What is the Fast Food Award?
The Fast Food Industry Award is a set of rules that outline the minimum employment conditions for workers in the fast food industry in Australia.
The fast food award covers different job roles such as attendants, cooks, and managers, and ensures that employees are treated fairly and in accordance with Fair Work regulations.
It includes details on minimum wages, working hours, and leave entitlements for both employers and employees.
Who is entitled to Fast Food Award?
The Fast Food Industry Award covers employers in the fast food industry and their employees throughout Australia.This includes businesses taking orders for, preparing, selling and delivering fast food (meals, snacks, beverages) in the following ways:
- taking orders (including via an app), cooking and selling fast food
- baristas (in fast food shops or take-away cafes)
- delivery drivers
- supervisors of these employees
- employees in charge of a fast food / take-away shop or outlet
- cafes where the main food or drink is sold (and packaged) for take-away.
However, it’s worth noting that some employees and employers in the Fast Food industry may fall under other industry awards, such as：
- Restaurant Award,
- Hospitality Award
- Retail Award.
To determine whether your staff fall under the Fast Food Award, it’s recommended to visit the Fair Work website.
Fast Food pay rates
Workstem has developed a comprehensive guide to help compliance with the Fast Food Industry Award Rates.
If you’re uncertain about the applicable classifications, this guide can help you understand how to comply with Fair Work legislation, classify your employees correctly, and pay penalties and allowances in accordance with the Fast Food Award.
Full-time and part-time employees
- Ordinary and penalty rates
| Adult employees | Junior employees | |
| % of ordinary hourly rate | ||
|
Ordinary hours |
100% | 100% |
|
Monday to Friday – between 10.00 pm and midnight (Evening work) |
110% | 110% |
|
Monday to Friday– after midnight and before 6.00 am (Evening work) |
115% | 115% |
| Saturday | 125% |
125% |
| Sunday – Fast food employee level 1 | 125% |
125% |
| Sunday – Fast food employee levels 2 and 3 | 150% |
150% |
| Public holiday | 225% |
225% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
-
Overtime rates
| For overtime worked on | Adult employees | Junior employees |
| % of ordinary hourly rate | ||
| Monday to Saturday – first 2 hours | 150% | 150% |
| Monday to Saturday – after 2 hours | 200% | 200% |
| Sunday – all hours | 200% | 200% |
| Public holiday – all hours | 250% | 250% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
Casual employees
-
Ordinary and penalty rates
| Adult employees | Junior employees | |
| % of ordinary hourly rate | ||
| Ordinary hours | 125% | 125% |
| Monday to Friday – between 10.00 pm and midnight (Evening work) | 135% | 135% |
| Monday to Friday– after midnight and before 6.00 am (Evening work) | 140% | 140% |
| Saturday | 150% | 150% |
| Sunday – Fast food employee level 1 | 150% | 150% |
| Sunday – Fast food employee levels 2 and 3 | 175% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 250% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
-
Overtime rates
| For overtime worked on | Adult employees | Junior employees |
| % of ordinary hourly rate | ||
| Monday to Saturday – first 2 hours | 175% | 175% |
| Monday to Saturday – after 2 hours | 225% | 225% |
| Sunday – all hours | 225% | 225% |
| Public holiday – all hours | 275% | 275% |
*Rates in table are calculated based on the minimum hourly rate
How to make payroll efficient with Workstem?
Simplify your payroll processes with Workstem’s all-in-one platform, handling onboarding, time and attendance, award interpretation, payroll, STP 2, superannuation and more.
Customise attendance entitlements, auto-track attendance data, streamline the payment process and keep compliance with Fair Work award through our AI Engine. Workstem provides a complete solution for efficient payroll management and regulatory compliance.
FAQs
Q:Do Fast Food employers be required to pay Award minimum wage?
A: Yes, the Award minimum wage is the minimum legal requirement that an employee must be paid if they are covered through the Fast Food Award. Employers are legally bound to comply with this.
Q:How do employers pay employees not covered under an Award?
A: If a business owner is in the Fast Food industry, but a particular employee is not covered by the Fast Food Award, then either the FWC’s national minimum wage or the state minimum wage applies.
Read more: Fast Food Industry Award Guide [MA000003]