Important
The rates, tags, and formulas below represent the structural logic of the Employment Hero (EH) Pay Conditions Engine. Always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) for exact, current dollar values.
Overview
When comparing the Pay Rate Template (PRT) in the Employment Hero payroll platform to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) pay guides, you will frequently notice that the hourly rate inside the PRT is lower. This is expected and mathematically correct for any EH pre-built award containing an All-Purpose Allowance (APA).
The FWO Pay Guide displays a fully combined, Hourly Rate. By design, the Employment Hero PRT holds only the Base Hourly Rate.
To comply with Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 requirements, which strictly mandate the disaggregation of gross wages, EH separates the base rate from any APAs or follow-job loadings. The platform's Pay Conditions Engine uses Rule Sets and Tags/ Work type to dynamically read an employee's profile, generate specific allowances as separate line items on the payslip, and sum them together before accurately calculating overtime and penalty multipliers.
Preparation
Before troubleshooting or configuring rates, ensure you have:
- A solid understanding of the Employment Hero Pay Conditions Engine.
- Familiarity with assigning and managing employee Tags/ Work type and Rule Sets.
- Access to the specific Pre-built Modern Award configurations within the platform.
Award-Specific Configuration & Formulas
Different awards handle APAs differently. For awards that include APAs, we build them as separate pay categories rather than rolling them directly into the PRT base rate.
Important: The Golden Rule for Accurate Rates
While specific rules vary by award, the core logic remains the same. To ensure the EH base rate plus APAs exactly match the FWO Pay Guide, you must assign the correct Work Types and Tags to the employee profile. This includes specific allowance tags, apprentice stages, and engagement types (e.g., daily hire).
Below is a breakdown of how the platform constructs the loaded hourly rate for our current pre-built awards:
1. Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award [MA000036]
This award utilizes two distinct formulas depending on the specific worker classification.
Plumbing and Mechanical Services Worker
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance + Special Fixed Allowance + Registration Allowance (if applicable) + Plumbing Trade Allowance (if applicable) + Lost Time Loading Allowance (if applicable) + Tool Allowance (if Apprentice)
Example Breakdown (Effective 14/10/2025):
- Pay Guide Rate: Adult - Plumbing and mechanical services (Weekly hire, Level 2) = $30.20
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent ordinary hours (Base): $28.12
- Industry allowance: +$1.04
- Special fixed allowance: +$0.20
- Plumbing trade allowance: +$0.84
- Total EH Rate: $30.20
Sprinkler Fitting Worker
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Disability Allowance + Space, Height and Dirt Money Allowance + Sprinkler Fitters Adjustment Allowance + Fire Sprinkler Fitting Trade Allowance (if applicable) + Tool Allowance (if Apprentice)
Example Breakdown (Effective 14/10/2025):
- Pay Guide Rate: Adult - Sprinkler fitting (Weekly hire, Level 2) = $31.10
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent ordinary hours (Base): $28.12
- Industry disability allowance: +$1.07
- Space, height and dirt money allowance: +$0.98
- Sprinkler fitters adjustment allowance: +$0.93
- Total EH Rate: $31.10
2. Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award [MA000025]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance + Tool Allowance (if applicable) + Electrician's Licence Allowance (if applicable)
Example Breakdown (Effective 01/07/2025):
- Pay Guide Rate: Adult - Electrical worker grade 5 (Includes industry, tool and electrician’s licence allowances) = $30.76
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent - Ordinary Hours (Base): $28.12
- Industry allowance: +$1.04
- Tool Allowance: +$0.59
- Electrician's licence allowance: +$1.01
- Total EH Rate: $30.76
3. Journalists Published Media Award [MA000067]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Sub-editing Procedures and Allowance (if applicable)
Example Breakdown (Effective 01/07/2025):
- Pay Guide Rate: Country non-daily newspaper - Editorial employee band 1, level 1 = $30.68
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $30.68
- Sub-editing Procedures and Allowance: +$0.00
- Total EH Rate: $30.68
4. Joinery and Building Trades Award [MA000029]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance (Glaziers / Non-Glaziers)
Example Breakdown (Effective 03/02/2026):
- Pay Guide Rate: Adult - Joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry, outside work or engaged on other than factory glazing (Level 1) = $25.33
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $24.28
- Industry Allowance (joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry or outside work): +$1.05
- Total EH Rate: $25.33
Note: Corrected placeholder text from raw notes to match the Joinery award classification.
5. Building and Construction General On-site Award [MA000020]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance + Tool Allowance + Follow the Job Loading (if applicable)
Example Breakdown (Effective 24/02/2026):
- Pay Guide Rate: Daily hire - General building and construction, residential work (Level 3 CW/ECW 3: Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer) = $30.96
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $28.12
- Follow the job loading (Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer): +$0.94
- Tool allowance (Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer): +$0.55
- Industry Allowance: +$1.35
- Total EH Rate: $30.96
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Sub-editing Procedures and Allowance (if applicable)
Example Breakdown (Effective 01/07/2025):
- Pay Guide Rate: Country non-daily newspaper - Editorial employee band 1, level 1 = $30.68
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $30.68
- Sub-editing Procedures and Allowance: +$0.00
- Total EH Rate: $30.68
4. Joinery and Building Trades Award [MA000029]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance (Glaziers / Non-Glaziers)
Example Breakdown (Effective 03/02/2026):
- Pay Guide Rate: Adult - Joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry, outside work or engaged on other than factory glazing (Level 1) = $25.33
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $24.28
- Industry Allowance (joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry or outside work): +$1.05
- Total EH Rate: $25.33
Note: Corrected placeholder text from raw notes to match the Joinery award classification.
5. Building and Construction General On-site Award [MA000020]
Formula:Hourly Rate = Base Rate (PRT) + Industry Allowance + Tool Allowance + Follow the Job Loading (if applicable)
Example Breakdown (Effective 24/02/2026):
- Pay Guide Rate: Daily hire - General building and construction, residential work (Level 3 CW/ECW 3: Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer) = $30.96
- EH PRT Calculation:
- Permanent Ordinary Hours (Base): $28.12
- Follow the job loading (Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer): +$0.94
- Tool allowance (Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer): +$0.55
- Industry Allowance: +$1.35
- Total EH Rate: $30.96
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my employee's PRT rate lower than the FWO pay guide?
The PRT only holds the base hourly rate to comply with STP Phase 2 reporting rules. In contrast, the FWO guide shows an hourly rate that already includes All-Purpose Allowances (APAs). - Will this separate base rate affect how overtime and penalties are calculated?
The platform automatically adds the base rate and any relevant APAs together before applying the specific overtime or penalty multipliers for that award. - Why isn't a Tool Allowance or Licensing Allowance applying?
Many allowances depend on the employee's specific classification. Double check the employee's profile to make sure the right tag is applied (like Registered Tradesperson or Electrician's Licence). Also, ensure they are using the correct work type on their timesheet so the rules trigger correctly. - Why is my Weekly Hire construction worker missing the "Follow the Job Loading"?
Under the Building and Construction Award [MA000020], the "Follow the Job Loading" only applies to Daily Hire employees. It doesn't apply to Weekly Hires.