35. Termination of employment

NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.

35.1 Notice of termination by an employee

(a) Clause 35.1 applies to all employees except those identified in sections 123(1) and 123(3) of the Act.

(b) An employee must give the employer notice of termination in accordance with Table 1—Period of notice of at least the period specified in column 2 according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1.

Table 1—Period of notice

Column 1 Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer at the end of the day the notice is given | Column 2 Period of notice

Not more than 1 year | 1 week

More than 1 year but not more than 3 years | 2 weeks

More than 3 years but not more than 5 years | 3 weeks

More than 5 years | 4 weeks

NOTE: The notice of termination required to be given by an employee is the same as that required of an employer except that the employee does not have to give additional notice based on the age of the employee.

(c) In clause 35.1(b) continuous service has the same meaning as in section 117 of the Act.

(d) If an employee who is at least 18 years old does not give the period of notice required under clause 35.1(b), then the employer may deduct from wages due to the employee under this award an amount that is no more than one week’s wages for the employee.

(e) If the employer has agreed to a shorter period of notice than that required under clause 35.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 35.1(d).

(f) Any deduction made under clause 35.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.

35.2 Job search entitlement

(a) Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b) The time off under clause 35.2 is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.

36. Redundancy

NOTE: Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES. See sections 119 to 123 of the Act.

36.1 Transfer to lower paid duties on redundancy

(a) Clause 36.1 applies if, because of redundancy, an employee is transferred to new duties to which a lower ordinary rate of pay applies.

(b) The employer may:

(i) give the employee notice of the transfer of at least the same length as the employee would be entitled to under section 117 of the Act as if it were a notice of termination given by the employer; or

(ii) transfer the employee to the new duties without giving notice of transfer or before the expiry of a notice of transfer, provided that the employer pays the employee as set out in clause 36.1(c).

(c) If the employer acts as mentioned in clause 36.1(b)(ii), the employee is entitled to a payment of an amount equal to the difference between the ordinary rate of pay of the employee (inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) for the hours of work the employee would have worked in the first role, and the ordinary rate of pay (also inclusive of all-purpose allowances, shift rates and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) of the employee in the second role for the period for which notice was not given.

36.2 Employee leaving during redundancy notice period

(a) An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy may terminate their employment during the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act.

(b) The employee is entitled to receive the benefits and payments they would have received under clause 36 or under sections 119 to 123 of the Act had they remained in employment until the expiry of the notice.

(c) However, the employee is not entitled to be paid for any part of the period of notice remaining after the employee ceased to be employed.

36.3 Job search entitlement

(a) Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee in circumstances of redundancy, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day each week of the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b) If an employee is allowed time off without loss of pay of more than one day under clause 36.3(a), the employee must, at the request of the employer, produce proof of attendance at an interview.

(c) A statutory declaration is sufficient for the purpose of clause 36.3(b).

(d) An employee who fails to produce proof when required under clause 36.3(b) is not entitled to be paid for the time off.

(e) This entitlement applies instead of clause 35.2.