Hiring Employees: Getting It Right from the Start
- anytimeassist
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
Hiring employees is an exciting step for any business, but it also comes with important responsibilities. Whether you’re hiring your first staff member or growing your team, understanding your obligations early helps you avoid costly mistakes and sets up a strong working relationship from day one.
There are free government tools and checklists available to guide you through the process and help ensure you meet your employer obligations.
What to know before you hire
Before advertising a role or making an offer, it’s important to understand the basics of how the position will work in your business.
Key things to consider include:
whether the role will be full-time, part-time or casual
which Modern Award (if any) applies
the minimum pay rate, penalties and allowances
whether your business can comfortably afford the role
Most small businesses are covered by an award, which sets minimum pay rates and conditions. In some cases, a registered enterprise agreement may apply instead.
Knowing the law and minimum entitlements
Employee entitlements come from:
the National Employment Standards (NES)
a Modern Award or enterprise agreement (if applicable)
the Fair Work Act
An employment contract or agreement can’t provide less than these minimum entitlements. Even with a written contract in place, awards and the NES still apply.
Getting pay right
Correct pay starts with choosing the right employment type. Pay rates, leave and entitlements differ between full-time, part-time and casual employees.
To help with this, you can use:
the Pay and Conditions Tool to find award coverage and pay rates
award classification information to ensure employees are paid correctly
Job advertisements must not include pay rates that breach the Fair Work Act, an award or an enterprise agreement.
Starting the hiring process
If you’re ready to hire the Hiring employees checklist is a great place to start. It guides you through key employer obligations, including:
minimum pay rates and entitlements
work rights and visas
tax and superannuation
workplace health and safety
discrimination and employee protections
checking licences and qualifications
The checklist takes around 25 minutes to complete and helps ensure nothing important is missed.
Employment contracts and paperwork
Having a clear employment contract helps set expectations and protect both your business and your employee.
The Employment Contract Tool allows you to create a free, compliant contract for:
full-time, part-time or casual employees
award-covered roles
employees paid hourly or weekly
Employees should also receive the correct information statements, such as:
the Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS)
the Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS) (for casuals)
Other key considerations when hiring
When bringing on employees, it’s also important to understand:
hours of work and rostering
pay slips and record-keeping requirements
the right to disconnect and managing out-of-hours contact
rules for fixed term contracts
induction, communication and setting expectations early
Getting these foundations right helps build productive, compliant workplaces.
More Information
Hiring employees is more than just filling a role — it’s about meeting your obligations, paying people correctly, and setting up systems that support your business as it grows. With the right tools and understanding, hiring doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
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