidays
Public holiday entitlements are provided for in the NES.Employees and employers can agree to substitute another day or part-day for a public holiday or part-day public holiday under the National Employment Standards (NES).
- Public holiday work must be compensated with penalty rates according to the Pharmacy Award: 225% or 250% for casuals.
- Employees working on a public holiday can take an alternative day off if agreed upon in writing by both employer and employee.
How to keep in compliance with the Pharmacy Industry Award?
To comply with the Pharmacy Industry Award in Australia, businesses in the Pharmacy industry can follow:
Minimum wage | Employers must pay their employees at least the minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. |
Superannuation | Employers are obligated to make superannuation contributions on behalf of their eligible employees, which includes calculating and paying the correct amount on time. |
Taxation | Businesses must accurately calculate and withhold income tax from employee wages, regularly passing the amount to the ATO. |
Record-keeping | Employers are required to maintain comprehensive records relating to employee pay, taxes, superannuation and entitlements |
How can Workstem assist you?
Workstem is a one-stop payroll & HR platform with an award interpretation module and customised attendance formulas that ensure Pharmacy employers stay compliant with Fair Work regulations. The platform simplifies HR processes, reduces administrative burdens, and offers a user-friendly interface for small businesses and large enterprises alike.
Experience the benefits of Workstem for yourself!