March 2020 Payroll Changes to record of the start, finish and break times

T1 on 06/05/2020 - 14:43

Interested to hear peoples experience with the new payroll changes that came about in March.

Working for a fairly small organisation, our Finance/Payroll team have purchased a fancy clock in/clock out program that staff must use to record their start and end times every day.

I'm wondering if this was actually necessary to satisfy the new legislation. From what I've read, "Employees must keep records of the start, finish and break times of their employees".

Does that actually mean that employers must get Staff to record exact start/end time, or could they have just continued with the old payroll system where we only needed to notify payroll if there was a change to our start/end time that week. (so they still kept a record of weekly hours)

I kinda feel our organisation was conned in to buying some fancy new system, when they didn't need buy.

Education & Work

Comments

  • brad1-8tsi on 06/05/2020 - 15:00

    I'm not sure what new rules you are referring to. Is this a state or federal thing.

    I do know that we went from a state based EBA to an EA based on the federal system in 2018 and ever since then we've got paid overtime for anything beyond our normal hours. Nobody knows why and nobody is game to ask in case it stops. So maybe recording your hours might be a good thing.

  • pjetson on 06/05/2020 - 15:07

    Employees must keep records of the start, finish and break times of their employees

    and

    Does that actually mean that employers must get Staff to record exact start/end time

    Yes, it does.

    we only needed to notify payroll if there was a change to our start/end time that week.

    No, that doesn't comply with the first quote above.

    Nothing that you've said requires "buying some fancy new system". The requirements could be met just as easily with a pen and paper.

  • T1 on 06/05/2020 - 15:12

    Nothing that you've said requires "buying some fancy new system". The requirements could be met just as easily with a pen and paper.

    That's what I'm getting at, our previous system pre-populated our start and end times. We just needed to sign off on that, and if there was anything different to the norm, just note the change and submit.
    I feel that would have satisfied the requirements of keeping records of start/end times.

  • The mikky on 06/05/2020 - 15:22
    +2

    Probably a lot harder to game the new system

  • Hardlyworkin on 06/05/2020 - 16:00

    Is this part of the ATO once touch payroll system you are referring to or something else? ( A link would be great).

    It seems like your old system was fine if a record of your hours were kept each day including variations to the standard.

    No matter the system, there are always going to be small issues (people forgetting to lock our for breaks for example).

  • HeWhoKnows on 07/05/2020 - 08:05

    Pointless discussion OP
    You have no choice Im afraid
    What are you going to do?
    Debate it with management??? OMG!
    Tell them ozbargain told you xyz?
    Just do it or leave

  • Baysew on 07/05/2020 - 12:08

    the new payroll changes that came about in March

    There appears to be six. The Six Payroll Changes In 2020 That Employers Need To Be Aware Of

    An interesting observation -

    …the biggest concern is how practical the new model clauses are, and how they will impact company culture. They might feel as if they are being micro-managed, and that runs the risk of trust being eroded regarding overtime work hours that are established between staff and employers.

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