Microkeeper is an all-in-one cloud-based HR and payroll software designed to streamline and automate processes of employee management, roster making, time and attendance tracking, and payroll processing.

How can Microkeeper help my business with HR and payroll tasks?

Microkeeper helps businesses of all sizes by simplifying HR and payroll tasks. It automates time tracking, facilitates employee scheduling, manages leave requests, and integrates seamlessly with payroll systems, saving time and reducing errors in payroll processing.

Is Microkeeper suitable for businesses of all sizes?

Yes, Microkeeper is designed to cater to the needs of businesses of all sizes, including small, medium, and large enterprises across various industries. Whether you have a handful of employees or a large workforce, Microkeeper offers scalable solutions to meet your HR and payroll needs.

Can Microkeeper help ensure compliance with labor regulations?

Absolutely. Microkeeper is equipped with features to help businesses stay compliant with labor regulations. It automates calculations for overtime, penalty rates, and other entitlements, while also providing reporting tools to ensure transparency and compliance with labor laws.

How easy is it to integrate Microkeeper with existing payroll systems?

Integrating Microkeeper with existing payroll systems is straightforward. Our platform offers seamless integration with popular payroll software, allowing for smooth data transfer and synchronization. Our support team is available to assist with any setup or configuration requirements.

Automating your Award Interpretation, Blog

When it comes to workplace awards, we’re not talking about ‘Employee of the Month.’ In this article, we’re exploring the real backbone of Australian employment law—modern awards—and how automated award interpretation can simplify a typically complex part of running a business.

What is an Award?

A modern award is a document that sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment on top of the National Employment Standards (NES). Modern awards came into effect on 1 January 2010. There are currently 122 industry or occupation awards covering most people who work in Australia.

Awards outline entitlements such as:

Pay rates
Hours of work
Rosters
Breaks
Allowances
Penalty rates
Overtime rules

Within most awards, pay rates vary based on factors like age groups, work hours, or public holidays. Employers must ensure they correctly apply these entitlements to their employees—a task that can quickly become complicated without proper systems in place.

What is Award Interpretation?

In payroll terms, award interpretation refers to calculating the correct rate of pay for hours worked during a specific period of time.

For example:
James works as a waiter in a Melbourne restaurant. His pay varies depending on his roster—weekday vs weekend shifts, overtime hours, after-hours work, or public holidays all impact his rate of pay. Other factors include penalty rates and his age at the time of working.

All these variables are specified in the industry award James is employed under. His employer must interpret these award rules accurately to calculate his pay—a process that can be done manually or automated through payroll software.

How does Award Interpretation work

To automate award interpretation:

Award rules are entered into payroll software at the start of an employee’s employment.
Each payroll run automatically calculates the correct rate based on those pre-set rules.

For example:
An employee who is 20 years old is entitled to $20.50 per hour as their base rate. When the employee turns 21, their base pay rate increases to $21.50. With automated award interpretation software like Microkeeper, this change happens automatically—no manual updates required!

Without automation, employers would need to manually calculate pay rates each week by cross-referencing timesheets with public holiday calendars, employee birthdays, and updated award conditions—a process prone to errors and inefficiencies.

Key features of Automated Award Interpretation software

Rate Rules

Automated systems handle changes like age-based pay increases effortlessly. For example:

When an employee celebrates a birthday that qualifies them for a higher rate, the system automatically adjusts their base pay—ensuring compliance without manual intervention.

Shift Rules

Shift rules automate calculations for overtime and other award conditions. For instance:

If an employee earns overtime after 5 PM, the system applies shift rules to calculate their pay accordingly based on timesheet data.

Real-Time Adjustments

Automated systems ensure accurate pay calculations even when rosters change unexpectedly or public holidays occur mid-pay cycle.

Recent Updates on Workplace Awards (2025)

In recent years, there have been updates to modern awards aimed at improving clarity and fairness for both employers and employees:

Annual Wage Reviews: The Fair Work Commission continues its annual review process to adjust minimum wages in line with inflation and economic conditions. In 2024-2025, wage increases averaged 5.75%, impacting many industry awards directly.
STP Phase 2 Compliance: Businesses must now report detailed payroll information (e.g., income types like allowances or overtime) under Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 requirements.
Award Flexibility Requests: More businesses are seeking flexibility agreements within awards to address unique rostering challenges post-pandemic.

Employers should stay updated on these changes to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.

Benefits of Automated Award Interpretation

Switching to automated award interpretation offers significant advantages:

Simplifies complex award calculations.
Saves time by eliminating manual effort for managers and payroll staff.
Reduces human error in payroll processing.
Improves accuracy and compliance with Fair Work regulations.
Provides real-time roster costing for better budgeting decisions.
Reduces administrative costs over time.

These benefits extend beyond payroll accuracy—automation frees up resources for higher-value tasks like improving employee engagement or optimizing workforce planning.

Award Interpretation with Microkeeper

Microkeeper simplifies award interpretation by integrating timesheets with payroll processing using automated rules tailored to Australian workplace conditions. Key features include:

Rate Rules:

Automatically adjust pay rates based on factors like employee age or job type without manual intervention.

Shift Rules:

Automate overtime calculations based on pre-set conditions (e.g., after-hours work or public holidays).

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Real-Time Payroll Integration:

Microkeeper captures all necessary employee details upfront during setup—ensuring smooth payroll runs every time.

Why Automate Award Interpretation?

Investing in automation saves time upfront while delivering long-term benefits like improved compliance, reduced costs, and enhanced productivity. By automating repetitive tasks such as award interpretation, businesses can focus on strategic growth initiatives instead of administrative headaches.